California Baptist University

PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER CAREER GUIDE

KIN 423
Organization and Administration of Physical Education
Dr. Kathy Henschel

by:
Jennifer Tellefsen
October 19, 2016

Table of Contents
1. Introduction....2
Physical Education Teacher Definition..2
Purpose of Guide2
Importance of Leadership and Management..2
2. Leading Organizations4
3. Ethics and Bible Principals.6
4. Planning.10
5. Organizing.....10
6. Controlling.11
Legal Liability...9

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

Fiscal Management..10
Staffing.11
7. Conclusion..12
8. References..13
9. Appendix........14

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

The position of physical education teacher in an elementary school is to instruct physical
activities and games. It involves teaching children to understand and be able to perform basic
motor skills, social and personal skills in physical activities, and to practice physical exercise in
order to promote good health.
Purpose of Guide
The purpose of this organization and administration career guide is to establish best
practices in order to effectively run the physical education department within the school district.
Included in this manual are leadership and ethics, planning and programming, profitable fiscal
management, and competent risk management and legal liability.
Importance of Leadership and Management
Leadership impacts the success of the physical education department by keeping it
running smoothly through planning and organizing. Leadership also impacts the success of the

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

department by communicating with the principal, the other departments, within the school
district, and by getting people to follow and work towards the goals of the organization. Leaders
are good innovators and they are dynamic. In order for an organization to be successful and to
grow, the leader must innovate new ideas and look towards new ways to do things. The leader
should be good at solving problems. A good leader also needs to be dynamic. They need to be
willing to change and adapt to new situations, and anticipate possible weaknesses and problems
within their work and within their department. Being a good leader means being open to different
and new ideas, taking chances and using imagination.
For example, the physical education teacher should always look to better themselves by
educating themselves in the latest information on the biomechanics of the human body, the latest
sports and athletic information, latest safety protocols, and any changes within the teaching
standards.
Physical education teachers can lead by helping evaluate the health and wellness program
of the school. They should work with the teachers by educating them on the benefits of healthy
eating and the benefits of including small physical activities for the students throughout the day.
They should also include a plan for the teachers themselves to engage in some physical activity
sometime during the day. A physical education leader should also promote school-wide activities
like walk-a-thons, junior olympics, field days, walk or wheel to school days, and fun runs. They
can also plan for after-school activities like running clubs, proper biking rules and guidelines,
flag football, yoga, or other sports.
Leading Organizations
Management comprises of managing functions, including finance, development, or
marketing, as well as managing people. In the physical education department, management

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

involves organizing the structure, planning, and managing people to effectively achieve the
organizations objectives and goals. Planning is also the precursor for organizing the department,
leading the people and the organization, and controlling the organization. There should be
monitoring and assessing the other functions in order to make sure the organization is running
smoothly and properly. For example, controlling and monitoring the educational goals of the
district and the school in order for the departments performance to be measured and reported
and take action where needed.
According to Sawyer and Judge (2012), the five functions of management are dynamic
and they are all related to each other. The functions are planning, organizing, staffing,
directing/leading, and controlling.
1. Planning setting up goals and objectives for what is needed to accomplish in the
short term and in the long term. For example, an objective to not only teach the kids
to move their bodies in a fun and educational way, but also teach the students why
physical activity is important for their well-being and health. The goal is not to just
teach, but to educate children about the importance while they are young so they can
continue with an active lifestyle into adulthood.
2. Organizing establish an internal organizational structure. Developing a structure of
how to manage tasks and the flow of information from the PE teacher to other staff
like an equipment manager, to the kids, to the principal, and to the parents when
applicable.
3. Staffing making sure the business is staffed with qualified people. If and when
funds are available, and if needed, PE assistants or equipment manager, to help the PE
teacher with tasks and duties

