Theodore Ballin Lifts Weights and Spirits as a Slate Canyon PE Teacher

At Slate Canyon Youth Center, a gym program led by Theodore Ballin is changing lives. Ballin, a PCSD Teacher of the Year nominee, is more than a physical education teacher—he’s a mentor and steady presence in an environment where consistency is rare. He is known for his ability to connect with each student, taking a personal interest in their growth, struggles, and goals. His impact goes beyond the classroom, reaching deep into the daily lives of the youth he teaches.

Ballin has built a space where students feel respected and challenged. Recognizing the limitations of the correctional facility, he introduced Bulgarian Bags—versatile, soft-weight tools that are safe and effective for strength training. These bags provide an accessible and safe way for students to lift, train, and build confidence. Many of the students have expressed how meaningful it is to be trusted with responsibility, even in small ways like managing their own workouts.

For students in the juvenile system, opportunities to blow off steam in healthy ways are few. The gym is one of the only outlets they have to release tension and channel aggression into something productive. Ballin has turned that time into a foundation for change. Students show up ready to work, not just because they want to get stronger, but because they know he expects their best—and they want to give it.

Across one wall in the gym, a mural celebrates personal achievement. It stands as a quiet challenge and encouragement: you are capable of more. On the opposite wall, a new mural completed just this month depicts a man lifting another atop an ancient Aztec temple. Designed with direct input from the students, it reflects their shared experience—struggle, support, and the hope of being lifted up.

The program is more than physical fitness. It’s a lifeline, a structure, and in many cases, a beginning. When asked if there was one thing they wanted the public to know about the program, the students were clear and united in their statement and sentiment. Each said a single phrase: don’t take this away from us.

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