Health & Wellness Teacher

 

Reports To: School Principal

 

Qualifications:           

• Valid CT State Teaching Certificate for PE (044) with Health (043) endorsement required
• Master's Degree Preferred
• Successful experience as a Health teacher preferred

General Description:  

The Health & Wellness Teacher is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive wellness program that supports the physical, social, emotional, behavioral, and academic well-being of students. This position extends beyond traditional health education by providing students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, healthy lifestyle habits, social-emotional competencies, and community awareness through hands-on, collaborative experiences.

The Health & Wellness Teacher will serve as a key member of the Unified Arts team and work collaboratively with school staff, community partners, and families to foster a school culture that promotes wellness, empowerment, inclusion, and personal growth.

 

The Kelly Middle School mission is to inspire students to become creators, inventors, and dreamers by using project-based learning to foster growth and help them reach their full artistic, social, and academic potential.

We cannot fully realize this mission without a Unified Arts program specifically focused on the whole child—addressing Wellness, Health, Opportunities, Leadership, and Environmental Stewardship.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Health & Wellness Instruction

• Design and deliver engaging instruction aligned with state health education standards and district initiatives.
• Promote healthy decision-making related to physical health, mental health, nutrition, fitness, substance abuse prevention, personal safety, and healthy relationships.
• Provide age-appropriate sexual health education, including topics related to consent, peer pressure, healthy relationships, and personal safety.
• Teach students practical life skills, including financial literacy, money management, and responsible decision-making.

Social-Emotional Learning & Wellness

• Collaborate with school social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other members of the mental health team to support student wellness.
• Facilitate activities focused on self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience, stress management, and positive coping strategies.
• Incorporate wellness initiatives such as sleep tracking, exercise monitoring, healthy eating awareness, and self-reflection activities to help students understand the connection between physical health and overall well-being.
• Promote social media literacy, including responsible digital citizenship, body image awareness, mental health impacts, and online safety.

Leadership & Community Partnerships

• Coordinate guest speakers and community presentations that support wellness, leadership, and personal development.
• Collaborate with local organizations, including Norwich Youth and Family Services, to provide prevention and intervention programming for students.
• Partner with the School Resource Officer (SRO) to educate students about legal and safety risks associated with vaping, substance use, and other high-risk behaviors.
• Support and expand leadership initiatives such as the Kelly Cadets program and other student leadership opportunities.

Physical Wellness & Inclusive Practices

• Coordinate opportunities for students to participate in wellness activities such as yoga, Zumba, mindfulness practices, and fitness education through collaboration with qualified instructors.
• Promote inclusion and empathy through required participation in Adaptive Physical Education experiences and programs such as the Best Buddies initiative, helping students learn to work effectively with individuals of all abilities.
• Collaborate with the school nurse to educate students about health risks, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Environmental Wellness & Experiential Learning

• Facilitate student participation in the Kelly School Garden program, providing hands-on experiences in growing food, environmental stewardship, sustainability, and healthy nutrition.
• Develop project-based learning opportunities that connect environmental awareness with personal wellness and community responsibility.

Conflict Resolution & Relationship Building

• Teach conflict resolution strategies, communication skills, and problem-solving techniques.
• Facilitate team-building activities that encourage collaboration, empathy, respect, and positive peer interactions.
• Create a classroom environment that fosters belonging, inclusion, and student voice.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate records of student progress and participation.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, families, and community partners.
• Participate in professional learning opportunities and school improvement initiatives.
• Support the district's commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of adolescent development and wellness.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
• Knowledge of current health education practices and social-emotional learning frameworks.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
• Ability to create engaging, student-centered learning experiences.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that supports the growth of the whole child.
• Ability to effectively communicate with parents, co-workers and students
• Demonstrated understanding of the unique needs and characteristics of all students particularly those who are differently abled (i.e. Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impaired, Emotional Disability)
• Knowledge of principles of classroom and behavior management
• Knowledge of principles of child development stages and developmental delays
• Ability to exercise flexibility, common sense and good judgment
• Skill in following oral and written directions
• Ability to identify, prevent and deescalate negative behaviors
• Speaks clearly, distinctly and correctly
• Kind, patient, fair and maintains self control
• Possesses working familiarity with technology, internet, email and relative software
• Must be punctual and reliable

 

Physical Abilities and Working Conditions:

The Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Employment listed in this section are representative of, but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Employment that may be required of positions in this class. Norwich Public School District encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment in this class and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Human Resources Department for further information.

 

• Performing the job duties of this position requires the following physical demands: reaching, some lifting, standing, walking, carrying, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, sitting, and/or crawling.
• Move small stacks of textbooks, sports equipment, desks, and other classroom equipment
• Physical strength and agility to push, pull, twist, turn, squat, lift, and carry bulky objects in excess of 20 pounds with or without assistance
• Occasional exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather

 

Terms of Employment:  Salary and work year to be determined by the contract between the Norwich Board of Education and the Norwich Teachers League.

 

Evaluation:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of support services.