Welcome to Project Fit America. We are starting this blog for the teachers working diligently, against all odds and funding cuts, to getting America’s kids fit. We want this to be a place to share lesson plans and encouragement. We will put the spotlight on PE teachers, their lesson plans, curriculum and amazing commitment to getting their students fit.
The Gallery of All Stars
Our inspiration for starting this blog and forging onto the stage of social networking was to give you a peek inside these gyms, playgrounds and playing fields of teachers across this nation that have their feet under the table of kids health and fitness. Not a day goes by where you do not hear some kind of media story on childhood obesity. It is like “The Great Oklahoma Land Grab” all the people and agencies rushing in to provide programming for intervention and prevention. We are grateful for each and every effort as for so long this was an ignored health issue! Not to mention the amazing Sponsors we work with that are absolutely making a huge difference in the fitness of children in their communities! Yet, at the exact same time we have PE Teachers clutching “pink slips,” having furlough days, and seeing their time with students cut or classes crammed to the gills with too many students to run decent programming.
Because of our work with our Sponsors we have seen with our own eyes and will provide example after example that a good PE Teacher is a key, most valuable player, in the solution. The childhood obesity epidemic will never be solved if PE Teachers are left on the sidelines. They are ones that hold the key to create activities, programs, challenges, motivation and a love of physical movement that will change a child forever. They teach the skills kids take with them for life…speaking to ALL the building blocks of fitness including social, critical thinking skills, character development, sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation goal setting and challenges. These are the skills they will bring to work the workplace, to their families and all adult relationships. It is not good enough that kids be physically active when we have an opportunity to help them to become “physically educated.”
We proudly present the Gallery of All Stars to begin the showcasing the power of great PE in America. What it looks like and the diverse, vibrant programming that is changing kids lives, their health and the teachers, schools and communities who are making it happen. The first PFA All Star Teacher of Year award was given to Steve Cox of the Des Moines School District, IA. The award is modeled after Steve and his infinitely creative lesson plans and unique ability to find, reach, motivate, inspire and challenge kids. Since that time 51 teachers have found their way into this Gallery of All Stars and we are not done yet!!! We put out the question….”Where are they now?” and share with you their stories, their ideas, lessons, and journey as a PE Teacher. Some of the teachers are retired and still making wonderful contributions to the profession, one with a PE program mutilated by budget cuts, one has a child serving in the war in Iraq, one is breast cancer survivor, one is now a principal who has made big strides in PE programs in her community, some are bouncing beautiful grandbabies on their laps, while others are in the teaching the Fox Trot and Tango to a group of 5th graders, some can be found on Sundays at the 50 yard line cheering on their beloved football team, several have awesome jump rope teams, one teaches a summer camp for physically challenged kids, the list goes on and on. They come from the Appalachian Mountains, from the Carolinas, to the Heartland of America, from East to West coast, the Great Lakes, the deep South, inner city, rural and the suburbs…but they all share one thing in common…The 3-D’s: Desire, Drive and Determination that fuels a life passion for their schools and students.
They are here for you to talk to, ask questions, share and exchange ideas and lesson plans, problem solve, take class to class challenges, to support and grow your PE program. Many of you will see your selves in these people, many of will get to know them and many of you will find them an inspiration.
Wow! the new website is awesome. What a wonderful way to celebrate 20 years in working to get kids fit.
Having meet and in-serviced many of these great teachers, I am inspired and happy that so many are still actively teaching. It is nice to know that hundreds of kids are in great progrms. We sorely need that!
I would love to hear from those of you I have had the pleasure of working with during the past years. I have enjoyed meeting you all and your students! Hope PFA has come to mean as much to you as it does to me!
This new website looks super! Just reading it makes me realize what a difference we (physical educators) truly make in the lives of our students! It also gets me excited about starting off another school year! I would love to hear what other teachers are doing out there to kickstart their new school year! Please share your great ideas!
I love the new website! Our school year is starting next week. If anyone has any behavior incentive plans to start the new year, let me know. Some of my best lessons and ideas are the ones I have come from collaboration!!
Because of budget cuts, pe teachers are the last ones on the totem pole when it comes to funding their program. How do you raise money for your pe program? I will be at a new school this year with minimal equipment…your ideas will help greatly!!
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