Primary Purpose

Our mission is to develop players and staff who form the foundation for winning the World Series. A key part of this mission is maximizing growth both on and off the field. Language and communication skills are crucial for players transitioning into professional baseball in the United States.

The Education & Life Skills Department is seeking an experienced English Teacher (ESL specialist) to support the English language development of our minor league players and staff at our Arizona complex. This role will provide highly contextualized English instruction, preparing players for effective communication in professional and personal settings.

This is a short-term assignment with a flexible end date.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Teach English language classes to players with varying proficiency levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced).
• Adapt lesson plans to the unique context of professional baseball, connecting instruction to player needs, baseball terminology, and real-life scenarios.
• Collaborate with Player Development, Training, and Coaching staff to align language instruction with daily activities, schedules, and cultural expectations.
• Provide individualized tutoring and language support for players on rehab or specialized training schedules.
• Evaluate student progress using both formal and informal language assessments.
• Share and align curriculum with education staff in Cleveland, affiliate sites, and the Dominican Republic to provide consistency across Guardians academies.
• Maintain a flexible teaching schedule that adapts to the variable nature of player development programming (spring training, extended, ACL, rehab, offseason programming).
• Contribute to building a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive learning environment.
• Some travel to the Dominican Republic and affiliates may be required.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education, TESOL, Applied Linguistics, or a related field.
• Veteran ESL teaching background — either K-12 experience or higher education (college/university) ESL teaching.

Job Skills

• Proven ability to design and adapt curriculum for English learners across multiple proficiency levels.
• Cultural competence and demonstrated success teaching students from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong adaptability — able to adjust class times, lesson structure, and instructional focus based on baseball schedules and player needs.
• Experience in contextualizing instruction to workplace or professional settings (sports-specific knowledge is helpful, but not required — willingness to learn baseball is key).
• Proficiency in Spanish preferred but not required.
• Comfortable with using Microsoft Office and other digital tools for lesson delivery.

This role is ideal for an experienced ESL educator who thrives in dynamic, non-traditional teaching environments. Unlike a traditional classroom, instruction is deeply tied to the baseball schedule and player development cycles. Classes often take place in the late afternoon or early evening, with flexibility required around spring training, rehab assignments, and other baseball-specific programming, also allowing this position to serve as a supplemental teaching role for a current K–12 or higher education ESL teacher in addition to their full-time assignment.

At the Cleveland Guardians, we are all about creating an environment that brings out the best in everyone. It is a big part of who we are, how we compete, and how we make an impact in our community. We want every employee to feel like they truly belong here.  

We also know that people sometimes hesitate to apply for jobs unless they check every single box on the qualifications list. We’re looking for the best person for the job, and we know that you might bring skills and experiences that aren’t exactly listed but could be a huge asset to our team. So, if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every single qualification.