About this role
Job Description Job Title: High School Teacher / Special Teams Coordinator
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt Reports to: Principal / Athletic Coordinator / Head Football Coach / Executive Director of Athletics
Pay Grade: Teacher Pay + Coaching Stipend Dept./School: Palmview High School
Initiated Date: August 2026 WHO WE ARE La Joya Independent School District is committed to excellence for students, staff, and the community. With a strong legacy in the Rio Grande Valley, La Joya ISD is focused on providing high-quality academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities for all students. The district's vision, Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student, reflects our commitment to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education and opportunities that support student success. Our work is rooted in the district's core priorities:
• Customer Service
• Trust & Transparency
• High-Quality Instruction
• Excellence in Leadership
• Integrity & Accountability
La Joya ISD serves more than 22,000 students across more than 30 schools and is committed to building systems that support academic achievement, athletic excellence, student leadership, and community pride. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR La Joya ISD seeks a committed, motivated, and highly organized educator-coach to serve as a High School Teacher and Football Special Teams Coordinator at Palmview High School. The ideal candidate will be passionate about student development, classroom instruction, football fundamentals, special teams excellence, student-athlete leadership, and building a complete special teams system that supports the overall vision of the Head Football Coach and Palmview High School football program. We are looking for a leader who:
• Demonstrates excellence in classroom instruction and football coaching.
• Holds high expectations for student-athletes academically, behaviorally, and athletically.
• Understands and supports the Head Football Coach's philosophy, special teams identity, program standards, and overall vision.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive football special teams system aligned to the Head Football Coach's expectations, personnel, terminology, and program goals.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of football special teams, including kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return, PAT/field goal, PAT/field goal block, hands/on-side units, free kicks, return game, coverage principles, field-position strategy, specialists, and situational football.
• Utilizes the Head Football Coach's fundamentals for special teams organization, game management, practice expectations, personnel decisions, and competitive philosophy.
• Builds a culture of discipline, toughness, execution, accountability, sportsmanship, preparation, and continuous growth.
• Leads by example through professionalism, organization, integrity, loyalty, consistency, and personal discipline.
• Mentors special teams assistants and position coaches and supports vertical alignment with sub-varsity and middle school football programs.
• Builds strong relationships with students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Promotes equity, broad student participation, and multi-sport athlete development.
• Supports academic accountability, eligibility, attendance, and student success.
• Commits to continuous professional growth and year-round program improvement.
WHY LA JOYA ISD You will be joining a district that is building on a strong tradition of achievement while continuing to improve systems, expectations, and opportunities for students. La Joya ISD is committed to developing student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. The district values strong leadership, student-centered decision-making, athletic program development, and a unified approach to building pride across all campuses. WHY PALMVIEW HIGH SCHOOL Palmview High School is a proud learning community with a strong tradition of academic achievement, athletic pride, and community support. As the home of the Lobos, Palmview High School provides an outstanding opportunity for a Special Teams Coordinator to support the Head Football Coach in leading, growing, and strengthening a competitive football program. The football program has the opportunity to develop student-athletes through strong fundamentals, consistent terminology, structured practice, special teams identity, field-position awareness, and year-round player development. The Special Teams Coordinator plays a key role in building reliable, aggressive, disciplined units that maximize hidden yardage, protect possession, create explosive opportunities, support the Head Football Coach's vision, and promote excellence through preparation, execution, toughness, and pride in Palmview High School. QUALIFICATIONS Education / Certification
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• Valid Texas Teaching Certificate.
• Valid CPR, AED, and First Aid certification.
• Completion of all required UIL coaching certifications and compliance trainings.
Experience
• Minimum of two years of coaching experience at the secondary level preferred.
• Experience as a special teams coordinator, special teams assistant, position coach, or lead football assistant preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing student-athletes in football fundamentals, special teams techniques, and specialist skill development.
• Experience with special teams game planning, practice planning, film breakdown, opponent scouting, unit installation, personnel evaluation, and game-day adjustments preferred.
• Experience supporting sub-varsity and middle school football alignment preferred.
