I think I’m one state south of you, so I’d guess the options are similar.
I have a B.A. in Exercise Science. They started offering alternative pathways to a teaching license a while back, but I didn’t qualify for the first option. If you worked full time in your profession/teaching area for five years, then you could get a ‘certificate’ and start teaching. The program I used was the Transition to Teaching program. It’s offered by at least three of the state universities here with some minor variations (mostly acceptance requirements and money).
My Exercise Science degree counted for everything I needed for PE with the exception of two classes - an Adapted PE course and a class on rhythm and dance. Yeah, they thought that was an important part of the PE curriculum. I was able to take both online to fulfil my prerequisites.
After that, I simply had to find a job. Once I received an offer, the university and school district communicated to get everything approved. I received a restricted teaching license for two years (which is how long the program runs). At the end of the two years, I had to submit the PPAT which was a big project we completed my last semester. I also had to take a Praxis exam that was multiple choice on a computer. I passed both and received my full license in 2023.
You have to have a teaching license in something to teach, but after that you can branch out by getting ‘endorsements’. My wife just found out she’s going to take over the Exercise Science class once the current teacher retires. They want her to get her Biology endorsement so they can continue to count the class as a science credit. She just has to study, pay the fee, and pass the online exam to do that.
I hope that helps. If your education background doesn’t work for PE, you could try to start with your subject and get the PE endorsement. And the rules may be slightly different in your state.
Happy to help (or at least try). I’m on my third ‘big boy’ career. Highway Patrol, PD, and now teaching. All three fall in the public servant sector, but unfortunately they all have different retirement systems, too. I’d be in great shape if it was continuous, but instead I had 3.5 years in one, 7 in the next, and I’m starting year 5 in my current one.
On the plus side, I thought of what I’m doing now as my retirement gig. I thought I might do 20 years and get out of law enforcement at age 50 and then get into teaching or subbing or something. I may not be able to retire any time soon, but I’m doing what I enjoy anyway. I figure I’ll work my way into a position that only teaches strength training eventually and that will feel more like a hobby than a job.
I’m also loving my first coaching gig. I get to play dad to a bunch of girls who actually want to be present and do what I ask them. That’s quite the opposite of trying to get freshmen to play games in PE when all they want to do it stare at their phones. I’m beginning to understand why some people want to coach so much. It doesn’t pay much, but it gives me a chance to build deeper relationships and work my way into that mentorship role and that’s really why I’m here in the first place.
And on that note, I just finished building my 47th set of play diagrams to print off for wristbands for our scrimmage jamboree tomorrow. So far everything I’ve created has failed the real world application because the game is moving much faster than I initially anticipated.
OHP (with axle)
90 x 5
105 x 5
115 x 5
90 x 20 superset with Underhand Pull-Down
160 x 10 x 5
RFESS
50s x 8 ea
30s x 8 ea Used an attachment for the rack that’s a big round pad (like on some leg extension or curl machines). It was higher than a bench and it made this significantly harder. It’s going to hurt tomorrow.
Rear Delt Fly
25 x 10 x 2
30 Deg Incline
75 x 10 x 2 Lying Leg Raise
2 x 15
Did this at school and hoped to swing by the Y to hit the sled but I ran out of time.
Times: 14:55 for sled, 1:40 row, 0:43 for bike, 18:45 total.
I totally made this up on the fly. It was definitely grind/sprint/sprint. Maybe next time I’ll do a ladder like 0.25 sled, 0.50 row, and 1.0 Mike bike. Honestly could’ve called it a good day after the sled. I used the Tank M4 with the braking feature. Each push was longer than it takes with the Ethos sled + 100 lbs but I cut the rest periods and smoked my usual goal of 10 total trips in 10 minutes.
Leg Press Machine
190 x 6
210 x 6
230 x 6
250 x 6
330 x 25 Gym was packed due to the holiday and only being open 7a - 1p. Decided not to wait around for the leg extension. I felt this from my glutes all the way to the back of my head.
Bench
135 x 8
190 x 5
225 x 3
260 x 1
285 x 1 This was week 8 of my bench person. I’m supposed to max out next week. Thought about doing it today, but didn’t feel confident that 305 or more was there.
Lying Leg Raise
3 x 15
RDL
155 x 10 x 3
Machine Row
195 x 10
210 x 10+5+4+4+3 Why waste time on 5x10 when you can you train like Meadows and just get it done.
Lat DB Raise
30 x 10 x 3 Rows eliminated my desire to do rest/pause on these.
Sled
Ethos + 100
10 x 25m alternating push/pull Time: 9:55 Finished lap 4 at 8:30 and cut rest short to get this under 10.
*This leg press machine is better than the plate loaded version. Yep, I said it!
The slight lean back instead of being folded past a 90 deg hip angle allows me to get better ROM. It’s also way faster to use - no loading and unloading 8 plates per side.
Close-Grip Pull-Down
180 x 10
190 x 10 x 4 (a little body english and a couple partials on last two sets) OHP
95 x 5
110 x 5
125 x 5
95 x 16+4
Ab Wheel
3 x 10 Split Squat
50s x 8 ea x 3 sets
Didn’t have lot of motivation left, so I called it. I was supposed to do some low incline presses and rear delt work, but I’ll sneak that in when I do my sled work tomorrow or during school Tuesday.
I guess it’s been 11 days since my last workout. I felt it today.
Seated Leg Curl
As a warm-up Leg Extension
As a warm-up
Deadlift
225 x 5
255 x 5
285 x 3
315 x 2
Hang Power Clean
185 x 2 x 3 sets Sadly my legs were already feeling fatigue and these sucked.
