Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Megan Carpenter, an elementary health and wellness teacher at Sherwood Elementary (SWE) in Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD), fell in love with running and its many benefits: physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, and social connection. 

“As a young mom, I found running to be a healthy outlet, and I regularly participated in half marathons, marathons, and even one ultra marathon,” she said. “It was a way to clear my head and a form of self-care.”

Not too long ago, however, an injury sidelined her, and she had to hang up her running shoes. But that setback didn’t stop Megan from making sure her students learned about the power and beauty of running. She channeled her love for the sport into coaching her students through Let Me Run and Girls on the Run. Her goal: to encourage less active students to move more and give more energetic students space to release their energy. 

Let Me Run is a seven-week after-school program designed specifically for boys in the spring. Participants meet twice a week for 90-minute sessions that include track walking, running intervals, endurance training, team support, and goal setting, all leading up to a final 5K race. Although the program doesn’t have a big following in Houston, Megan hopes to see it continue to grow because of the way it builds character and provides a space for students to express themselves authentically, free from societal expectations.

She recalls one of her favorite memories from a lesson on the “boy code.” 

 "One of the examples given was a stereotype that boys don't like pink since it's a 'girl color'. 4 or 5 of my boys were wearing pink to practice that day,” she said.  “It made my heart so happy that the lesson was reinforcing what some boys already knew.” 

The boys recently completed the Green 6.2 5K at CityCentre, and Megan couldn’t be prouder of them for their commitment. 

“Race day is my favorite part of working with these students because they get to experience a sense of accomplishment, pride in completing something challenging, and the joy of achieving a goal as a team,” she said.  

Megan has led the Sherwood Let Me Run chapter for five years and was recently recognized as the organization’s volunteer of the month for her dedication to coaching. 

In the fall, you can find Megan mentoring third- fourth- and fifth-grade girls through the school’s chapter of Girls on a Run, a program focused on the sport that emphasizes helping young girls gain confidence and grow emotionally. It also culminates in competing in a 5K.

“I love helping these students in this way and giving the same outlet that has benefitted me so much,” she said. “My hope is that each one of them takes away confidence, teamwork, and the belief they can do hard things,” she said. 

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