Special Knowledge and Skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of TEKS and the ability to implement rigorous, standards-aligned instruction consistent with the La Joya ISD Instructional Framework.
• Strong knowledge of UIL rules, athletic compliance, eligibility requirements, student-athlete supervision, and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of football special teams fundamentals, including stance, starts, alignment, leverage, lane integrity, block destruction, open-field tackling, blocking in space, ball security, catching, fielding kicks, snapping, holding, kicking, punting, coverage, returns, communication, and finish.
• Knowledge of special teams systems and situations, including kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return, PAT/field goal, PAT/field goal block, on-side kick, hands team, squib and pooch kicks, free kicks after a safety, fake alerts, sudden-change situations, end-of-half and end-of-game situations, and field-position management.
• Ability to develop and teach a complete special teams system that aligns with the Head Football Coach's philosophy, terminology, expectations, risk management, and game management procedures.
• Ability to evaluate field position, clock, score, wind, weather, opponent tendencies, returner ability, specialist strengths, personnel matchups, and game flow when making special teams recommendations to the Head Football Coach.
• Ability to organize special teams practice periods, install schedules, specialist work, unit meetings, film study, walkthroughs, scout periods, and game-week preparation.
• Effective classroom and team management skills.
• Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Head Football Coach, Athletic Coordinator, campus administration, assistant coaches, parents, athletic trainers, middle school coaches, and community members.
• Ability to promote student participation and develop a positive, competitive football culture.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Instructional Responsibilities
• Deliver engaging, standards-aligned instruction in the assigned content area in alignment with the La Joya ISD Instructional Framework.
• Implement the district curriculum with fidelity to ensure rigorous, student-centered learning experiences.
• Develop and execute comprehensive lesson plans aligned to TEKS, district curriculum guides, and campus instructional priorities.
• Establish clear learning objectives and communicate high academic expectations for all students.
• Use formative and summative assessment data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Provide timely, specific, and actionable feedback to promote student growth and accountability.
• Maintain an organized and structured classroom environment that maximizes instructional time.
• Implement proactive classroom management strategies that promote respect, engagement, and positive student behavior.
• Integrate technology and district-adopted instructional resources to support student achievement.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Professional Learning Communities to analyze data and improve instructional practices.
• Communicate consistently with parents and guardians regarding student progress, expectations, and concerns.
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, grades, accommodations, and required documentation in compliance with district policy.
• Participate in ongoing professional development to continuously improve instructional effectiveness.
• Support campus initiatives that promote academic excellence, character development, and student success.
Athletic Program Leadership
• Support the Head Football Coach in planning, organizing, and implementing the Palmview High School football program.
• Lead the development, installation, and execution of all football special teams units under the direction of the Head Football Coach.
• Ensure the special teams system reflects the Head Football Coach's philosophy, fundamentals, terminology, program expectations, risk tolerance, and vision for Palmview High School football.
• Develop a comprehensive special teams plan focused on field position, ball security, leverage, lane integrity, physicality, communication, execution, hidden yardage, explosive-play prevention, explosive returns, and player development.
• Create special teams practice plans that include individual specialist work, coverage lanes, return fits, punt protection, punt rush, kickoff coverage, kickoff return, hands/on-side situations, PAT/field goal operation, PAT/field goal block, fake alerts, and other game-specific situations.
• Organize special teams install schedules for preseason, regular season, game week, offseason, spring football when applicable, and summer preparation.
• Coordinate coaches assigned to each special teams unit to ensure consistent teaching, terminology, drills, personnel standards, substitution procedures, and expectations.
• Analyze student-athlete strengths and assign personnel to special teams roles that maximize speed, toughness, decision-making, ball skills, blocking, tackling, kicking, punting, snapping, holding, and return ability.
• Assist with tryouts, rosters, depth charts, position assignments, practice schedules, game schedules, transportation, equipment, hydration plans, and program events.
• Prepare student-athletes for district, bi-district, area, regional, and state-level competition.
