Become a Physical Education Teacher

Discover the joys of teaching PE

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Being a physical education teacher is no longer just about teaching dodgeball. These days, good health, nutrition and exercise are becoming increasingly important for our nation's children, and a PE teacher is an important part of their life education. If you love sports, are passionate about health and fitness and want to work with kids, becoming a K – 12 physical education teacher may be a great career path for you.

PE Teacher Job Description

Most schools require all of their students to take PE classes regularly, so if you become a physical education teacher, you'll have the rare opportunity to interact with most of the students in your school throughout the week. Many PE teachers support more than one school, holding rotating 60- or 90-minute classes at different schools on different days throughout the week. In elementary schools, physical education teachers work with children of all fitness levels to improve coordination, increase consumer knowledge and inspire a love for physical activity. In secondary PE classes, you can often determine classes or sections depending on your experience or interest and the options available at your school. Course offerings may range from the more traditional basketball, soccer, swimming, wrestling, gymnastics, tennis, golf and running to more contemporary activities such as rock climbing, rollerblading, ultimate Frisbee, fitness, aerobics and dance.

Teaching physical education isn't all fun and games, though. Planning assignments and evaluations for your students and monitoring their progress throughout the year is a large part of the job. And, like any elementary or secondary school teacher, you may have other duties, such as monitoring students, attending faculty meetings, conferencing with parents and completing other administrative tasks.

All in a Day's Play

If you teach PE, you may show up for an early morning swim team practice, then prepare equipment for the day before school even starts. You might finish your day in the mid-afternoon, but if you opt for after-school coaching responsibilities, you may be at work until the dinner hour. Coaching usually provides supplementary income to physical education teachers, so it may stretch your days beyond the typical eight hour work day, but it will also pay for some fun adventures of your own.

Teaching physical education, you may find that coming up with creative ways to engage your students and motivating uncoordinated or inactive students is a daily challenge, but the rewards of seeing improved physical stamina and increased enjoyment are well worth it—especially when you know that the skills and values you teach will contribute to longer, healthier lives and improved self confidence.

Healthy Salary and Benefits

Physical education teachers make wages in line with other elementary and secondary teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for primary and secondary teachers in the United States in 2006 ranged from $43,194 to $57,731 per year, depending on experience, education and location. Combined with ultra-competitive health and dental coverage and generous pension plans, these wages make PE teachers recipients of some of the best compensation packages in the field of recreation.

Education and Certification

To become a PE teacher, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree and teaching certificate in order to teach at a public elementary or secondary school. Requirements vary by state, so contact your local Department of Education to discover teacher certification requirements in your area.

Earning a Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education is a good starting option for PE enthusiasts. Your curriculum will include classes like kinesiology, exercise physiology, nutrition, and health and wellness, as well as activity courses such as golf, aerobics, basketball, tennis, racquetball, and other team and/or individual sports. Teachers who major in health and physical education must also complete certification requirements that include completion of approved teacher education courses and hands-on classroom teaching experience. This can be accomplished by completing a Master's degree in Education or simply fulfilling class requirements and taking a certification test.

If you were one of those children who always answered "PE and recess" to the age old question, "What's your favorite class?" then teaching PE might be the education career for you. When children see respected adults enjoying physical activity and healthy living, they are motivated to make healthy, active choices for their own lives. And as a physical education teacher, you'll have the rare opportunity to build those positive life-long habits in your students.