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

4. Directing/leading leading and influencing others through motivation, discipline,
communication, and leadership. An example of this is to communicate directly with
the students and any assistants of what is required of them and to also motivate them
with positive leadership.
5. Controlling set up standards based on the school and the school districts objectives,
measure and report performances, compare these, and then take action as needed.
Identify any problems and set up standards to measure and correct these problems.
For example, if there are standards not being met with teaching the proper skills and
concepts of the different sports that are required by the district, identify this problem,
set up standards to measure, and then plan to correct this insufficiency.
Leadership Style
Managers are the administrator of an organization. They are focused on short-range
items, and they look at the bottom line. Managers learn through training, and they like to do
things right and they have good common sense. In comparison, leaders are innovators and see
the bigger perspective. Leaders challenge things and they come up with original ideas. They also
like to do the right thing, but they take risks and are flexible. Another difference between the two
is that managers tend to rely on control, whereas leaders inspire trust. Lastly, a big difference,
according to John Maxwell in the video The Secret to Success, is that leaders have discovered
what their purpose in life is. This gives them stability and strength when others are not as
grounded and sure of themselves.
Management Theory
Management involves organizing people to effectively achieve the organizations
objectives and goals. Managers must be able to see how all the small pieces of the organization

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

fit together into the big picture. They also must have good people skills and be able to get along,
and communicate well with others. Along with these skills, managers must be able to be effect
decision makers. Sawyer and Judge (2012).
The management theory that best describes my style is systems theory. Systems theory
shares feedback between inputs: people, technology, resources; outputs: programs and services;
outcomes for students; and feedback from the students, society, and the organization as a whole.
This the physical education department well because it makes it easy to comprehend all the
details, as well as understanding how all the pieces work together in the big picture, Sawyer and
Judge (2012). Its important to get feedback and others perspective on the various areas and
learn how they work together, and discover where there are problems or needs in the
organization. The feedback can come from both external sources and internal sources. The more
information gathered, the more knowledgeable and the better prepared one will be to make good
decisions. This is important in physical education as you can learn from other physical education
teachers in other schools, from teachers and principals, as well as learn from parents and students
alike.
The leadership style that fits me best is Theory Y, Sawyer and Judge (2012). Theory Y
managers believe that people are internally motivated and they enjoy working. They believe that
people want to better themselves, they like to take on challenges, and they take responsibility for
their work.
Theory Y is easily applied when working with youth in physical education. I have found
that youth have self-direction and they take pride in their work and abilities. They have
imagination and creativity and if you can foster that and lead them, the organization will be on a
path to success.

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

For more information, see these professional physical education organizations, (Tellefsen,
2016)

Ethics and Biblical Principles

Ethics are the rules of behavior that are based on ideas about what is morally right or
wrong. Physical education teachers must have the highest standards of ethics. We are given the
wonderful and unique opportunity to teach physical fitness to youth today. Our morals and
values must always put the student's interests first. We must not have prejudices or favoritism
with our students and we must treat everyone equally. As a PE teacher we teach students of
varying athletic abilities, different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and different genders, and we
must treat everyone equally and give everyone the same opportunities and respect.
Ethical decision making skills and strategies help manage difficult situations that may
arise in physical education. According to Sawyer and Judge (2012), three principals guide the
decision making process.
1. Ends-based thinking, which studies the effect that a decision will have, and chooses
the best option for the most amount of people.
2. Rules-based thinking, which supports standards for different behaviors represented in
policies and regulations.
3. Case-based thinking, which follows the old rule of do unto others as you would want
them to do unto you.
There are 3 approaches that can be used to ensure an ethical and proper decision is made.
1. Stakeholder approach manager wants to ensure a win-win situation for everyone
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involved.
2. Results approach the manager analyzes different aspects, like organization policies
and procedures, personal ethics, written and unwritten rules, and if the end results can be
justified.
3. FILOP the manager must analyze what the facts are, the ethical issues, what the laws
are, what are the different options available, and finally what are the physical education teachers
principals and values are.
Some personal philosophies that I have in decision making with in the physical education
department are ensuring that there is a code of conduct established for the organization to follow.
This will give a clear path to take for those who have difficult decisions to make. I also believe
that it is important put the childrens needs and safety first in anything the physical education
department does.
In order to ensure that we are creating and upholding the best environment for the
students, ethics training needs to be done on a regular basis. There also needs to be consequences
and feedback when the organizations policies and ethics are not followed. Being a leader means
that you must uphold the highest standards and ensure those you work with do the same. A
physical education leader will lead those around them, and will influence their students by being
a good role model as well.
Principals from the Bible can help decision making every day work or during difficult
situations. In Hebrews 6:12, the Bible says, We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate
those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. In physical education, it
is vital to always stay diligent and never get lazy. The physical education teacher and department
must always work hard, never taking the easy way out, but instead work diligently to always do

