Physical Education Teacher job description.
A physical education teacher plans and delivers structured fitness, sports, and health instruction to students across grade levels. They design age-appropriate activities that build motor skills, teamwork, and lifelong healthy habits, while managing classroom safety and equipment. The role blends coaching, curriculum planning, and student assessment, and often includes organizing intramural or after-school sports programs. Physical education teachers work closely with school administrators, parents, and other staff to support students' physical and social development.
The Physical Education Teacher job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Physical Education Teacher Reports to: Principal or Assistant Principal
A physical education teacher plans and delivers structured fitness, sports, and health instruction to students across grade levels. They design age-appropriate activities that build motor skills, teamwork, and lifelong healthy habits, while managing classroom safety and equipment. The role blends coaching, curriculum planning, and student assessment, and often includes organizing intramural or after-school sports programs. Physical education teachers work closely with school administrators, parents, and other staff to support students' physical and social development.
- Plan and deliver age-appropriate physical education lessons aligned to curriculum standards
- Teach fundamental motor skills, sports rules, and team-based activities
- Assess student fitness levels and track progress toward physical education benchmarks
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Principal or Assistant Principal
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Plan and deliver age-appropriate physical education lessons aligned to curriculum standards
- Teach fundamental motor skills, sports rules, and team-based activities
- Assess student fitness levels and track progress toward physical education benchmarks
- Maintain a safe environment by inspecting equipment and enforcing safety protocols
- Adapt activities for students with physical limitations or special needs
- Organize intramural sports, field days, and after-school athletic programs
- Communicate student progress and concerns to parents and school administrators
- Supervise locker rooms, gymnasiums, and outdoor activity areas during class periods
- Participate in staff meetings and professional development related to health and wellness education
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in physical education, kinesiology, or a related field
- State teaching certification/licensure in physical education
- CPR and first aid certification
- Background check clearance as required by the school district
- Strong communication and classroom management skills
- Coaching experience in one or more competitive sports
- Additional certification in health education or adaptive physical education
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Physical Education Teacher job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Physical Education Teacher job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Principal or Assistant Principal) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What qualifications does a physical education teacher need?
- Most schools require a bachelor's degree in physical education or a related field plus state teaching certification; CPR/first aid certification is also standard.
- Does a physical education teacher also coach sports teams?
- Many PE teachers take on coaching duties for school sports as an additional or combined role, though this varies by school and contract.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Teacher
A Teacher plans, delivers, and assesses learning for students across one or more subject areas.
Coach
A coach guides individuals or teams toward improved performance in an athletic, professional, or organizational setting.
Athletic Director
An athletic director oversees a school or organization's sports programs, coaching staff, and athletic facilities.
This Physical Education Teacher job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.