Dancing for Gold® 2026

My name is Steven “Vito” Spadafino, a Physical Education teacher at Reidland Elementary School. I am originally from New Jersey, but I have lived in Kentucky for over 30 years after having graduated from Murray State University. I also coach Wrestling and Track & Field at McCracken County High School and moonlight as a Wedding DJ on the weekends.

 

I have two children, my son Vito is 23 and a student at the University of Kentucky. My daughter Jocelyn is 26, a cosmetologist, and mother to my 5-year-old granddaughter Giavanna, who has her “Pop” wrapped around her little finger.

 

As a physical education teacher, my daily mission is to help students build strong, healthy bodies and confident, resilient minds. I teach them how to run, jump, play, and push their limits—not just in sports, but in life. But what happens when a child, full of energy and potential, suddenly finds themselves in a hospital bed fighting for their life? I support the fight against childhood cancer because no child should have to face a battle that big, that early.

 

Cancer doesn’t care if you're the fastest in your class or if you just learned how to throw a baseball. It can take away the simple joys that every child deserves—recess with friends, running on the playground, and feeling strong in their own body.

 

But here's what I know as a PE teacher: children are fighters. They have strength beyond what we see, and when we fight for them—through research, awareness, fundraising, and support—we give them a chance not just to survive, but to thrive. Every dollar raised, every event organized, and every voice speaking out matters. Because behind every statistic is a child who dreams of getting back on the field, back into the gym, back into life.

 

So, as someone who has dedicated my career to helping kids live healthier lives, I believe it’s my responsibility—and my privilege—to support this cause. Not just because I care about their physical health, but because I care about their future.

 

Let’s stand together—not just as educators, parents, and friends—but as a community that believes every child deserves the chance to grow up, to play, to learn, and to live.