• Collaborate with the Head Football Coach, Athletic Coordinator, campus administration, assistant coaches, athletic trainers, middle school coaches, and district athletic office to align program goals.
• Mentor assistant coaches and provide clear expectations for special teams practice planning, player development, film review, scouting, supervision, communication, game-day assignments, and professional conduct.
• Support vertical alignment with middle school football programs to build consistent terminology, fundamentals, expectations, special teams concepts, and student readiness for high school football.
• Promote multi-sport participation and collaborate with other coaches to support student-athlete success.
• Monitor student-athlete academic progress, attendance, behavior, and UIL eligibility.
• Maintain accurate records related to rosters, physicals, parent forms, eligibility, emergency contacts, travel, equipment, inventory, film, scouting reports, statistics, and required documentation.
• Ensure compliance with UIL, TEA, La Joya ISD, and campus athletic policies.
• Supervise student-athletes during practices, games, travel, offseason programs, summer workouts, athletic periods, and team events.
• Manage special teams equipment, practice scripts, call sheets, depth charts, specialist tools, kicking tees, footballs, returner equipment, technology, film resources, and instructional materials responsibly.
• Promote a positive team culture centered on discipline, effort, accountability, toughness, execution, sportsmanship, teamwork, pride, and respect for Palmview High School.
Special Teams Coordinator Program Expectations
• Develop and maintain a structured special teams system that supports varsity, sub-varsity, and middle school football development.
• Build a special teams identity that reflects the Head Football Coach's vision and emphasizes discipline, toughness, speed, field position, ball security, effort, communication, and finish.
• Create a clear special teams calendar that includes offseason specialist development, spring or summer installation when applicable, preseason preparation, regular season competition, district competition, playoff preparation, and postseason reflection.
• Establish fundamentals and performance standards for kickers, punters, long snappers, holders, returners, coverage players, blockers, protectors, rushers, gunners, wings, and hands-team personnel.
• Develop unit-specific expectations, drills, teaching progressions, depth charts, emergency backups, and performance standards for every special teams role.
• Create systems for tracking attendance, academic eligibility, practice performance, special teams production, return yards, coverage yards, starting field position, net punt, touchbacks, operation times, hang time, placement accuracy, blocked kicks, penalties, turnovers, and execution errors.
• Coordinate with athletic trainers regarding injury prevention, return-to-play procedures, hydration, heat illness prevention, and student-athlete wellness.
• Ensure practices, workouts, film sessions, team meetings, technology use, and off-campus activities are approved, supervised, and communicated in advance.
• Maintain strong communication with the Head Football Coach regarding special teams progress, personnel decisions, weekly game planning, specialist readiness, field-position strategy, practice needs, and staff responsibilities.
• Maintain professional communication with parents when directed by the Head Football Coach or campus administration.
• Promote student leadership through team captains, position leaders, peer mentoring, accountability groups, leadership activities, and positive team culture.
• Encourage participation from incoming freshmen and middle school feeder programs.
• Support the development of players across all levels, from beginner athletes to varsity-level competitors.
• Plan and support team-building activities that reinforce character, responsibility, commitment, confidence, toughness, and school pride.
• Use practice data, film review, game statistics, specialist charting, field-position data, and coach observations to set individual, unit, and special teams goals.
• Encourage student-athletes to represent La Joya ISD, Palmview High School, and the athletic program with pride and sportsmanship.
Special Teams System Development and Game Management
• Utilize the Head Football Coach's special teams philosophy and game-management expectations and ensure all recommendations align with the program's overall strategy.
• Develop a weekly special teams game plan based on opponent kickoff and punt tendencies, return formations, coverage schemes, protection rules, rush patterns, specialist strengths, returner strengths, substitution patterns, field position, weather, wind, and situational football.
• Create weekly special teams call sheets, depth charts, unit cards, emergency substitution plans, return calls, directional-kick plans, punt decisions, fake alerts, hands-team alerts, on-side plans, and end-of-game special situations.
• Teach every special teams player the purpose, alignment, assignment, technique, communication, rules, leverage, landmarks, and execution standard for each unit and call.