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

what is right. Working towards the organizations goals, and the physical education department
will be successful and will lead by example.
Planning
Planning involves setting up goals and objectives for what I want to accomplish in the
short and long term of teaching PE. For example, an objective of mine is teach the kids to move
their bodies in a fun and educational way, but I also want to teach them why it is important. The
goal is to not just teach, but to educate children about the importance while they are young so
they can continue with an active lifestyle into adulthood. SWOT analysis is a key tool that can be
used to review internal and external strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In the PE
department, it is important to understand these different aspects so the department runs smoothly
and the goal of teaching the students stays at the forefront, (see Appendix for a SWOT example).
Organizing
Organizing to establish an internal organizational structure. An example of this is
to develop a structure of how I would manage my tasks and the flow of
information from me to any staff that I might have like equipment manager,
to the kids, and from me to the principal, and me to the parents if applicable.
The learning environment that the PE teacher organizes for the school
must include all students and their diverse needs. The environment must
include a well rounded program that will help develop proper motor skills,
tools, strategies and education for all students regardless of age and needs.
The PE teacher must not be biased, but must treat everyone equally.
Controlling
Controlling involves setting up standards based on the school and the
school districts objectives, measure and report performances, compare
these, and then take action as needed. An example of this would be to

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

identify any problems and set up standards to measure and correct these
problems, like if there were standards not being met with teaching the
children the proper skills and concepts of the different sports that are
required by the district.
Legal Liabilities
Legal liabilities must incorporate effective risk management. The
controlling function of management is never finished. It must identify new problems and it must
use corrective action and follow through with decisions. Legal liability falls under this function
because a good manager must be able to identify, anticipate and plan for risks.
Negligence and supervision are two very important legal liabilities for physical education
teachers. PE teachers must always be reasonably careful and prudent in their everyday work. As
a PE teacher I will establish standards to safeguard my students. I will provide safe facilities,
appropriate activities, have proper planning and lessons, and provide proper first aid.
I will also provide proper supervision of my students. I will plan ahead and provide proper
communication and safety information.
Risk management is planning for and taking action to reduce legal liability. Two ways
that I plan to provide a safe environment for my students is, one, to always supervise my students
and activities and be aware of any behavior that could cause injury or harm to my students, and
take action to reduce that potential. Secondly, I will have good communication and instructions
with my students on how to behave and how to properly perform activities and sports.
Fiscal Management
In addition to this, responsible fiscal management must be established. Some examples of
good fiscal management include having frequent inspection of equipment to make sure
everything is in good working condition. Guidelines need to be established for purchases. The
items must be standardized, of good quality, they must be paid for promptly, there must be a
professional relationship with the vendors, and all orders must be completed in a businesslike
manner. Upon receipt of items, everything must be inspected, labeled, and stored properly.

