Melanie Kay-Wyatt, superintendent of Alexandria public schools, wrote a commentary piece on Mental Health Awareness Month that ran in the Alexandria Times. She says the ACPS wellness strategy “is one that focuses on improving the health of students and supporting their families.” She included Move2Learn as an additional resource for ACPS staff on the subject. Check it out.
“The mind and body are not separate. What affects one, affects the other.”
Author unknown
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Brooke Sydnor Curran was that student—the one who couldn’t sit still, couldn’t focus, and disrupted the classroom. Nicknamed “The Mosquito,” she bounced off the walls while traditional education tried to box her in. Today, she’s flipping that model on its head as the President and CEO of Move2Learn, an award-winning nonprofit that transforms how students learn by bringing movement into every part of the school day.
Based in Alexandria, VA, Move2Learn uses the Science of Movement to improve focus, engagement, behavior, and well-being—helping students learn better and inspiring the teachers who teach them. Brooke founded the organization in 2009 and has since become a recognized voice on reimagining education.
A lifelong athlete with asthma and exercise-induced asthma, Brooke has completed over 200 marathons, including all six World Marathon Majors, races in every state and on all seven continents—including one just six months after surviving a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2018. You may have seen her in The Washington Post, Runner’s World, and on NBC.
Her personal resilience mirrors her professional mission: to boldly question the old rules, ignite a vision for what school can be, and lead the change students need.
Brooke lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband. When she’s not running marathons, you can find her playing moderately competitive tennis, reading anything she can get her hands on, or visiting her flown children in NYC.
As Director of Operations, Danielle provides administrative and logistical support, ensuring a professional, proactive organization focused on fulfilling its mission and vision. She works closely with the president and CEO on fundraising, donor activities and promoting a donor-centric culture. She also works with the Board of Directors to ensure they’re well prepared to serve as ambassadors and advocates for Move2Learn.
Prior to joining Move2Learn in 2017, Danielle spent 20 years as a Forensic Document Examiner for the FBI. She conducted forensic examinations of evidentiary material and provided testimony as an expert witness in federal, state and local courts. She brings the same diligence and attention to detail to Move2Learn.
Danielle grew up in Conshohocken, PA, and is a proud Philly sports fan. She now lives in Springfield, VA with her husband, two very active almost-grown sons and two dogs. Go Birds!
Our director of programs, Jen, is passionate about bringing movement to ACPS schools. Teachers across the district rely on her to support them as they transform their classrooms with active seating, brain boosting movement videos, Move2Learn SEAL Lessons and outside the classroom movement programs. She loves to collaborate with teachers and staff to cultivate new movement ideas or to improve upon existing programming.
Prior to joining Move2Learn in the spring of 2021, Jen worked for ACPS, primarily at Charles Barret and then as the Safe Routes to School Coordinator where she collaborated with PE Teachers to support biking and pedestrian safety. Jen spent most of her early professional life in the health care setting as both a social worker and registered nurse. She is most proud of founding a 501(c)3 non-profit in coastal North Carolina for families who have a child with Down syndrome.
Jen is originally from Wisconsin and lives in Alexandria with her husband, two teenagers, and dog, Larry.
Brooke Sydnor Curran, president and CEO of Move2Learn and the former “runner” of RunningBrooke, shares the story behind our new name and look.
Tararea tres notas de la mayoría de las canciones de rock/pop en la radio entre 1965 y 1983 y ¡lo nombraré!
Empecé a correr cuando era padre de tres niños pequeños para pasar un tiempo a solas. Todavía corro porque es una buena carrera y es una excelente manera de comenzar mi día: pienso mucho durante esas primeras horas de la mañana. Cuando termino, me siento concentrado y listo para enfrentar el mundo.
Hoy en día, la ciencia respalda la evidencia de que correr y el ejercicio en general mejoran no solo la salud emocional, sino también el flujo de sangre al cerebro, lo que facilita concentrarse en la tarea y aprender mejor. Esto es especialmente cierto para los niños en edad escolar, que pasan gran parte de su tiempo en las aulas y se espera que presten atención y hagan su trabajo.
Sin una salida para dirigir positivamente la energía y aumentar el flujo sanguíneo para apoyar la función cerebral, la concentración se resiente, lo que puede ser desastroso para muchos niños.
Mis años de primaria y secundaria
Sé lo que es ser el estudiante que no puede quedarse quieto, tiene dificultades para concentrarse y escuchar al maestro. Ese era yo de niño. Siempre me llamaban por interrumpir el salón de clases. No fue hasta que fui adulto que entendí la relación positiva entre el movimiento y el aprendizaje.
Miro hacia atrás a esos años y los efectos persistentes con empatía por esa niña, pero sé que no estaba, y no está, sola.
Kurt Huffman brings over 33 years of diverse experience in the field of education, spanning public schools, higher education, nonprofits, and museums. His 25 years in public education include roles as a teacher, principal, and executive director, giving him firsthand knowledge of what schools, students, and families need to thrive.
Kurt’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to student engagement, innovation, and equity – values that align closely with our mission. He believes in the power of movement and connection to drive student success and sees Move2Learn as a vital partner in reshaping how schools approach learning, wellness, and whole-child development. His role in supporting school and district alignment with our programming reflects his passion for meaningful, systems-level impact.
Kidist Square is a dedicated middle school counselor at F.C. Hammond Middle School, entering her 13th year in the role. A lifelong resident of Alexandria and proud ACPS graduate (class of 2005), Kidist is deeply committed to serving the community that raised her. She brings passion, empathy and a strong sense of purpose to her work with students and families. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, working out, and getting lost in a good book.