• Develop kickers in approach consistency, ball contact, placement, kickoff strategy, PAT/field goal operation, timing, pressure situations, on-side techniques, and situational awareness.
• Develop punters in operation time, steps, drop mechanics, hang time, distance, direction, pooch punting, backed-up punting, rugby or movement concepts when used, and field-position awareness.
• Develop long snappers and holders in accuracy, velocity, operation time, protection responsibilities, communication, ball handling, laces placement, emergency procedures, and pressure execution.
• Develop returners in ball tracking, decision-making, communication, catch mechanics, ball security, reading blocks, vertical acceleration, sideline awareness, fair-catch decisions, and situational football.
• Develop coverage and return units through sound leverage, lane integrity, pursuit, block destruction, open-field tackling, blocking technique, spacing, communication, effort, and disciplined finish.
• Promote hidden-yardage advantages by emphasizing touchbacks when appropriate, return efficiency, coverage efficiency, net punt, starting field position, penalty reduction, ball security, and explosive-play prevention.
• Use film review, scouting reports, specialist charting, practice results, opponent data, weather conditions, and game results to adjust special teams plans throughout the week and during competition.
• Collaborate with the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator to support complementary football, field-position strategy, clock management, sudden-change situations, and full-team game management.
• Communicate clearly with the Head Football Coach during games regarding special teams strategy, personnel, substitutions, return opportunities, field-position decisions, fake alerts, wind and weather, specialist readiness, and situational recommendations.
• Evaluate special teams performance after each game and develop improvement plans for specialists, unit personnel, and assigned coaches.
• Ensure all special teams terminology, signals, depth charts, call sheets, substitution systems, technology, sideline communication, and emergency backup plans are organized, efficient, and understood by players and coaches.
Football Special Teams Fundamentals and Player Development
• Teach proper stance, starts, alignment, assignment, technique, leverage, effort, pursuit, ball security, communication, and finish for every special teams position.
• Develop kickers and punters through progressive specialist periods that address mechanics, consistency, placement, distance, hang time, operation time, pressure execution, and situational kicks.
• Develop long snappers, holders, and emergency specialists through repetition, timing, communication, protection awareness, ball handling, and contingency planning.
• Develop returners and return-unit players in ball tracking, catching, decision-making, ball security, blocking in space, leverage, landmarks, acceleration, and finishing returns.
• Develop coverage, protection, and rush players in stance, get-off, release technique, lane discipline, block destruction, leverage, tackling, protection, rush angles, pursuit, and finishing plays.
• Develop team-wide special teams habits, including sprinting on and off the field, substitution awareness, personnel communication, alignment, assignment, technique, situational awareness, and disciplined sideline readiness.
• Teach special teams players how to study film, identify opponent personnel and formations, recognize tendencies, understand field-position implications, and prepare mentally for competition.
• Use specialist meetings, unit meetings, film review, walkthroughs, practice feedback, and situational rehearsals to improve player knowledge and execution.
• Ensure all special teams player development is age-appropriate, safe, progressive, and aligned with long-term athletic growth.
Middle School and Sub-Varsity Alignment
• Collaborate with middle school and sub-varsity football coaches to align special teams terminology, drills, fundamentals, specialist development, expectations, and program culture.
• Support feeder programs by providing guidance on practice organization, safe special teams instruction, specialist development, return and coverage fundamentals, and team culture.
• Assist with identifying incoming student-athletes and supporting their transition into the Palmview High School football program.
• Encourage consistent communication between high school, sub-varsity, and middle school coaches regarding student development, readiness, and participation.
• Provide sub-varsity and middle school coaches with recommended drills, practice structures, teaching progressions, specialist-development priorities, and special teams fundamentals that prepare athletes for varsity football.
• Support student participation, retention, and enthusiasm for football through clinics, camps, campus visits, and program outreach when appropriate.
• Build a unified football pathway that promotes confidence, specialist development, field-position awareness, academic accountability, toughness, discipline, and pride in the Palmview High School feeder pattern.