Physical Education Teacher Career Guide

Tellefsen, J. (2016)
Staffing
Staffing includes making sure the business is operated with qualified people. Depending
on the situation, if I need an assistant to help me with my tasks and duties, I review what was
needed in my organization, and I would hire the best-qualified person for the job. An example of
this can be seen here in the video titled Make an impact to end childhood obesity, Tellefsen, J
(2016), http://jennifertellefsen.weebly.com/management.html
Conclusion
In conclusion, the organization and administration of the physical education department
is responsible for teaching students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. They are
responsible for teaching basic motor skills, strategies, social and personal skills related to
physical activities, and a lifelong fitness activities. They must establish a vision with goals and
objectives. For the department to function properly and smoothly, the department must develop
the five functions of management: planning, organizing, staffing, leading/directing, and
controlling

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The PE department must organize, have proper staffing and lead the department. It is
important to motivate and communicate the objectives and goals and be able to influence others
to following through with these goals. It is also imperative that the department maintains
responsible fiscal management. Lastly, the PE department needs to have a proper control process
established and be able to identify and fix problems that arise. They must be aware of legal
liabilities and the department must incorporate effective risk management.
One of the most important tasks for a PE department is to have a safe and
effective learning environment for the students. Within all of these management
steps, the PE leader must have strong leadership and managerial abilities and they must lead with
a strong foundation in ethics and they must treat everyone with respect, equality and give
everyone equal opportunities.

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References
Maxwell, J. (2010-2016). The Secret to Success. Retrieved from
http://viewpure.com/yU8lUimI-Mk
Sawyer, T., Judge, L. (2012). The management of fitness, physical activity, recreation, and sport.
Sagamore Publishing LLC, Urbana, IL. P 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 32, 53, 360, 371
Shape America. Fields of Study - Physical Education. Retrieved from
http://www.shapeamerica.org/career/fields/physical-education.cfm
Tellefsen, J. (2016). Professional organizations. [Online image]. Retrieved from
http://jennifertellefsen.weebly.com/leadership.html

Appendix
SWOT Analysis Plan Example
Kinesiology Career: Physical Education Teacher at Elementary School
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Problem: Funding and backing and the effects of this

School districts and individual schools across the nation are run with varying degrees of
difference. They are different in the way they are run, funded, organized and many different
factors affect the learning environment for the students. I am a PE teacher at Spring Elementary
School. The district that we are located in is exceptional. They value all aspects of learning and
they promote a well-rounded curriculum for the students. The physical education department is
well supported and it has a strong backing by the school district, the principal, and the teachers.
In order continue to maximize on these strengths I would develop a plan for the PE
teachers in the district to attend continued education every year. This continued education would
cover physical education, kinesiology, as well as pedagogical training. My plan includes making
sure that the facilities at the school and the equipment are in good condition and I will plan to

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budge the outdated materials when needed. There is also the opportunity for us to communicate
with the parents at the back to school meetings and through out the year about what the PE
department has planned each year. This will strengthen the relationship with the parents so they
will continue to see value in the PE department. Continuing to strengthen the relationship with
the parents, will also encourage them to continuing to help fund the PE department through the
districts foundation. Another area to increase our strengths is to become an example in physical
education for the children. If we are a good example, other districts can learn from us and it will
strengthen our foundation and we can learn from other districts as well.
We need to acknowledge our weakness and threats and we need to minimize them as best
we can. Like many schools in the state of California, children are not getting the required
minutes of physical activity that the state says that they should get. California mandates that
elementary students should get 200 minutes every 10 days. Our school only allows for 120
minutes of physical activity lead by a PE instructor every 10 days. This is due to funding, and
time management by the school. The school has tried to make up the rest of the minutes by
having classroom teachers lead their individual classroom in PE two times per week, but for
numerous reasons this does no always happen. In order to minimize this, we need to make a
budget and set up a plan to request more money from the foundation to increase the pay of the
district PE teachers so they can teach more hours per day. In addition to this, the district, the
principal, and the teachers should discuss any options that would allow for the students to be able
to have more PE and less in classroom instruction. The plan would also include educating the
parents and the foundation of the importance of physical education. As more parents make the
push for schools to focus more on science and math, they need to be educated to understand that
being physically active will actually improve the students performance in all subjects and that

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funding should continue, and if agreed upon, increase the budget for the PE department to teach
more minutes per week.

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