Project Manager - Physical Education & Community Services 2026-2027

TEMPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

TITLE: Project Manager - Physical Education & Community Services

About You:

You believe all students deserve access to high-quality physical education and that movement, wellness, and sport are foundational to student development.

You prefer being in schools alongside PE teachers—modeling lessons, coaching instructional practice, and building programs—rather than working from an office.

You have a strong sense of urgency and are focused on improving outcomes, not just completing tasks.

You are resourceful and entrepreneurial—comfortable writing grants, building equipment inventories, and finding creative ways to expand access to programming and opportunities for students.

You build trust quickly, communicate clearly, and provide honest, actionable feedback that helps teachers and coaches grow.

You see both the big picture—a coherent K–8 physical education and athletics pathway—and the daily instructional moves required to bring it to life.

About Us:

Established in 1874, we have grown to 21 schools, serving over 11,000 students with over 50+ languages spoken by our students.

Our organization is centered around our values and beliefs that our students are confident self-advocates with interpersonal and critical thinking skills who productively and innovatively make a positive impact in their current and future communities.

We are proud of the family-like culture that permeates our system. Our system boasts award winning faculty and principals, high achieving students, signature programs and unparalleled parental and community support.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Kinesiology, Sports Management, Education, or a related field
2. Valid Arizona Teaching Certificate
3. Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience teaching physical education or coaching in a school setting
4. Demonstrated expertise in:

• Standards-based physical education curriculum and instruction
• Student-centered PE practices and developmentally appropriate programming
• Instructional coaching and professional learning facilitation
• Grant writing and/or resource procurement for educational or athletic programs
• Athletic coaching at the youth, elementary, or middle school level

Preferred Attributes:

• Master’s degree in Physical Education, Educational Leadership, Kinesiology, or a related field
• Experience designing K–8 PE curriculum, scope and sequence, or unit progressions
• Familiarity with SHAPE America national standards and Arizona PE standards
• Experience developing after-school, intramural, or community sports programs
• Demonstrated success writing grants or securing external funding for equipment or programs
• Ability to analyze student participation and performance data to guide instructional decisions
• Strong ability to build relationships and support adult professional learning

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

(Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities performed by the incumbents of this class.)

About the Role:

Why the role exists:

The Project Manager (Physical Education & Community Services) exists to improve the quality and consistency of physical education instruction across the district while building robust after-school athletic programs and student development pathways that connect elementary PE to middle school athletics.

This role is school-embedded, spending a minimum of 80% of the workday in gymnasiums, on fields, and in classrooms observing instruction, modeling lessons, co-teaching, and coaching PE teachers and site-based athletic staff.

This role operates under the direction and authority of the Head of Athletics and Community Services. The Head of Athletics and Community Services holds strategic authority over all athletic and PE programming, facilities, budgets, partnerships, and compliance. Site principals retain formal evaluative authority over PE teachers; there is no formal evaluation structure for coaches. The Project Manager (PE) is responsible for field-level execution, instructional coaching, curriculum implementation, program development, and grant-funded procurement—working within the frameworks, priorities, and decisions set by the Head of Athletics.

The work is centered on ensuring that physical education and athletic programming reflects:

• Grade-level appropriate rigor and skill progression
• Student engagement, physical literacy, and movement
• Equitable access to high-quality instruction and athletic opportunities
• Strong Tier 1 PE instruction that supports all learners
• Intentional developmental pathways from elementary PE into competitive middle school athletics

Responsibilities & Deliverables:

1. Instructional Practice (School-Embedded Work)

• Spend a minimum of 80% of time in schools supporting physical education instruction and coaching.
• Model high-quality PE lessons that promote student physical literacy, active engagement, skill development, and age-appropriate sport concepts.
• Co-teach and demonstrate lessons aligned to the district PE curriculum and state standards, as established by the Head of Athletics.
• Observe PE instruction and provide clear, actionable, growth-oriented feedback to teachers.
• Lead coaching cycles focused on improving teacher practice and student outcomes, in alignment with expectations set by the Head of Athletics.

1. Instructional Coaching & Teacher Development

Note: Site principals hold formal evaluative authority over PE teachers. There is no formal evaluation structure for coaches. The Project Manager (PE) provides job-embedded instructional coaching to both PE teachers and coaches—a collaborative, growth-focused relationship that is entirely separate from and does not inform formal evaluation.