Compliance and Safety
• Maintain current CPR, AED, First Aid, concussion, heat illness, and UIL-required certifications.
• Follow all UIL, TEA, district, and campus safety guidelines during practices, games, travel, and athletic activities.
• Ensure all student-athletes have completed required physicals, forms, emergency contacts, and eligibility requirements before participation.
• Monitor student-athlete safety during practices, conditioning, contact periods, strength training, workouts, games, travel, and off-site activities.
• Teach proper blocking, block destruction, open-field tackling, contact progression, specialist safety, equipment use, hydration, recovery, and safe special teams practice habits.
• Implement appropriate emergency action procedures for football facilities, practice areas, weight rooms, and competition sites.
• Report injuries, incidents, concerns, and safety issues in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with athletic trainers regarding injury prevention, return-to-play procedures, heat illness prevention, concussion protocols, and student-athlete wellness.
• Coordinate transportation, supervision, hydration, weather monitoring, equipment safety, and student accountability for athletic events.
• Inspect practice and competition areas for safety concerns, including fields, equipment, locker rooms, weight rooms, and training spaces.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ensure appropriate supervision of student-athletes at all times.
• Ensure students are never left unsupervised during practices, games, travel, offseason workouts, film sessions, or team activities.
Community Engagement
• Communicate regularly and professionally with parents, students, staff, and community stakeholders as directed by the Head Football Coach and campus administration.
• Promote the football program through campus events, parent communication, feeder school engagement, student recruitment, youth football connections, and community outreach.
• Encourage student-athletes to represent Palmview High School and La Joya ISD with pride, integrity, discipline, humility, toughness, and sportsmanship.
• Build positive relationships with families to support student participation, academic success, and athletic development.
• Model professionalism, integrity, accountability, respect, loyalty, and servant leadership at all times.
• Support districtwide athletic initiatives and promote the One Pack culture across La Joya ISD.
Professional Responsibilities
• Participate in campus and district-level meetings, professional development, football staff meetings, and athletic department trainings.
• Support school initiatives aligned to district priorities.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators to improve student outcomes.
• Maintain accurate documentation and meet all required deadlines.
• Follow all district policies, campus procedures, UIL guidelines, and athletic department expectations.
• Support the Head Football Coach's leadership, program expectations, staff structure, communication protocols, and football operations.
• Uphold district values of integrity, accountability, trust, transparency, and excellence in leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal, Athletic Coordinator, Head Football Coach, Executive Director of Athletics, or Superintendent's designee.
WORKING CONDITIONS Mental Demands
• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Handle multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
• Communicate effectively with students, parents, staff, and community members.
• Manage competitive, high-pressure athletic environments.
• Make sound recommendations during special teams game planning, field-position decisions, personnel management, and in-game adjustments.
• Monitor student safety and decision-making during practices, games, travel, and competition.
Physical Demands
• Frequent standing, walking, jogging, lifting, bending, stretching, demonstrating technique, and movement during practices and competitions.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to demonstrate or assist with football drills, special teams fundamentals, specialist techniques, coverage and return skills, conditioning, and strength activities when appropriate.
• Work in indoor and outdoor environments as needed.
• Exposure to physical contact, football equipment, heat, humidity, cold, rain, wind, and extended practice or game settings.
• Extended hours including early mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, holidays, games, tournaments, playoffs, and travel.
Work Environment
• Classrooms, football fields, gyms, weight rooms, locker rooms, athletic facilities, meeting rooms, film rooms, competition venues, and community settings.
• Practices, games, scrimmages, tournaments, district events, offseason workouts, summer conditioning, camps, clinics, feeder program activities, film sessions, and travel.
• Frequent interaction with students, parents, coaches, administrators, athletic trainers, and community members.
POSITION WORKING DAYS 187 Days + Extended Days for Coaching Duties Position Type: Full-Time The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other responsibilities be performed when the needs of the district change. Employee's Signature: _______________________________ Employee ID: ______________________________________ Supervisor's Name: _________________________________ Supervisor's Signature: ______________________________ Date: ____________________________________________