MS Department Chair (SY24-25, Internal Applicants Only)

Purpose

The Department Chair is a teacher leader reporting to and collaborating closely with school leadership. They are responsible for creating a culture of high academic expectations and ensuring teacher support and development around teaching and learning, e.g., lesson planning and data-informed practices. The Department Chair receives a stipend for additional work outside of their teaching role and hours.

What You’ll Do

• Report data trends to school leadership by conducting audits of gradebooks and curriculum.
• Plan and lead bi-weekly department meetings that support teachers with data analysis, curriculum development, and build content knowledge within the department.
• Serve as liaison between teachers and school leadership.
• Ensure curriculum is aligned with state standards and VPHS lesson planning guidelines.
• Promote a positive school culture and growth mindset amongst staff.
• Model professionalism and best teaching practices.
• Participate in academic walkthroughs and observations.
• Encourage team collaboration around anti-racism and equity work at Veritas using key tools such as the Veritas Anti-racism Standards and the Teaching for Equity Framework from Leading Educators

• Model how to effectively partner with Special Education and ESL Teachers to support student needs
• Ensure assessment and consideration of preferences, traditions, and requirements (from The Management Center) as it relates to team meetings, workflows, and delegation
• Develop skills around facilitating difficult conversations
• Be available to support teachers who need extra guidance around intellectual prep

Performance Tasks

• TASK 1
  Create a 1-2 paragraph vision statement that outlines how you will leverage this role to improve learning outcomes for students within scourses within your department area. Be sure to include examples of how you will support your team with bringing this vision to life.
• TASK 2
  Scenario: Your supervisor has asked that you prioritize supporting those in your department with promoting academic rigor, whole those in your department have shared several concerns regarding students not having the prerequisite skills needed to access grade level department:
• Task: Keeping everyone's considerations in mind, create a department meeting agenda that will effectively address all stakeholder concerns.

Requirements

What You'll Need (Key Qualifications)

• Ability to hold a high bar for grade-level academic standards and academic performance
• Ability to collaborate across teams (culture, operations, etc.)
• Ability to utilize data to make decisions
• Ability to positively influence and support peers
• Commitment to creating clear, simple systems for organization
• Solutions-oriented mindset when navigating challenges
• Excitement to grow one’s leadership skills with a community of other teacher leaders
• Willingness to learn from and alongside other department chairs
• Ability to take feedback in order to improve one’s meeting facilitation skills
• Ability to see themselves as a change agent who can influence the practices of peers
• Commitment to anti-racism and ability to utilize the Veritas Anti-Racism Standards to promote change

Time Commitment (In School and Out of School)

• 1 to 2 days of training over the summer
• Quarterly after-school professional development
• Weekly tasks and preparation related to the role, as described above

Benefits

What You’ll Get

• $5,000 stipend
• Training and coaching from school leadership
• Regular feedback from peers around facilitation
• Access to additional professional development from outside providers