The Waverly School seeks a dynamic and inspired champion to serve as the Elementary School Physical Education Instructor starting in August 2026. This position is a preschool-12 role that focuses on the student experience, building and maintaining clear connections between divisional programs and fostering consistency of culture and practice. The successful candidate for this position has demonstrated experience working with elementary school students in the realm of physical education and demonstrated capacity for meeting the needs of learners who are beginning to understand their bodies as well as the how physical competition shapes the social and learning environments of the school. The physical education teacher has the ability to show compassion and care for all students while teaching students the individual skills of throwing, catching, kicking, teamwork, body positivity, inclusion sports engagement and personal development.
Plan and teach engaging, developmentally appropriate physical education classes for students in Preschool through 6th Grade.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive P.E. curriculum aligned with Waverly's progressive educational philosophy.
Foster a classroom culture centered on cooperation, perseverance, inclusion, respect, and joyful movement.
Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners and varying physical abilities.
Teach movement skills, games, fitness, outdoor education, cooperative challenges, and age-appropriate sports fundamentals.
Utilize Responsive Classroom practices and restorative approaches to build community and support positive student behavior.
Maintain safe, organized indoor and outdoor learning environments and PE equipment.
Supervise students during recesses, transitions, assemblies, and other assigned duties.
Collaborate with classroom teachers, specialists, SST educators, and school counselors to support students' academic, social, and emotional development.
Communicate regularly with families regarding curriculum and student growth.
Participate in and contribute to Waverly's narrative semester reports.
Chaperone experiential learning opportunities, field trips, overnight outdoor education experiences, and school events.
Attend weekly faculty meetings, professional development, and school-wide events.
Participate fully in the life of the school community and perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Elementary School or Head of School.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of child development from preschool through elementary school (K-6).
Embrace progressive education and whole-child learning.
Strong commitment to inclusive practices that support students of all backgrounds to succeed.
Believe that every child deserves to feel successful, challenged, and included in physical education.
Build strong relationships with students, colleagues, and families.
Create engaging lessons that encourage movement, creativity, teamwork, and personal growth.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in both curriculum and practice.
Be flexible, collaborative, reflective, and possess a sense of humor.
Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues.
Be comfortable using Google Workspace and educational technology for communication and documentation.
Experience as a classroom teacher and academic leader
Demonstrated ability to develop, maintain and model kind and firm boundaries
Experience and evidence of passion for progressive education
Minimum of a bachelor’s degree
Demonstrated understanding of lesson design, use of rubrics and narrative-based assessment practices
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Upholding the mission of the school and supporting the school’s DEIJB work
Supporting admissions work as needed
Attending school events as needed
Work in person, on campus during school hours
Maintain emotional control under stress
Must be able to stand, lift, push, pull, stoop and bend for short periods of time.
Regularly work on repetitive tasks.
Occasionally lift 15-45 pounds.
Prolonged periods of standing and walking throughout classrooms and between several campus locations, including the school farm.
Regularly spend long hours sitting and using office equipment and computers
Regularly move up and down stairs
CPR/AED/First Aid certification training every 2 years
Initial and continued TB Assessment required for employment in CA schools
Annual Mandated Reporter and Harassment Prevention Training
Adhere to school policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee and Faculty Handbook
Job Type: Full Time – 12-month year, exempt
Typical Hours per week: 40 - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Salary Range: $60,000-90,000 depending on experience
The Waverly School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination based on the race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, transgender, transsexualism, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, primary language, military or veteran status, physical handicap, disability, medical condition, mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, ancestry, or based on any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
Please visit https://jobs.appone.com/TheWaverlySchool to apply for this position.
School contact: Vella Cagle, Director of Human Resources, [email protected]
Interested candidates should submit a statement of educational philosophy via email to:
Director of Human Resources
[email protected]
The Waverly School is a nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory, progressive day school that spans preschool through high school. Waverly provides an experience-based, cross-disciplinary education in which students are expected to work to their highest potential. Waverly is dedicated to helping students become confident, curious, resourceful learners who demonstrate intellectual engagement, critical and creative thinking, respect for individual differences, and a strong sense of personal and social responsibility. The Waverly School has three campuses and a one-acre organic farm, all within walking distance of one another, in Pasadena, CA.
The Waverly School is a nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory, progressive day school that spans preschool through high school. Waverly provides an experience-based, cross-disciplinary education in which students are expected to work to their highest potential. Waverly is dedicated to helping students become confident, curious, resourceful learners who demonstrate intellectual engagement, critical and creative thinking, respect for individual differences, and a strong sense of personal and social responsibility. The Waverly School has three campuses and a one-acre organic farm, all within walking distance of one another, in Pasadena, CA.