Bench
135 x 10
185 x 8
225 x 6
255 x 2
255 x 2 Another disappointment. Hit bench on 9/1 and hit 285 for 1.
Wide Cable Row
160 x 10 x 3
Sled
Ethos + 100
Same as usual, alternate push/pull 25m x 5 each. Last time it took 9:55. Today was 12:40. I thought someone put grip tape on the sled on my first round.
Experience was my training partner and I didn’t have DOMS any more than usual. I only deadlifted to practice the movement and warm-up for power cleans. I’d planned to hit the leg press pretty hard after that, but I could tell I’d regret it. My legs were already fading so I opted to let the sled be the rest of my leg training. Maybe I’ll get to lift again next Thursday!
And since this is T-Nation and there are plenty of people who get it done regardless of life circumstances…I want to clarify that I simply don’t have the desire or motivation to train. I have flag football practice at 6am on Mondays. My daughter has volleyball games right after school so I go straight to that and they last til 5 or 6 depending on if they play one or two teams. Tuesdays I have practice after school til 5 but end up being there til at least 5:20 waiting on kids’ rides to show up. And then my son has flag football practice at 6:15. I could train during his practice, but I’ve been using that time to go to the grocery store and this week I’m meeting with the sports director to discuss flag football opportunities for high school girls in the spring. Wednesdays are work, daughter’s volleyball games, then straight to my flag football games (two per night). And then I finally have the afternoon off on Thursday! And Fridays have been work, and then work again at my part-time gig.
Quite frankly, I’m exhausted most of the time. I got to sleep in this morning and used the extra time to try to front load my sleep to prepare for another long week. I get to work at 7:30am tomorrow for my side gig for their fall festival. I don’t think I’ll have time to sneak in my on-duty workout like I normally do.
Sounds like a normal busy dad schedule to me. Unfortunately you either have to just get it done when you can or you just sacrifice sleep or another activity to be more planned. There really is no right or wrong and you are young enough that the iron will still be there waiting as you kids get older and you have a little more ‘me’ time.
I feel like I’m failing the title of my log, but it’s only temporary. I got to go to the gym for my weekly Thursday workout. I feel pathetic, but I’ll bounce back soon enough.
Running? I did a bit of a dynamic warm-up, and then decided to do some “sprint” training inspired by something I saw the other day. I reverted to my go-to running workout at the Y where I run the straightaway and walk the curve. The main difference is that the running was much slower than it used to be. I coached my 3rd and 4th flag football games last night, and I think I’m sore from sprinting down the sideline for a couple of big plays. We won by the way, and we’re 4-0. Unfortunately we’ve had 4 games canceled due to weather and make-ups don’t look likely. It’s tough to find a field and officials when competing with soccer and football.
Seated Leg Curl
70 x 10
110 x 12 x 2 sets Lean forward to stretch the hammies
Machine Leg Press
290 x 15 x 2 sets Already feeling fatigue from running, so…
DB OHP
45s x 10 x 3 superset with Neutral Pull-Ups
BW x 8 x 3 sets
Sled
Tank M4 sled on L2
3 rounds of pull 25m, push 25m L2 feels a lot like the Ethos sled + 100.
That’s it. Legs are fatigued. I worked out a bit with the kids at school yesterday. I did hang power cleans 185 x 3 and 235 x 3 with one class and did 3 x 3 on hang clean pulls with 225 later. The 225 felt heavier later in the day. It was either the lack of a warm-up or the stiff bar I was using.
Work Update
I put in my resignation for my part-time police job. I’d rather be home more than I want to make a few extra bucks. I’m also struggling to be the enforcer again. After 11 years in a bigger town, it’s tough to write speeding tickets to smalltown people. My Chief gave me a hard time for not arresting someone with no DL, no registration, and no insurance. He also thought I should have towed the car. 10 years ago I would have done that without hesitation, but now I feel like the citations are enough and doing the rest would just bury the person. They’d never get that car out of impound. What good would that do anyone? I’ve agreed to stay on to work security at football and basketball games until he can find a replacement, but no more road patrol for me.
I’m not dead yet. I honestly don’t know if I have what it takes to put in the effort required to get back to the younger version of me. I can lift and work on strength and physique goals easily, but the other athletic traits are harder. If I’m short on time, it’s easy to lift but not so easy to focus on conditioning, agility, or plyometrics. I’ve tried to put conditioning ahead of lifting this year which is where the sled comes in. It can count as leg training and conditioning during this phase.
I’m re-reading Dan John’s “Armor Building Formula”, and having gotten to the barbell ABF, with your embracing of the sled, I feel like you may dig this approach in your current state of seeking.
Without giving away the whole book, it’s a 2 week phase of Barbell clean each rep and press followed by barbell curls, then a 1 week phase where you superset the two movements (so, before it was 5 full sets of the C&P, then 3-5 sets of the curls, now it’s 1 set of C&P, 1 set of curls, repeat until done), and then one can just run these 3 weeks over and over again.
From there, Dan gives the training carte blanche to take care of whatever else it is that they need…and I was thinking “well the prowler would be perfect to take care of the legs and conditioning”, and, in turn, I thought of you. This actually echos a similar sentiment I’ve held that, if I could only ever do two movements with a goal of being as big, strong and badass as possible, it’d be the log viper press and prowler push, but since not everyone has a log, this is an excellent compromise.
If that strikes your interest, check out Dan’s book. There’s a LOT more to it than just that little program.
