The Physical Education Teacher is responsible for creating an inclusive environment that promotes physical fitness, healthy body function, and social-emotional adjustment for elementary students. Key duties include designing universally designed lessons, assessing student progress, and collaborating with the school community to support health and wellness.
Requirements summary
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree and have passed the required Praxis exams for Health & Physical Education (PreK-12) in DC. Preferred qualifications include 1-2 years of experience in an urban school setting and knowledge of Adaptive PE or therapeutic recreational skills.
bachelor degreepostgraduate degreeHealth EducationData AnalysisClassroom ManagementCurriculum DevelopmentStudent AssessmentPhysical Education InstructionCollaborative PlanningUniversal Design for LearningPBIS ImplementationAdaptive PE
Job description
Position
Elementary
Teacher (1st-5th
Grade)
Reports to:
Principal and
Assistant
Principal
Start
Date: August 2026
Who We Are…. Our mission is to provide an exemplary educational program that includes all students. Our developmentally appropriate, student and family-centered educational approach nurtures students to expand their developmental skills, in order to build a foundation for life-long learning. Our Core Values are: Responsibility Engagement Acceptance Creativity Honesty We utilize the Universal Design for Learning Framework as the foundation for building student agency and framing the essential work needed to meet our mission and organization goals.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are seeking passionate educators to build an inclusive PK-5 school community.
We are seeking individuals who are committed to providing high-quality, universally designed instruction and who are committed to learning about and implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies for our diverse student community.
We are seeking individuals who recognize that they are in a position of public trust and are held to a high standard of personal and professional conduct.
If you are a dedicated educator who is passionate about creating a culture of inclusion and respect, we invite you to join our team.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students and build a brighter future for our community.
Overview of the role The physical education teacher is responsible for creating a classroom environment that fosters, promotes and develops an understanding of the relationship of healthy body function and exercise; that motivates each student to cultivate physical fitness and appropriate social and emotional adjustment; that discovers and develop talents of students in physical achievement; and that develops strength, skill, agility, poise and coordination in individual, dual and team physical activities and sports, in accordance with each student’s ability.
As a Physical Education Teacher, you will be responsible for
CURRICULUM/INSTRUCTION/ASSESSMENT: Creating challenging, engaging, and universally designed lessons that support learner variability. Instructing and assessing students in physical education and Health Education. Assessing student progress regularly and using data to plan for instruction. Participate in the development and implementation of new developmentally appropriate teaching techniques. Be a collaborative member of the physical education team Assist with planning school wide events in support of physical activity and health. Engaging parents and families in their students’ learning and acting as an ambassador for the school in the community. Attending and participating in school events outside of regular school hours. Other curriculum/instruction/assessment duties as assigned.
Benefits
Disability Insurance
401(k)
Health Care
DCPS Retirement Plan
ACCOUNTABILITY: Use assessment data to plan for instruction and to set short and long-range goals. Maintain weekly grade book per school expectations. Maintain data on and utilize technology platforms to improve student achievement. Regularly analyze student data to improve instruction, ensure equity, and make program recommendations and improvements. Other accountability duties as assigned.
Professional
Responsibilities:
Adhering to the 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. work day Regularly attends work and adheres to all attendance policies. Be on time for classes, duties, team meetings, and professional development activities. Communicate about and plan for absences in advance with teaching teams and the Principal. Participate in weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings. Contribute to PLC sessions by being prepared to share data, ideas, student work, materials, feedback, facilitating sessions, and/or discussions. Participate in a Summer Professional Development. Summer Professional Development will be two weeks in August before students return. Seek out additional opportunities for professional development that will lead to achieving personal and school-wide professional development goals. Reading provided school information and adhering to all deadlines. Respond to all emails within 24 hours or the next business day. Other professional duties as assigned.
SCHOOL
CULTURE: Implementation of our Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) program. Create and sponsor an inclusive and age-appropriate Club for the school year. Create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students. Communicate respectfully with students, staff, and families at all times. Model, practice, and discuss respectful, unbiased, and effective communication with students. Other school culture expectations as assigned.
Qualifications
Candidate must hold a Bachelor's or Master's Degree (in Physical Education, Kinesiology, or Exercise Science, preferred). Have knowledge of Adaptive PE and / or therapeutic recreational skills. 1-2 years of teaching experience in an urban school setting (preferred). Passed the required Praxis exams for Health & Physical Education (PreK-12) in content and pedagogy for DC. A track record of being a team player and community-minded.
Salary & benefits
Salary Range
$60,000-$92,000/Per Year View Teacher Pay Scale Here $3,000 is awarded for leading a high-level special education classroom $2,000 is awarded for Spanish language proficiency
An employee's salary is based on educational level, certification(s), and years of experience.
Employees will be contracted yearly.
Contracts will be renewed according to evaluations and staff interest.
Bridges PCS benefits package includes health care, disability insurance, and a retirement plan: 401 (k) or the continuation of the DCPS retirement plan, in addition to other optional benefits.
To ensure the safety of all students, all staff members will be fingerprinted, and background checks will be conducted on all school staff prior to their service as employees, without exception.
Bridges is an equal-opportunity employer.
We evaluate all applicants without unlawful consideration of race, religion, age, color, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
To ensure safety for all students, all staff members may be fingerprinted. Background checks will be conducted on all school staff before their service as employees.
Market context
Classroom teacher roles in DC remain competitive
In the District of Columbia, classroom teacher openings are often shaped by ongoing demand in public charter schools and schools serving underserved communities. These roles are competitive because employers look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, a clear commitment to teaching, and alignment with the school’s mission; benefits may include medical, vision, dental, prescription drug coverage, and graduate tuition support. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to show experience or interest in serving diverse student communities.
