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Pinellas County Schools and the Pinellas Education Foundation partner with the TB12 Foundation
Sept. 1, 2022
Photo: TB12 Head Body Coach Bryan Hart trains middle school and high school coaches/teachers on the TB12 Method.
Pinellas County Schools and the Pinellas Education Foundation are partnering with the TB12 Foundation to enhance the district’s health and wellness curriculum for students in middle school and high school.
The program will leverage core principles of the TB12 Method, a series of daily healthy habits developed by Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and TB12 co-founder and longtime body coach Alex Guerrero.
The first-in-the-nation PCS curriculum will include TB12 resource materials and hands-on, inclusive activities, embedding the five distinct TB12 pillars: Pliability, Movement, Nutrition, Hydration and Mental Fitness.
The enhanced curriculum will be initiated as a pilot this fall at six middle schools and four high schools. Certified TB12 Body Coaches are collaborating on the courseware development and will also be directly involved with training for PCS physical education instructors, athletic coaches, and administrators.
Following a successful pilot program, the revised curriculum is scheduled to roll out to every middle school and high school by the 2023-2024 school year.
“This will be a student experience like no other,” said Pinellas County School Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. “This is a unique partnership that will allow both our teachers and students to learn from the best in the health and wellness sector. We are grateful to the TB12 Foundation for launching this program right here in Pinellas County Schools and to the Pinellas Education Foundation for bringing another first-of-its-kind partnership to our district.”
TB12 Cofounder Alex Guerrero said they’re excited to implement the program in the Tampa Bay area.
“Joining forces with Pinellas County Schools to teach students and young athletes how to live a healthy lifestyle and perform at their best is what the TB12 Foundation is all about,” he said.
The Pinellas Education Foundation is thrilled to support this unique opportunity for Pinellas County Schools students and teachers, said Stacy Baier, CEO of the Pinellas Education Foundation.
“As a partner to the district, we have piloted a number of successful programs which were later scaled to serve students throughout the county and state,” she said.
The relationship between Pinellas County Schools and TB12 was originally spearheaded by Ben Wieder, a local business executive and longtime member of the Pinellas Education Foundation’s Board of Directors. Wieder, who follows a consistent dietary and exercise regimen himself, says he became familiar with the TB12 Method through Brady’s podcasts. His work with the Pinellas Education Foundation led him to wonder if students and young athletes might benefit, too.
“Most wellness programs highlight a few quick fixes in the hopes of achieving a healthy lifestyle,” said Wieder, president of Clearwater-based marketing firm Level 6. “TB12 teaches you a sustainable lifestyle that aims to keep you healthy. When combined with a positive mindset, a lifetime of wellness is within reach. I’m proud to play a role in bringing this kind of wellness education to our students.”
Research has long indicated the correlation between health and wellness and academic success.
“This project is an incredible opportunity to impact the whole child. There is a myriad of research to support the positive effect that exercise has on academic achievement, mental health and social connectedness,” said Pinellas County Schools PreK-12 Health and Physical Education Specialist Ashley Grimes. “The standards-based curriculum enhancements will allow our students to take a hands-on approach to their wellness and empower all students to become physically literate individuals by developing the knowledge, skills, confidence, and desire to be physically active throughout their lives. Students will assess their level of pliability, set goals and develop a plan to improve their level of wellness.”
"Pinellas County Schools is committed to innovation, both inside and outside the classroom, to ensure our students are competitive with their peers throughout the nation," said Hendrick. "I’d like to thank our School Board members for supporting this pilot program, and for their commitment to pursuing partnerships that enhance the student experience and promote student achievement.”
The Pinellas Education Foundation is grateful to its visionary partners, said Baier.
“We are particularly fortunate to have an engaged foundation board with talented community and corporate leaders who truly care about our mission to advance student achievement, " she said. "This project reflects the values our Foundation embraces, including innovation—serving as a catalyst that activates new solutions to some of education’s most pressing issues.”