Appointment: 2026-2027 School Year

Supervisor(s): Associate Director of Grades 3-5 & OPK; Physical Education Department Chair

Position Summary

This position entails the design and implementation of child-centered, age-appropriate curricula in Physical Education. The PE teacher works closely and collaboratively with other specialists and homeroom teachers. The position is primarily responsible for designing and implementing the Outdoor Pre-Kindergarten, and Grades 3-5 curriculum. Collaboration within the department and with other grade levels is expected. Candidates should demonstrate a clear understanding of students’ developmental needs and how to tailor a curriculum accordingly. Candidates with an environmental or place-based education background are preferred, as P.E. classes on the Butler campus should incorporate outdoor learning experiences and using bikes to traverse the 150-acre campus. Experience coaching, teaching, and playing competitive sports is also strongly preferred. Candidates should include in their cover letter sports of interest, particularly sports they are interested in coaching. 

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Preparation and implementation of daily lessons
• Design, implementation, and timely evaluation of appropriate, authentic formative and summative assessments
• Regular basic maintenance and repair of the Butler Campus bike fleet for Grades 3-5
• Timely and proactive communication with students, parents, and advisors about student progress
• Collaboration with other members of the faculty, administration, and staff on experiential, interdisciplinary, and community-based opportunities that add to the school community
• Active participation in faculty and staff, divisional, and departmental meetings
• Support of divisional and school-wide initiatives through committee work, where appropriate
• Supervision and/or participation in non-academic activities, including lunch, recess, field trips, bike transportation, transition supervision, etc.

The successful candidate ideally holds a graduate degree and has three or more years of experience teaching Physical Education. She or he must possess a positive attitude, excellent written and verbal skills, strong organizational skills, and proven success within a work setting that requires collaboration, cooperation, and collegiality. The candidate must possess or acquire and maintain a State of Ohio-issued teaching certificate or a long-term substitute license. Experience, training, and interest in teaching outdoors in a place-based interdisciplinary setting strongly preferred.

Salary

Laurel offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.

Work Environment

Laurel School is a dynamic, forward-thinking, K-12 girls’ school with a co-ed pre-primary division, where every child is well known. As a Facing History and Ourselves School, Laurel is fully committed to equity and inclusion; we actively seek a culturally diverse faculty and staff.

Laurel teachers are committed to:

• The study of research on girls’ education and integration of this knowledge into classroom practice
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
• Anti-racist, multicultural education
• The academic and social development of girls
• Working with each girl to fulfill the school’s mission
• The creation of an inclusive classroom community
• The integration of community-based learning projects at the classroom level and as a part of the whole school community
• Involving parents as partners in the educational process
• Outdoor education and sustainability
• Flexibility and openness to new ideas

Laurel enjoys an outstanding local and national reputation and is home to the Laurel Center for Research on Girls. In a highly competitive school landscape, Laurel is fortunate to be a school of choice in Cleveland. Our emphasis on the whole child and our legacy of excellence in the teaching of girls set us apart. Located in Shaker Heights, OH (15 minutes from downtown Cleveland) with an additional rural campus 17 minutes away, the school has an urban/rural advantage. The work environment is noted for being family-friendly and flexible. The feeling in the school is joyous, collaborative and innovative. Our curricular philosophy emphasizes community-based, interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Collaboration and reflective practice are key to pedagogy at Laurel. The school is fully committed to a culturally diverse faculty and student body.

Laurel School is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all personnel and applicants for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; gender identity; national origin; handicap or disability; sexual orientation; or status as a veteran, Vietnam era, or special disabled veteran.