GENERAL SUMMARY

Reporting to the Assistant Head of School and Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning, the Interim Science Department Chair works collaboratively with other chairs, faculty, division heads, and their supervisors to design both discipline-specific and transdisciplinary curriculum, and implement instructional practices aligned with the school’s mission, commitment to DEIJ, and Portrait of a Graduate. Utilizing evolving research in neuroscience, education, and global futurism, the Interim Science Department Chair monitors trends, developments, and best practices in educational theory and practice, supports and evaluates faculty, leads departmental professional development, and models master teaching. This position is exempt from overtime. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Curriculum Development and Evaluation:
  • Collaborate with the Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning to create, implement and continuously revise discipline-specific and transdisciplinary courses that meet the school’s aspirations identified in the mission, Portrait of a Graduate, commitment to DEIJ and Commitment and which utilize leading edge technology and media.
• Work in partnership with the division heads to ensure vertical alignment k-12
• Promote summer school classes to internal and external students and ensure congruence with school year coursework
• Assist the upper school administration with the UC accreditation process for new courses, and the AP approval and audit process annually
• Department Leadership:
• Join with the Assistant Head of School, Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning, and division heads in creating, organizing, and evaluating a range of professional development experiences for the entire faculty, departments and individuals;
• Lead department to discuss innovations in the field, to review and revise curriculum and instructional practice, and to assess departmental programs, etc
• Plan and lead departmental meetings to review administrative policies, discuss current department issues, etc. Oversee the business of the department.
• Work with the Assistant Head of School and each department member to set annual department member goals, assessing strengths and areas of growth
• Coach, mentor, and evaluate the department’s teachers both formally and informally to ensure the use of best practices, to provide support and feedback; and coach and mentor the associate department chair.
• Possess expertise in discipline-specific and transdisciplinary content and instructional practice to serve as the department’s master teacher and demonstrate commitment to continuous learning and updating practices
• Assist the Assistant Head of School, Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning, and division heads with recruiting, interviewing, hiring and retaining candidates who advance the school’s mission, Portrait of a Graduate, commitment to DEIJ, and Commitment
• Assist Director of Summer School with summer faculty hiring
• Review all prose reports within the department
• Oversee development and evaluation of final semester projects and assessments
• Review grade distribution in the department and among the department’s teachers
• Meet with other department chairs and senior administrators to develop academic transdisciplinary opportunities and ensure coordination between departments and divisions

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

• Scheduling:
• In conjunction with the Assistant Head of School and division heads, determine student placement and faculty allocations.
• Review carefully standardized test results as a means to evaluate department strengths
• Represent the Department at Calendar Meetings as appropriate
• Department Leadership:
• Submit minutes of department meetings to department chairs and senior admin
• Assure that department class lists are verified
• Meet regularly with the Assistant Head of School, division heads, and deans
• Attend and participate in admissions, enrollment management, and faculty/staff recruiting events to promote the school internally and externally
• Other:
• Respond to communication from parents/guardians within one business day
• Serve as an advisor, provide lunch supervision, host office hours, chaperone field trips and outdoor ed, participate in committees, and other duties, as assigned.