Physical Education Teacher — PreK–12

Position Type: Full-Time, Salaried Exempt
Salary Range: $70,000–$78,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
Department: Physical Education / Athletics
Reports To: Head of School 

Position Summary

Tahoe Expedition Academy (TEA) is seeking an enthusiastic, innovative, and highly collaborative PreK–12 Physical Education Teacher to join our teaching team. This position is responsible for designing and facilitating developmentally appropriate physical education experiences for students from PreK through 12th grade, with an emphasis on movement, physical literacy, health, wellness, teamwork, resilience, and personal growth.

The ideal candidate understands that physical education is about far more than athletics or fitness. PE at TEA is an opportunity for students to develop confidence, perseverance, leadership, collaboration, self-awareness, and the ability to challenge themselves physically and emotionally. The successful candidate will create an inclusive environment where students of all abilities and experience levels can develop a lifelong relationship with movement, health, and outdoor activity.

At TEA, we believe in constructive adversity, intentionally creating opportunities for students to step outside their comfort zones and discover what they are capable of. Our PE program should embody this philosophy through authentic, hands-on, experiential learning both within and beyond the traditional school environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Physical Education Instruction

• Design and deliver engaging, developmentally appropriate PE curriculum for students in PreK through 12th grade.
• Teach fundamental movement skills, physical literacy, coordination, balance, strength, endurance, agility, flexibility, and sport-specific skills appropriate to each developmental level.
• Develop students' understanding of healthy movement, fitness, nutrition, wellness, injury prevention, and lifelong physical activity.
• Provide differentiated instruction that accommodates varying physical abilities, confidence levels, interests, learning styles, and individual student needs.
• Create a physically and emotionally safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where all students feel capable of participating and taking appropriate risks.
• Assess student progress and provide meaningful, specific feedback that supports continued growth.
• Develop students' ability to set goals, monitor progress, persevere through challenges, and reflect on their own physical and personal growth.
• Incorporate individual, partner, small-group, and team-based activities that develop communication, leadership, cooperation, and sportsmanship.
• Teach students to navigate competition and challenge with integrity, resilience, respect, and emotional regulation.
• Build students' confidence and willingness to try unfamiliar activities and skills.

Experiential, Outdoor, and Adventure Education

• Incorporate TEA's expeditionary and experiential learning philosophy into the PE curriculum.
• Develop authentic physical education experiences that extend beyond traditional gym and athletic environments.
• Plan and facilitate outdoor learning experiences that intentionally challenge students while maintaining appropriate safety and supervision.
• Help students develop outdoor skills, risk-management awareness, environmental responsibility, teamwork, and confidence.
• Model appropriate preparation, resilience, adaptability, and decision-making during outdoor and expeditionary experiences.

Student Support and Community

• Build strong, respectful relationships with students across a wide range of ages and developmental stages.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to students' social-emotional and behavioral needs.
• Promote a culture of belonging in which students feel seen, supported, challenged, and valued.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, advisors, learning specialists, administrators, and other staff to support student success.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with families regarding student progress, participation, strengths, and areas for growth.
• Maintain appropriate classroom, equipment, and activity safety standards.
• Supervise students responsibly during classes, transitions, fieldwork, trips, and other school activities.
• Follow all school policies and procedures related to student safety, supervision, emergency response, and risk management.

Collaboration and Professional Growth

• Collaborate with colleagues to create integrated, interdisciplinary, and authentic learning experiences.
• Participate actively in faculty meetings, professional development, coaching, planning, and school-wide initiatives.
• Seek and respond positively to coaching and feedback.
• Reflect regularly on teaching practice and make adjustments based on student needs and outcomes.
• Stay current with developments in physical education, youth development, outdoor education, health, wellness, and experiential learning.
• Contribute positively to the broader TEA community and school culture.
• Demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to take on new challenges as the needs of the school evolve.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Education, or a related field required; master's degree preferred.
• Experience teaching physical education across multiple developmental levels strongly preferred.
• Experience with outdoor education, experiential learning, adventure education, or expeditionary learning highly valued.
• Strong understanding of child and adolescent development and age-appropriate physical activity.
• Demonstrated ability to differentiate instruction and create inclusive learning environments.
• Strong communication, organization, collaboration, and classroom-management skills.
• Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification.
• Ability to safely supervise students in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments.
• Additional outdoor certifications such as wilderness medicine is a plus.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to actively participate in and supervise physical education activities and outdoor learning experiences. The teacher must be able to demonstrate and participate in physical activities appropriate to the curriculum; stand, walk, run, bend, lift, carry, and move equipment; and work effectively in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments and weather conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be provided as appropriate.