Viera High's Rachel Winsten Named Florida PE Teacher of the Year

Viera High School's health and physical education department chair is being honored at the state and regional level.

Rachel Winsten has been named SHAPE Florida's High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year, according to Viera Voice. SHAPE is the Society of Health and Physical Education, the national professional organization for health and physical education teachers.

The Florida award winner also advanced as the state's nominee to the Southern District awards process, where Winsten won the SHAPE America Southern District High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year title, covering 13 states across the Southeast. SHAPE America names District Teachers of the Year across its five regions each year and spotlights them before a national audience.

Winsten has taught health and physical education for more than two decades. She began her career in New York City before moving to Florida in 2012, where she served as the district resource teacher for health education, physical education, driver education, and JROTC for Brevard Public Schools. In 2022 she returned to the classroom at Viera High School, where she now chairs the health and physical education department.

She is an active member of SHAPE Florida, serving in its Health and General Division, and she lives in Viera with her family.