SY 26-27 Sports and Cooperative Play Coach

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Key responsibilities

• Cooperative play & social-Emotional learning
• Leverage structured play and athletics as engaging tools for teaching social-emotional competencies, leadership, collaboration, conflict resolution, communication, and responsible decision-making.
• Design and facilitate structured recess experiences that promote cooperation, inclusion, problem-solving, communication, healthy risk-taking, and positive peer relationships.
• Create developmentally appropriate cooperative and competitive games that encourage participation from students of varying ages, abilities, and interests.
• Teach students conflict-resolution strategies and coach them through resolving disagreements using restorative and problem-solving approaches.
• Reinforce schoolwide expectations and core values through games, team-building activities, reflection, and restorative conversations.
• Foster leadership opportunities by training students to serve as peer leaders, game facilitators, and positive role models during recess.
• Build an inclusive play environment where every student feels physically and emotionally safe, valued, and encouraged to participate.
• Collaborate with teachers, counselors, special educators, and culture staff to provide additional coaching for students who benefit from targeted social-emotional supports during play.

• Middle school athletics
• Coach middle school athletic teams during the fall, winter, and spring seasons.
• Develop student-athletes who consistently demonstrate integrity, respect, perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership both on and off the field or court.
• Teach sport-specific skills while emphasizing effort, resilience, accountability, positive communication, and continuous improvement.
• Use athletics as a vehicle for developing leadership, self-confidence, and healthy peer relationships.
• Model positive coaching practices that encourage growth mindset, teamwork, and emotional resilience.
• Establish team traditions that celebrate character, leadership, service, and collaboration alongside athletic achievement.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding student growth, participation, expectations, and schedules.
• Ensure safe practices and compliance with Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization (MCSAO) rules and school expectations.

• Student leadership & school culture
• Develop opportunities for students to practice leadership through recess programming, athletics, mentoring, and schoolwide events.
• Recognize and celebrate examples of positive sportsmanship, cooperation, perseverance, empathy, and leadership.
• Encourage older students to mentor younger students through structured games and leadership opportunities.
• Support schoolwide initiatives that strengthen belonging, student voice, and a positive school culture.
• Help organize wellness events, field days, tournaments, and other community-building activities that engage students and families.

• School collaboration
• Partner with teachers, administrators, counselors, and culture staff to reinforce social-emotional learning throughout the school day.
• Provide classroom and instructional support during non-coaching hours as assigned.
• Assist with program planning, preparation, supervision, and operational responsibilities that contribute to a positive school environment.
• Maintain athletic and recess equipment and ensure safe use of all materials.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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• Desired qualifications
• Experience working with elementary and/or middle school students in schools, youth organizations, recreation programs, athletics, or community-based organizations.
• Experience coaching youth athletics and creating positive, inclusive team cultures.
• Strong understanding of child development, social-emotional learning, and positive youth development practices.
• Demonstrated ability to engage students through play, athletics, and relationship-building.
• Ability to teach conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship through structured play and athletic experiences.
• Strong classroom and behavior management skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Bachelor's degree preferred; teaching licensure, coaching certification, physical education, recreation, counseling, or youth development experience is a plus.

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Preferred characteristics

The ideal candidate

• Believes play and athletics are powerful tools for teaching lifelong social-emotional and leadership skills.
• Sees recess and sports as opportunities to strengthen relationships, build community, and foster student engagement.
• Creates joyful, inclusive environments where every student feels valued, challenged, and successful.
• Models professionalism, empathy, optimism, resilience, and integrity.
• Builds strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
• Promotes healthy competition while emphasizing character, teamwork, respect, and personal growth.
• Brings creativity, energy, flexibility, and enthusiasm to every interaction with students.

Pennsylvania

560 live openings