NTN Unpacked
New Tech Network (NTN) is a national nonprofit dedicated to systemic change in education. We center K-12 schools as the units of change, working closely with district leaders, school principals, and classroom educators, to co-design an approach to change that is specific to their context. This podcast will lift up the first hand stories and experiences schools have had while engaging with the work of NTN as well as provide listeners with the opportunity to learn more about NTN.
NTN Unpacked
Reimagining PE Through Project-Based Learning
In this energizing episode of NTN Unpacked, returning co-host and NTN School Development Coach Val Grijalva sits down with veteran educator Laura Pacheco of Young Women’s STEAM Academy in El Paso, Texas, to explore how project-based learning (PBL) can transform physical education into a deeply inclusive, collaborative, and meaningful experience.
With over a decade of teaching experience and seven years of PBL implementation under her belt, Coach Pacheco shares how she’s designed PE projects that go far beyond movement — projects that connect students to real-world issues, cross-curricular learning, and their own creativity.
You’ll hear reflections on:
- How students launched a campaign to bring softball and baseball to their district — and succeeded
- Annual PBL traditions like National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and how they’ve built community and student pride
- Strategies for making PE inclusive for all students, including those with physical disabilities or less interest in competitive sports
- How student-led drills, artifact creation, and cross-curricular design deepen both engagement and understanding
- The logistics and assessment strategies that make PBL possible — even in 90-minute blocks or 45-minute daily sessions
- What it takes to launch a successful PBL in PE, and why “starting ugly” is perfectly OK
Whether you're a PE teacher wondering if PBL is even possible in your gym, or a school leader hoping to inspire new ways to engage every student, this episode is full of practical tips, real stories, and heartfelt wisdom.
📌 BONUS: Curious how to start project-based learning in your own classroom — even if you're brand new to it? Check out NTN’s guide to What is PBL and How to Start Trying it Today.
🔔 Subscribe to NTN Unpacked and follow us on Instagram @NTNUnpacked for more authentic stories of transformation from schools across the New Tech Network.
