REPORTS TO: Dean of Academics

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 10-Month Position with comprehensive benefits package.

DEFINITION:

The Department Chair works cooperatively with the entire administrative staff. And provides leadership to all program activities, and supervises/mentors all departmental personnel. Works cooperatively with teachers within their department and administrators to recommend procedural changes and academic initiatives to the building principal.

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

Oversee the development and implementation of curriculum and instruction in a designated department as well as observe and evaluate for a coaching and mentoring purpose, the delivery of instruction in compliance with Board Goals, district and building policies and procedures for the purpose of advancing student performance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED SKILLS:

1. Ability to work collaboratively within the school community
2. Management and problem-solving skills
3. Ability to communicate and interact effectively with a  variety of audiences
4. Ability to interpret, analyze, and use data
5. Knowledge of content and best practice

KEY FUNCTIONS:

1. Instructional Supervision

   Authority/ Responsibility

   Supervise all aspects of the instructional program

   Representative Activities

1. Implement and direct the Instructional Improvement/Program for the department.
2. Assist in the interview, selection, and assignment of certified and non-certified staff
3. Provide feedback for the department
4. Organize and conduct staff development activities

1. Program Management

   Authority/Responsibility

   Observe/Supervise and monitor all departmental operations and report to the Dean of Academics/Principal.

Representative Activities

1. Assist in the development of master schedule by recommending course offerings, schedule of classes, teacher assignments, and room usage.
2. Coordinate departmental counseling and placement of students.
3. Conduct regularly schedules departmental meetings.
4. Act as a liaison between departments, staff, students, parents, and administration.
5. Attend required meetings including regularly schedules department chair meetings.
6. Direct all activities related to substitute teachers and work with the assistant principal.
7. Coordinate activities of student teachers w/in the department and work with the assistant principal.

C.Curriculum Development, Implementation, Evaluation, and Revision

  Authority/Responsibility

Responsible for development, implementation, and evaluation and revision of departmental curriculum.

Representative Activities

1. Supervise all aspects of curriculum change including development, implementation, evaluation, and revision and internal articulation.
2. Organize and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of courses reflecting:
3. Standardized testing data                                                                                           
4. Local assessments- exams, performance assessments,etc
5. Other data as deemed appropriate by department- surveys etc.
6. Conduct curriculum orientation activities for departmental faculty.
7. Recommend the selection of textbooks.
8. Coordinate articulation efforts with feeder schools.
9. Participate in board meetings addressing education curriculum as requested.

D.Fiscal Management

   Authority/Responsibility

   Responsible for management of all fiscal items.

1. School and Community Relations

  Authority/Responsibility

Coordinate departmental communications between school and community.

Representative Activities

1. Process all inquiries about departmental activities.
2. Confer with parents, teachers, and students as necessary.
3. Coordinate and participate in special programs involving the community and other agencies and resources, i.e. open house, parents' night, special workshops and community programs.
4. Initiate or encourage publication of departmental activities.

1. Any additional duties as assigned by supervisor.

A department chair is charged with looking at the big picture:

looking at the department as a whole and at the department's relationship to the campus. But the chair is also charged with stewarding the day-to-day operation of the department. There is much to balance as chair: the small tasks with the large vision, and also the job of the chair with the continuing jobs of teacher and scholar.

It's important for the chair to keep in mind the big picture--of the well-being of the department as a whole.  Some further roles of the department chair would be:

• Most fundamental of all: establishing a learner-centered environment, one in which much of the above will take care of itself because all members feel valued, that they have a stake in the endeavor, that they are part of a team, that they have ownership in the program
• Taking time for the department to consider what it's goals are, and if those goals are being met
• Helping people get along with each other (sometimes personality issues within a department are a major challenge)
• Sharing the load of service tasks within the department
• Guide/mentor new faculty
• GateKeeper face of the dept
• Liaison between dept and dean
• Role model