Coaching PE Teachers: Insights from an Instructional Expert

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Gary Zaharatos is a Physical Education Peer Observer and Instructional Coach in Denver Public Schools. He spends his days coaching and evaluating physical education teachers throughout the city. He has dedicated his career to supporting teachers as they strive to implement high quality instruction in physical education. Gary holds a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

Having twenty years of experience in public education, Gary has taught, observed and provided feedback on thousands of PE lessons and was named Administrator of the Year by SHAPE Colorado in 2023. He has also recently published his first book, titled Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher: Establishing a Safe and Welcome Learning Environment For All Students, which offers insightful perspectives and practical guidance to K-12 PE teachers on how to implement equitable practices, clearly communicate high expectations for student behavior and incorporate high leverage instructional methods in the gym.

Some topics we discuss are...
• Creating safe, welcoming environments where students take both physical and academic risks
• Moving away from outdated PE practices like captains picking teams and grading based on gym clothes
• Implementing content and language objectives so students can articulate what they're learning
• Using coaching cycles with goal-setting, observations, and learning labs where teachers visit other schools
• Building professional capital with administrators through relationship building and solution-oriented approaches
• Backwards planning with standards rather than simply listing standards at the top of lesson plans
• Prioritizing standards-based social skills that transfer beyond the gymnasium

Connect with Gary on social media:

1. X: GaryZDPE
2. Ig: garyzdistinguishedpe
3. Facebook group; Distinguished Physical Education 
4. Email: [email protected]

Gary offers his book "Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher" available on Amazon, or reach out directly to him for a digital copy!