Physical Education Instructor

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description – Physical Education instructor/Teacher

About Community Academies of New Orleans (CANO)

Community Academies of New Orleans (“CANO”) is a charter school management organization committed to strengthening school leadership, instructional excellence, and strategic operational practices as we work toward becoming a Destination School System in the Greater New Orleans area.

CANO’s vision is to build a system of exemplary schools deeply influenced by our students, families, and communities, with graduates who are prepared and committed to becoming community advocates and leaders.

Our mission is to cultivate schools that nurture students’ character, critical thinking, academic achievement, and overall development in responsive learning environments. CANO strives for high academic performance across all schools while developing partnerships and programming that leverage community assets to support our students and families.

CANO’s Core Values

INTEGRITY. We always do the right thing.
TEAMWORK. We work and grow together.
PASSION. We love our students, our community, and our work.
DIGNITY. We value and respect every member of our community.
COURAGE. We approach challenges with optimism and confidence.

About the Role

The Physical Education Instructor/Teacher is responsible for providing high-quality physical education instruction that promotes students’ physical fitness, motor development, teamwork, sportsmanship, health, wellness, and lifelong healthy habits.

The Physical Education Instructor creates a safe, structured, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where students of varying abilities can participate successfully in physical activity. The instructor develops and delivers standards-aligned lessons that build students’ physical skills while reinforcing CANO’s expectations for character development, personal responsibility, teamwork, perseverance, and respect.

The Physical Education Instructor will also support CANO’s broader commitment to educating the whole child by helping students understand the relationship between physical activity, nutrition, emotional wellness, healthy decision-making, and academic success.

This position works collaboratively with school leadership, instructional staff, families, and support personnel to ensure that every student has access to meaningful and developmentally appropriate physical education experiences.

The Physical Education Instructor/Teacher reports to the appropriate Building Director . 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Instruction and Curriculum

• Plan, prepare, and deliver engaging physical education lessons aligned with Louisiana Student Standards and applicable health and physical education standards.
• Develop age-appropriate instruction in physical fitness, movement, sports, recreation, health, wellness, nutrition, teamwork, and personal responsibility.
• Establish clear learning objectives and communicate expectations to students.
• Differentiate instruction and activities to accommodate students with varying physical abilities, learning needs, developmental levels, and language backgrounds.
• Provide opportunities for students to develop strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility, balance, cardiovascular fitness, and fundamental movement skills.
• Introduce students to individual and team sports while emphasizing participation, sportsmanship, cooperation, discipline, and healthy competition.
• Integrate health and wellness concepts into physical education instruction, including proper nutrition, personal fitness, injury prevention, hydration, and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Utilize instructional strategies that maximize student participation and minimize inactive or transition time.
• Maintain current knowledge of instructional practices, curriculum expectations, and Louisiana Department of Education requirements applicable to physical education.

Student Development and Assessment

• Regularly assess and monitor student progress toward physical education learning standards and individual growth goals.
• Maintain accurate student grades, assessment records, participation records, and other required documentation.
• Provide timely, constructive, and age-appropriate feedback to students.
• Communicate student progress, strengths, concerns, and areas for improvement to students, families, and appropriate school personnel.
• Encourage students to set personal fitness and wellness goals and monitor their progress toward achieving those goals.
• Promote healthy decision-making, confidence, self-discipline, perseverance, and positive self-image.

Classroom and Student Management

• Create a positive, respectful, structured, and inclusive learning environment.
• Establish and consistently reinforce clear expectations for student behavior, participation, safety, and sportsmanship.
• Implement effective classroom and behavior-management strategies consistent with CANO policies and schoolwide expectations.
• Build meaningful relationships with students and maintain a learning environment where every student feels respected, supported, and encouraged to participate.
• Actively supervise students during all physical education activities, transitions, indoor activities, outdoor activities, and assigned duties.
• Respond appropriately to student injuries, emergencies, or safety concerns in accordance with CANO policies and procedures.

Safety and Equipment Management

• Maintain a safe instructional environment and ensure that students understand and follow safety procedures.
• Inspect physical education spaces, fields, courts, playground areas, equipment, and materials regularly for safety concerns.
• Properly maintain, organize, inventory, distribute, and secure physical education equipment and supplies.
• Immediately report damaged equipment, unsafe conditions, student injuries, or facility concerns to the appropriate administrator.
• Ensure students use equipment safely and appropriately.
• Follow school procedures related to emergency response, student health concerns, and injury reporting.

