Michigan Principals Lead the Way: Bringing Movement Into Every Classroom Through InPACT

Across Michigan, school leaders are finding new ways to make movement part of the learning experience — and it’s paying off for students and teachers alike. Through the InPACT (Interrupting Prolonged Sitting with Activity) program, principals and their school teams are creating classroom environments where physical activity is woven seamlessly into the school day.

Movement That Fits the School Day

InPACT helps teachers integrate short, structured activity breaks — about four minutes each — throughout the day. These breaks boost student focus, energy, and behavior while giving teachers a simple tool to support classroom management and student well-being.

But successful implementation takes more than just good intentions. That’s why InPACT has partnered with principals and school health teams across Michigan to provide the structure and support needed to make classroom movement a sustainable part of school culture.

A Framework for Success

Each participating school forms a small implementation team led by the principal. Working alongside regional school health coordinators, these teams use a proven planning model called EPIS — which stands for Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment. This framework helps schools think strategically about how to introduce, scale, and maintain activity breaks.

In the Exploration and Preparation phases, school leaders and teachers identify their needs, set goals, and plan how InPACT will fit into their existing routines. During Implementation, teachers receive professional learning, easy-to-use tools, and ongoing coaching. Finally, in the Sustainment phase, teams embed physical activity expectations into school policies, professional development, and onboarding to ensure long-term success.

A Case Study in Leadership: Whitmore Lake Elementary

At Whitmore Lake Elementary, Heidi Roy-Borland, the principal, led an 18-month pilot of this approach with support from Danielle Dros, the regional health coordinator for Washtenaw county. The leadership team included the PE teacher and classroom teachers who worked together to plan, test, and refine classroom activity breaks.

Within months, teachers were averaging three breaks per day — and students were more attentive and better behaved. Over time, the school saw a 34% drop in behavior referrals during the first year of implementation, and teachers reported calmer classrooms and greater student engagement.

The principal and staff then took steps to embed movement into the fabric of their school:

• Classroom activity expectations were added to staff information guide and onboarding.
  
  

• Activity breaks became part of professional learning.
  
  

• Student leaders helped track progress and motivate peers.
  
  

By the end of the pilot, physical activity was no longer a “program” — it had become part of how the school operated.

Building a Statewide Network of Support

This approach is now being scaled across Michigan through the leadership of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building Healthy Communities Program, where school leaders are trained to use the EPIS framework and InPACT resources. Principals in districts of all sizes are finding that with structured guidance and peer support, classroom activity can be implemented effectively and sustained over time — even in schools with limited resources.

Why Principal Leadership Matters

When principals champion movement, the ripple effects reach every corner of the school. Teachers feel supported, students stay more focused and active, and physical activity becomes part of the school’s identity.

As Principal Heidi once shared, “InPACT gave us a common language and a simple way to support learning, behavior, and health — all at once.”

Through partnerships like this, Michigan schools are proving that movement isn’t just a break from learning — it’s an essential part of it.

Ready to Get Your School Moving?

If your school is ready to bring more movement into the classroom, visit inpact.kines.umich.edu to explore free resources, training materials, and success stories from schools across Michigan. You can also connect with your Regional School Health Coordinator to learn how InPACT can be implemented and sustained in your building.

Together, we can build a culture of active learning — one movement break at a time.