• Provide ongoing, school-embedded instructional coaching to PE teachers focused on improving classroom practice and student outcomes.
• Build teacher capacity to deliver standards-aligned PE instruction with high student engagement, developmentally appropriate progressions, and inclusive practices.
• Support teachers in using student participation and performance data to adjust instructional practice.
• Provide informal coaching and support to site-based athletic coaches focused on developmentally appropriate practices, student engagement, and program quality.
• Facilitate professional learning sessions for PE teachers and site-based coaches, as directed by the Head of Athletics.
• Collaborate with principals on instructional matters related to PE, in coordination with the Head of Athletics.

1. PE Curriculum, Scope & Sequence, and Content Development

• Lead the development, revision, and implementation of a districtwide K–8 physical education curriculum and scope and sequence, in collaboration with and subject to approval by the Head of Athletics.
• Create and curate high-quality PE instructional content, lesson plans, and resource libraries for teacher use.
• Ensure curriculum alignment with Arizona PE standards and SHAPE America national standards.
• Develop observation and coaching cycle tools to monitor instructional implementation, sharing findings regularly with the Head of Athletics.
• Support consistency and coherence of PE programming across all 21 schools.

1. After-School Sports Programs & Student Athletic Development

Note: The Head of Athletics and Community Services holds ownership and strategic oversight of all district athletic programming. The Project Manager (PE) designs, coordinates, and runs day-to-day operations of after-school elementary sports programs within the framework approved by the Head of Athletics.

• Design and operationalize after-school sports programs for elementary students—including intramural leagues, skill clinics, and introductory athletic programs—within parameters established by the Head of Athletics.
• Develop a structured student progression framework connecting elementary physical education to middle school athletic programs, in collaboration with and subject to approval by the Head of Athletics.
• Create age-appropriate programming that introduces students to a variety of sports, builds fundamental athletic skills, and fosters a lifelong love of physical activity.
• Coordinate day-to-day logistics for after-school programming including staffing, scheduling, equipment, and communication with families, escalating facility and risk management needs to the Head of Athletics.
• Collect and report participation data and program outcomes to the Head of Athletics to inform continuous improvement.

1. Grant Writing & Equipment Procurement

Note: Budget authority and purchasing decisions remain with the Head of Athletics and Community Services. The Project Manager (PE) identifies funding opportunities, writes grant applications, and manages procurement processes within approved budget parameters.

• Research and identify grant opportunities to fund PE equipment, athletic programs, and student wellness initiatives, presenting findings to the Head of Athletics for approval prior to application.
• Write and submit grant applications aligned to district priorities and student needs, with review and sign-off by the Head of Athletics and appropriate district leadership.
• Coordinate equipment procurement processes following district purchasing procedures and within budgets approved by the Head of Athletics.
• Ensure equitable distribution of equipment across schools, as directed by the Head of Athletics.
• Track grant compliance, reporting requirements, and outcomes, keeping the Head of Athletics informed of all grant obligations and timelines.
• Maintain a districtwide PE equipment inventory to inform ongoing procurement planning.

1. Safety, Compliance & Facilities Coordination

Note: The Head of Athletics and Community Services holds authority over all facilities use, risk management protocols, safety compliance, and formal agreements with city and community partners. The Project Manager (PE) implements established protocols in the field and escalates any concerns to the Head of Athletics.

• Implement all safety, supervision, and risk management protocols established by the Head of Athletics during after-school programming and school-based PE activities.
• Coordinate routine scheduling needs for after-school program use of school gyms and fields, working within the facilities scheduling system managed by the Head of Athletics.
• Escalate any facility maintenance concerns, safety issues, or scheduling conflicts to the Head of Athletics and Operations as appropriate.
• Support the Head of Athletics in maintaining compliance with district policies and student safety standards across PE and after-school programming.

1. Data, Communication & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze student participation and fitness data to identify instructional trends and program needs across schools.
• Support teachers and site leaders in using data to inform instructional and programmatic decisions.
• Provide regular updates to the Head of Athletics on instructional implementation, program progress, and outcomes.
• Serve as a district resource and content expert in physical education instruction, youth athletics, and student wellness—operating within the strategic direction set by the Head of Athletics.

DEPARTMENT: Student Success Enterprise

SALARY: Certified

WORK YEAR: Certified Schedule

REPORTS TO: Head of Athletics and Community Services

EVALUATION: Certified

REVISED: March 2026