Collaboration and School Community

• Collaborate with teachers, school leaders, special education staff, multilingual learner staff, counselors, nurses, and other professionals to support the needs of students.
• Participate actively in department meetings, faculty meetings, professional development, parent conferences, school events, and other required meetings.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support schoolwide academic, behavioral, attendance, wellness, and culture initiatives.
• Accept and incorporate feedback, coaching, and professional development recommendations from instructional coaches and school administrators.
• Contribute positively to CANO’s professional culture and model CANO’s core values in all interactions.
• Maintain professional and respectful communication with students, families, colleagues, community partners, and school leadership.
• Participate in strategic short- and long-term planning designed to address student and school needs.

Student and Family Engagement

• Establish strong, positive relationships with students and families.
• Communicate regularly with parents and guardians regarding student progress, participation, behavior, wellness, and areas requiring additional support.
• Encourage family awareness of physical fitness, nutrition, wellness, and healthy lifestyle practices.
• Maintain student confidentiality and professionalism in accordance with federal, state, and CANO requirements.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by applicable laws, CANO policies, and school procedures.
• Submit required reports, grades, lesson plans, documentation, and other requested materials within established timelines.
• Remain current on developments from the Louisiana Department of Education related to curriculum, accountability, instructional requirements, student wellness, and physical education.
• Participate fully in CANO professional development, coaching cycles, observations, evaluations, and instructional planning.
• Demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, reliability, flexibility, and sound judgment.
• Perform supervisory duties and other school-related responsibilities as assigned by school leadership.
• Perform other duties as necessary to support CANO’s mission and the successful operation of the school.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Appropriate Louisiana teaching certification, eligibility for certification, or ability to meet applicable Louisiana requirements for the position.
• Knowledge of physical education principles, child development, physical fitness, health, and wellness.
• Ability to develop and implement developmentally appropriate physical education lessons.
• Strong classroom and behavior-management skills.
• Ability to establish positive relationships with students from diverse cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a school-based team.
• Commitment to CANO’s mission, vision, and core values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Louisiana certification or endorsement in Health and Physical Education.
• Previous teaching or instructional experience in an elementary, middle, and/or secondary school environment.
• Experience working in an urban public or charter school environment.
• Experience supporting diverse learners, including students receiving special education services and multilingual learners.
• CPR, First Aid, and/or AED certification.
• Experience coaching school athletics, intramural activities, fitness programs, or extracurricular sports is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of health, fitness, sports, movement, and physical education instructional practices.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent physical development.
• Effective lesson planning and instructional delivery.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Effective classroom and student-behavior management.
• Ability to motivate students with varying levels of athletic ability and physical fitness.
• Ability to modify activities to ensure appropriate participation for students with disabilities or other identified needs.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to provide clear instructions and demonstrations.
• Ability to maintain high expectations while providing encouragement and support.
• Sound judgment regarding student supervision and safety.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.

Physical Demands

Because this position involves direct physical education instruction and active student supervision, the employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

The position regularly requires the employee to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Move continuously throughout gymnasiums, classrooms, playgrounds, athletic fields, hallways, and other school spaces.
• Demonstrate physical activities, exercises, movement techniques, and athletic skills as appropriate.
• Frequently bend, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, and move in various directions while supervising or demonstrating activities.
• Occasionally run or move quickly in response to instructional or student-safety needs.
• Move, carry, set up, and store physical education supplies and equipment.
• Occasionally ascend and descend stairs.
• Work both indoors and outdoors in varying environmental and weather conditions when appropriate.
• Maintain visual and auditory awareness sufficient to actively supervise groups of students in active environments.

More About CANO

CANO Schools offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package.

Our instructional staff members receive professional development, coaching, instructional resources, technology, and other tools necessary to support high-quality teaching and student achievement.

CANO is committed to creating an environment in which educators can continue to develop professionally while making a meaningful impact on the students, families, and communities we serve.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Community Academies of New Orleans believes in the importance of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where students and employees can thrive.

CANO is committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences of the students and communities we serve.