It’s first period. Stephen Almquist takes his Fit For Life students to the cool, dimly-lit fitness center on the second floor. The echoing silence is replaced by endless chatter, occasional whining and the quiet whir of treadmills.

Although 2025 marks his ninth year teaching in Everett, this is only his second year teaching PE. He taught PE at EHS back in 2017, before moving to the Whittier. He enjoyed his time there, but his love for sports always made him want to return to EHS to teach PE. This year, Almquist is teaching both Competitive Games and Fit For Life.

Almquist considers “connecting with students” and sharing his love for sports with them the best part of his job. “I have been playing sports since I could walk and I want to pass on my love for sports to the students I teach,” Almquist said.

He also believes encouraging students to participate is very important when it comes to managing PE classes. “PE is certainly not for everyone,” Almquist said. “Being enthusiastic about the sports we are playing along with creating personal relationships can increase the likelihood of students trying an activity that they might not be very passionate about.”

Keeping students safe and protected is one of Almquist’s top priorities. “We try to create a safe environment,” Almquist said. “Making sure the students know how the game is played and how the equipment is used goes a long way towards keeping everyone safe.”

Almquist believes the difference between teaching middle and high school students is maturity. He feels like younger students are fun and “keep you on your toes”, but have a lot of maturing to do–which is why he prefers teaching high-schoolers over middle-schoolers.

If Almquist wasn’t a gym teacher, he would be a sports broadcaster for football or baseball. He grew up playing both sports and coached them for over a decade.

Almquist’s personal heroes are his parents. “Having experienced how difficult kids can be I’m not sure how they were able to keep it all together while raising my three sisters and myself,” he said.

If Almquist had to teach another subject, he’d teach history. Although it wasn’t his “best subject” in school, he was always very interested in it.

And when he isn’t teaching kids how to throw a volleyball, or hold a plank, you can find Almquist on a golf course, or watching college football with his buddies.