SY 26-27 Sports and Cooperative Play Coach in Boston, Massachusetts at Conservatory Lab Charter

Conservatory Lab Charter School empowers students to be scholars, artists, and leaders of their own learning. Through the joy and discipline of daily musical engagement, experiential learning, and service to the community, students learn to effect change as creative and active citizens.

At Conservatory Lab, we believe in the power of music and learning to transform the lives of our students and their families. At the core of our pioneering curriculum is the integration of two proven educational models: El Sistema and EL Education. Both emphasize perseverance, collaboration, belonging, and the pursuit of excellence. Together, these models cultivate students who are dedicated scholars, compassionate leaders, skilled musicians, and engaged community members.

Conservatory Lab Charter School is a public charter school serving students in grades K1–8 from across the City of Boston.

The Sports and Cooperative Play Coach leverages play and athletics as powerful tools for engaging students, strengthening social-emotional competencies, and developing leadership, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. Through structured recess programming, cooperative games, and middle school athletics, the Coach creates meaningful opportunities for students to practice teamwork, perseverance, empathy, self-regulation, responsible decision-making, and positive conflict resolution.

During the school day, the Coach designs and facilitates inclusive play experiences that reinforce the school's core values of Cooperation, Empathy, Perseverance, Reflection, and Responsibility while fostering positive peer relationships and a joyful, active school culture. Recess is viewed as an extension of the classroom where students develop essential life skills through guided play, reflection, and positive interactions.

After school, the Coach leads middle school athletic programs that prioritize sportsmanship, character development, and leadership alongside athletic skill development. By leveraging athletics as a vehicle for student engagement and personal growth, the Coach helps students build confidence, resilience, accountability, and a sense of belonging that extends well beyond the playing field.

The Coach works collaboratively with teachers, administrators, counselors, and culture staff to reinforce social-emotional learning throughout the school day. During non-coaching hours, the Coach provides classroom and schoolwide support that contributes to a positive, inclusive learning environment and strengthens student engagement across the school community.

• Leverage structured play and athletics as engaging tools for teaching social-emotional competencies, leadership, collaboration, conflict resolution, communication, and responsible decision-making.

• Design and facilitate structured recess experiences that promote cooperation, inclusion, problem-solving, communication, healthy risk-taking, and positive peer relationships.

• Create developmentally appropriate cooperative and competitive games that encourage participation from students of varying ages, abilities, and interests.

• Teach students conflict-resolution strategies and coach them through resolving disagreements using restorative and problem-solving approaches.

• Reinforce schoolwide expectations and core values through games, team-building activities, reflection, and restorative conversations.

• Foster leadership opportunities by training students to serve as peer leaders, game facilitators, and positive role models during recess.

• Build an inclusive play environment where every student feels physically and emotionally safe, valued, and encouraged to participate.

• Collaborate with teachers, counselors, special educators, and culture staff to provide additional coaching for students who benefit from targeted social-emotional supports during play.

• Coach middle school athletic teams during the fall, winter, and spring seasons.

• Develop student-athletes who consistently demonstrate integrity, respect, perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership both on and off the field or court.

• Teach sport-specific skills while emphasizing effort, resilience, accountability, positive communication, and continuous improvement.

• Use athletics as a vehicle for developing leadership, self-confidence, and healthy peer relationships.

• Model positive coaching practices that encourage growth mindset, teamwork, and emotional resilience.

• Establish team traditions that celebrate character, leadership, service, and collaboration alongside athletic achievement.

• Communicate regularly with families regarding student growth, participation, expectations, and schedules.

• Ensure safe practices and compliance with Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization (MCSAO) rules and school expectations.

• Develop opportunities for students to practice leadership through recess programming, athletics, mentoring, and schoolwide events.

• Recognize and celebrate examples of positive sportsmanship, cooperation, perseverance, empathy, and leadership.

• Encourage older students to mentor younger students through structured games and leadership opportunities.

• Support schoolwide initiatives that strengthen belonging, student voice, and a positive school culture.

• Help organize wellness events, field days, tournaments, and other community-building activities that engage students and families.

• Partner with teachers, administrators, counselors, and culture staff to reinforce social-emotional learning throughout the school day.

• Provide classroom and instructional support during non-coaching hours as assigned.

• Assist with program planning, preparation, supervision, and operational responsibilities that contribute to a positive school environment.

• Maintain athletic and recess equipment and ensure safe use of all materials.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Experience working with elementary and/or middle school students in schools, youth organizations, recreation programs, athletics, or community-based organizations.

• Experience coaching youth athletics and creating positive, inclusive team cultures.

• Strong understanding of child development, social-emotional learning, and positive youth development practices.

• Demonstrated ability to engage students through play, athletics, and relationship-building.

• Ability to teach conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship through structured play and athletic experiences.

• Strong classroom and behavior management skills.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.

• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

• Bachelor's degree preferred; teaching licensure, coaching certification, physical education, recreation, counseling, or youth development experience is a plus.

The ideal candidate:

• Believes play and athletics are powerful tools for teaching lifelong social-emotional and leadership skills.

• Sees recess and sports as opportunities to strengthen relationships, build community, and foster student engagement.

• Creates joyful, inclusive environments where every student feels valued, challenged, and successful.

• Models professionalism, empathy, optimism, resilience, and integrity.

• Builds strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues.

• Promotes healthy competition while emphasizing character, teamwork, respect, and personal growth.

• Brings creativity, energy, flexibility, and enthusiasm to every interaction with students.