Riding for Focus at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. MS for National PE and Sport Week

In celebration of National Physical Education and Sport Week, Montgomery County Public Schools is highlighting the many ways physical education empowers students to build confidence, stay active and develop lifelong skills. 

At Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School students are discovering that cycling is about far more than just getting from point A to point B. Through the Riding for Focus program, students build skills that extend well beyond PE class.

“One of the main goals of the Riding for Focus program is to empower all students to experience not only the physical, but the mental and social benefits of riding a bicycle,” said physical education teacher John Glodek.

During the unit, students develop essential riding skills such as starting and stopping, shifting gears, scanning and signaling, and navigating around obstacles. Students also learn more about how their bodies respond to endurance exercise by using heart rate monitors.

For many students, the experience is both new and transformative. Completing a 2–3 mile ride—often in about 47 minutes—pushes them beyond their comfort zones and builds resilience.

“We have observed an increase in the excitement for PE,” Glodek said. “Students who typically shy away from traditional PE activities thrive in Riding for Focus.”

Since launching the program in 2018 through a grant from the nonprofit Outride, nearly 1,600 students at the school have participated, many riding a bike for the very first time. MLK Middle School is one of nine programs in MCPS. 

Along the way, students gain more than confidence and fitness.

“Students begin to realize the power of the bicycle,” Glodek said. “Riding a bike is a lifelong skill that can translate into more than just exercise. The bicycle can be used for commuting/transportation, competition and for enjoyment.”