EDUCATOR AND FITNESS EXPERT PENS FIRST BOOK
Book goes straight to number one in two free best-seller categories on Amazon
S
ometime in between teaching physical education at
Kerr Elementary School, coaching the Fox Chapel
Area High School girls’ and boys’ tennis teams,
training athletes, and serving as an expert consultant
for the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA),
Alex Slezak found time to write his first book, “The Physical
Education Revolution.”
Geared toward physical education
teachers, parents who serve as
coaches in the community, and
anyone who works with youth
sports and fitness, Mr. Slezak
sees an epic opportunity to
influence the lifestyles of future
generations, beginning with
kindergarten and continuing
through high school. Upon
release in October, the book
went straight to number one in
two free best-seller categories,
physical education and
exercise and fitness.
FOX CH APE L AR EA SC H OO L NE WS
ox Chapel Area
“Physical education, or
‘gym class,’ has been slowly
deprioritized and devalued
in many schools across the
world, and it is time to stand
up and speak out to the
value and positive impact it can have for our
youth,” Mr. Slezak contends.
His call for action is timely, considering the alarming increases
of diabetes in children, and the fact that 35-40 percent of young
people are considered overweight, 20-25 percent of which
fall into the obese category. The book takes an in-depth look
at how to teach youth fitness and approach training at the
elementary,
middle, and
high school
levels. Mr.
Slezak even
includes
suggestions for
lesson plans,
age-appropriate
goals, and
tried-andtrue activities
he’s used to
lay a strong
foundation for
lifelong healthy
habits.
Most of all, he
emphasizes
that the
transformation
must begin with the physical education teacher at the
earliest levels when they should “…make children feel safe,
encourage their effort to try new things, persist when they
fail, congratulate them when they succeed, and create tons of
opportunities for physical play.”
“The Physical Education Revolution” was published in
conjunction with the International Youth Conditioning
Association, a leader in youth fitness and athletic development
education. The book was released in mid-October on
Amazon and is accompanied by a special 40-minute bonus
video in which Mr. Slezak brings life to his concepts through
demonstrations of various techniques.
Mr. Slezak has taught physical education at Kerr Elementary
School since 2005.
“My life’s work is
teaching and I certainly
hope that my students
learn about fitness.
However, I also hope my
teaching has a positive
impact in their lives
beyond just fitness.”
22 Fox Chapel Area