I am dating myself now….I was born in the last year of the Baby Boomers….1961 and my husband was born in the first year of the Baby Boomers….1946…….so we book end a generation. I remember a TV commercial to debut Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups…..two people collided….one eating peanut butter out of the jar…..the other person eating a chocolate bar….one said….”Hey you put peanut butter in my chocolate!”….the other said “No! You put chocolate in my peanut butter!” They both took a bite and declared “Eureka”…something amazing just happened. Why am I waxing nostalgic? That is what happened to PFA when I met this PE Teacher. Back in the first decade we gave grants for the outdoor equipment only and a Broad Based Curriculum that focused on the outdoor equipment with games and lessons that are wonderful but entry level. (We still use that curriculum today, but suggest it for classroom teachers and non PE persons overseeing student activity time.)
He got a PFA grant in 1994 and turned this into the magical mystery tour! Where his brain went, his creativity and imagination turned me on my head! I truly had no idea! In the deep of winter he would gather yogurt cups from the lunch room ladies…and create “yogurt cup games”…explosive cardio, team work, communication and challenge games….now known as PFA Fitness cups…. NOT cup Stacking…..Cup Building ….students from 1st grade to high school will work so hard to “earn” as the cups are “currency” for fitness activities divined by the PE teacher. You want to see kids ….red faced, sweaty and smiling try a cup game? Don’t have any? Stalk your lunch room ladies and you’ll have some in no time…(About 1,500 cups is what we use. His first major source of cups were 32 oz cups from Pizza Hut where he would walk daily for a salad, but once he got to 1,000 cups he found that size hard to manage and evolved to the marvelous yogurt cups) …..but that was just the tip of the imaginative ice berg….He created lesson after lesson, each had all the building blocks of fitness including character development and social skills. He charted student’s progress and posted where every student, teacher and parent could see. He challenged every kid. He took small spaces, big spaces, sunny days, rainy days, snowy days…you name it and turned into PE Disneyland….all structured and working toward a singular goal….Know each kid, Challenge each kid and get EVERY kid fit!! If you were lucky enough over the 33 years of having him as a PE teacher…we have no doubt you will comment, and tell stories of how he changed your life. Kids behaving badly in class…..”Don’t let me tell Coach what you did!”…He was the teaching beacon for student behavior in the school….PE has that kind of power…and he used that power to champion the school and community wide to help his kids.
…..So here I am ….watching and learning every step of the way with those kids…as I watched his program usage unfold. He schooled me in the true honesty of the commitment of what it takes to get kids fit and the smoke and mirrors reasons why they are not getting what they need.
Toward the end of his teaching career I watched as budget cuts mutilated this prized PE program and knew in my heart…this is a Teacher’s Teacher…and as the saying goes…..”You are only an expert when you are 25 miles away from home.”
I knew that while the sun was setting on what he could do at his school…the sun was rising on PFA and my chance to have this Master Teacher become our Teacher of Teachers! Hundreds of schools have had him come on site and work with them. The agent of change of this man’s given gift to teach with humility and experience is now the rich fabric of every All Star Teacher of PFA and in my opinion his brand of teaching stands as a point of light for the future of PE in America. What you will see and learn from PFA has it’s root in this man….so with out further ado…..it is my pleasure to introduce you to Steve Cox.
That’s nice dear! I love it! I can already hear myself saying that to Gary! Steve you are so accomplished! We can only dream to be as successful in our teaching as you have been. We love you and thank you for sharing all of your wisdom with us!
Steve continues to be an inspiration to all!
Steve
You have paved the way for many teachers…You and PFA have influenced so many pe programs for the better. The program at Alamance would not be what it is today without your expertise:) You are AWESOME!!
Thanks for your blog steve! Also, thank you for willingness and selflessness to teach students and teachers like myself the importance of lifelong fitness through project fit America!! You are the man!
I still remember the day you took time to come to Duffield Primary with Dwight Lane to see ME! That day changed me and pushed me to be more like Steve! Thanks for being you and touching so many lives so much more than you can ever imagine!
Come back and see the BIG BIG TREES next to our PFA equipment! Maybe a little fishing too! Thanks for helping me be a part of the PFA family!
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The day Steve Cox walked into my gym was a game changing day for me. I am so thankful that our paths crossed. My teaching and life have not been the same since. Steve, you are the best!!
Oh, Steve Cox, what a wonderful friend, trainer, and mentor! You said it all. Great post!