History Department Chairperson

Department Chairperson

The Department Chairperson is responsible for overseeing the respective department's function and efficiency, coordinating and leading department meetings, and completing required paperwork such as budget and course descriptions. In addition, the Department Chair will work closely with the principals, guidance, special education, ILT and teachers in their departments, central office personnel, and parents.

Exemplary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works as an educational support and maintains a classroom that reflects a high quality of instruction and serves as a model for other teachers.
• Serves as curriculum expert in the department and keeps abreast of related instructional innovations, materials, and teaching techniques.
• Plans, organizes, and facilitates common planning time meetings regularly and shares results with the building principals and/or central administration.
• Oversees the implementation of the department's curriculum through the CPT process and data analysis.
• Coordinates staff development efforts to promote instructional expertise within the department through CPT, leadership team, and/or faculty meetings.
• Works with central office and teachers to assess, evaluate, and make recommendations to modify the department's curriculum program.
• Works with teachers to monitor the department's academic standards in implementing standards-based curriculum units, grading, homework, and assessment.
• Mentors and supports teachers in classroom management strategies, lesson planning, and research-based instructional strategies.
• Works with administration at the building and central office to support substitute teachers by ensuring classroom materials and class lists are available and maintaining a check on their classroom effectiveness.
• Advocates for professional development on and access to student information systems and timely Chromebooks for long-term substitutes.
• Attends school and district level meetings, such as ILT meetings and district initiatives, submits reports, and completes other related activities required by the administration.
• Assists in the building of class schedules.
• Prepares a departmental budget in accordance with directives and timelines established by the principals and/or central office.
• Completes an updated inventory of textbooks, departmental equipment, and instructional supplies on standard forms.
• Makes written requests to the principal for the repair and maintenance of departmental equipment and classrooms.
• Suggests books, magazines, audiovisual material, and other instructional resources be purchased for the department and school library.
• Collaborates with guidance counselors by suggesting appropriate courses for students.
• Serves as a communication link between the school administration and the teachers in the department.
• Serves as a communication link with the middle schools and other high schools to align and increase vertical articulation as facilitated by the central office.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the building principal/assistant principal as related to the content area.

Knowledgeable in: Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction Content Area State Standards Current Instructional Techniques Classroom Management Techniques ESSA RTI (Response to intervention) Cultural competency Technology and the Student Information System The related laws of Rhode Island, the BEP, and the policies, regulations, and procedures of the Pawtucket School Department and the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Skilled at: Public speaking; writing; listening; problem-solving; dispute resolution and providing direction Ability to communicate with other professionals in a respectful and productive manner Respectful, sensitive, and professional communication with family and community Ability to work as a team with building faculty and district staff Excellence in problem solving and organization skills Timely in the completion of tasks and paperwork requirements Creative in solutions to problems and in the development of service models to meet the needs of students Complete requirements of the job in a fast-paced environment Research and data analysis Use of technology Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work

Licenses/Certificate: Valid RI Teaching License in the area and grade level required Minimum three years of teaching experience at the high school level Experience in a leadership role