Physical Education Learning Guide (6th-8th)

Position Overview

The Meliora School seeks an engaging, organized, and inclusive Physical Education Learning Guide to lead physical education instruction for middle school learners and support the development of a program that can grow into high school.

Candidates must have experience teaching physical education at the high school level, along with the ability to deliver developmentally appropriate instruction for grades 6–8.

The Learning Guide will help learners develop movement skills, physical fitness, teamwork, leadership, and lifelong habits that support health and well-being. Instruction should provide meaningful opportunities for learners with varied abilities, interests, fitness levels, and prior experiences to participate and grow.

At Meliora, Learning Guides establish clear learning targets, provide personalized feedback, and help learners take increasing ownership of their progress.

Physical Education Instruction

The Physical Education Learning Guide will:

• Develop a yearlong physical education program aligned with applicable Georgia physical education standards.
• Plan a progression of skills across grades 6–8 while contributing to future high school programming.
• Teach movement skills, coordination, balance, agility, spatial awareness, and safe movement techniques.
• Provide instruction in individual and team sports, cooperative games, rhythmic movement, and lifelong recreational activities.
• Teach rules, strategies, positioning, and decision-making through skill practice and modified games.
• Design lessons that maximize active participation and minimize time spent waiting or being eliminated from activities.
• Use demonstrations, practice, feedback, and reflection to help learners improve technique and confidence.
• Adapt instruction to available indoor and outdoor spaces, equipment, weather, and learner needs.

Fitness and Lifelong Wellness

The Learning Guide will:

• Teach the components of health-related fitness, including cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition in an age-appropriate, respectful manner.
• Teach safe warm-up, cool-down, stretching, and exercise techniques.
• Help learners understand exercise intensity, recovery, hydration, and injury prevention.
• Guide learners in setting realistic fitness goals and developing personal activity plans.
• Teach learners to monitor effort and progress using appropriate tools and observations.
• Introduce safe, developmentally appropriate strength and conditioning activities.
• Connect physical activity to stress management, concentration, sleep, and overall well-being.
• Promote positive body image and a sustainable relationship with movement.

High School Experience and Program Development

The Learning Guide will:

• Apply high school teaching experience to develop a coherent progression from middle school physical education to future high school coursework.
• Help learners build the independence, movement competence, and fitness knowledge needed for high school participation.
• Contribute to curriculum planning for future high school physical education and personal fitness offerings.
• Develop lessons that teach learners to create, implement, evaluate, and revise personal fitness plans.
• Recommend equipment, resources, and procedures that support a growing secondary physical education program.
• Collaborate with school leadership on future recreational, intramural, and athletic opportunities.

Self-Directed and Mastery-Based Learning

The Learning Guide will:

• Establish clear learning targets and criteria for demonstrating movement skills, fitness knowledge, and responsible participation.
• Assess learning through skill demonstrations, observations, personal plans, reflections, and knowledge checks.
• Evaluate individual progress using evidence of learning rather than athletic ability alone.
• Provide specific feedback and opportunities to practice and demonstrate improvement.
• Help learners select appropriate challenges, monitor progress, and reflect on their choices.
• Teach learners to organize activities, manage equipment, and lead appropriate warm-ups or small-group tasks.
• Maintain accurate records and communicate progress clearly to learners and families.

Inclusion and Learner Support

The Learning Guide will:

• Design activities that allow learners with different physical abilities and experience levels to participate meaningfully.
• Implement IEP and Section 504 accommodations and modifications in collaboration with specialized services staff.
• Coordinate with appropriate staff regarding adapted physical education needs and individual participation plans.
• Provide alternative equipment, modified rules, varied levels of challenge, and accessible instructions.
• Follow documented medical restrictions and school procedures for returning to activity.
• Use respectful practices that protect learner dignity during fitness assessments and discussions.
• Support multilingual learners through demonstrations, visual directions, and explicit vocabulary instruction.

Safety and Program Management

The Learning Guide will:

• Establish and consistently teach expectations for safe participation, equipment use, transitions, and activity boundaries.
• Inspect activity spaces and equipment and report hazards or maintenance needs.
• Maintain active supervision during instruction and transitions.
• Follow school procedures for injuries, medical concerns, emergencies, and incident documentation.
• Plan for heat, severe weather, hydration, and safe use of outdoor spaces.
• Maintain an organized equipment inventory and communicate purchasing or replacement needs.
• Coordinate with school leadership and operations staff regarding shared spaces and scheduling.

Teamwork, Leadership, and School Culture

The Learning Guide will:

• Teach sportsmanship, cooperation, communication, fair play, and constructive responses to competition.
• Help learners resolve disagreements respectfully and take responsibility for their actions.
• Create opportunities for learners to lead, encourage peers, and contribute to group success.
• Integrate Meliora’s Future9™ competencies into instruction, feedback, and reflection.
• Support House activities, field days, wellness initiatives, and schoolwide movement opportunities.
• Build a learning environment grounded in belonging, accountability, respect, and growth.

School Community Responsibilities

The Learning Guide will:

• Serve as an advisor, supporting learner organization, goal-setting, reflection, and social-emotional growth.
• Collaborate with colleagues to support learner engagement and well-being.
• Communicate proactively with families about progress, participation needs, and celebrations.
• Participate in professional learning, family conferences, school events, and assigned supervision duties.
• Contribute to Meliora’s commitment to always pursue better.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physical education, kinesiology, exercise science, education, or a related field.
• Experience teaching physical education at the high school level.
• Ability to teach and engage middle school learners across grades 6–8.
• Strong knowledge of movement instruction, physical fitness, sports fundamentals, and safe exercise practices.
• Ability to design inclusive instruction for learners with varied abilities and needs.
• Strong classroom management and active supervision skills in indoor and outdoor settings.
• Ability to assess learning and provide personalized feedback.
• Strong organization, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Current CPR, AED, and first aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification before beginning duties.
• Ability to meet applicable employment, credentialing, and background-check requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Georgia teaching certification in physical education and/or health.
• Experience teaching both middle and high school physical education.
• Experience teaching personal fitness or developing secondary physical education curricula.
• Experience supporting adapted physical education.
• Experience organizing intramurals, recreational programs, field days, or wellness initiatives.
• Coaching experience and experience developing positive team culture.
• Experience in a personalized or mastery-based learning environment.

Compensation

Salary: Salary, based on experience and qualifications.