Debbie Perkins, a teacher at Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School, was recognized as the middle school physical education teacher of the year at the 80th Convention of the Louisiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in Baton Rouge.

Perkins earned her bachelor of science in kinesiology from Southern University in Baton Rouge.

She has coached middle and high school girl’s basketball and volleyball. For more than 31 years, she has taught swimming and dance at a free summer camp of the arts.

She was recently inducted into the hall of fame for the NFL’s “Fuel up To Play 60” program for her work as an advisor.

Perkins has sponsored this program for six years at her school. Her students have earned state and national recognition for their work and have met professional football and tennis players.

The Fuel up to Play 60 program will film at her school in December.

“This is the biggest accomplishment of my career,” Perkins said. “God allowed me to place my students on a national stage.”

Perkins is the wife of Dan Perkins and the mother of two sons, Dante and Drexel Perkins.