High School Department Chair - Special Education

Position Type:
High School Teaching/Department Chair

Date Posted:
8/12/2024

Location:
Round Lake High School, Round Lake, IL

Date Available:
08/12/2024The Department Chair is responsible for providing the essential leadership for implementing and maintaining the educational program of the high school department as it pertains to curriculum, staff, and the overall learning environment. The Department Chair works collaboratively with the Teaching and Learning Department (both building- and district-level) and is a productive member of the building leadership team. The Department Chair provides instructional leadership and enhances articulation regarding curriculum alignment with standards; creates and provides targeted professional development; oversees the development and implementation of common assessments; assists in the research and implementation of innovative procedures to increase student achievement; and supports the utilization of best practices instructional strategies aligned to the district's teaching and learning philosophy. The duties of the Department Chair are critical to the overall educational program of the school and district and require effective and ongoing communication and collaboration with staff, administration, parents, students, and the community.

The amount of release time that a Dept Chair is provided will be dependent on the amount of FTE in the department and whether the position is multi-building.
FTE Range

Release Time

0-5

1 period, release of duty

5.1-12

2 periods, release of duty

12.1 + or multi-building

3 periods, release of duty

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The following identifies the primary and essential functions of the assignment and is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all duties.

Actively supports and promotes the Teaching and Learning philosophy of Round Lake District #116.

Adheres to Illinois school law, State Board of Education rules and regulations, Board of Education policies and regulations, school regulations and procedures, and contractual obligations.

Mentors new teachers in the department especially in methodology, technique, materials, or any other function needed to enhance a new teacher's ability to be successful.

Assists in the planning and delivering of orientation/induction for new teachers.

Assists with the opening and closing of school at vacation times and at the end of the year.

Attends required staff meetings, and serves, as appropriate, on staff committees.

Communicates regularly with parents, seeking their support and advice, so as to create a cooperative relationship to support the student in the school.

Communicates with the Principal, AP for Curriculum & Instruction, PreK-12 Content-Area Coordinator, and Curriculum Instruction Specialists, as appropriate, about the needs, successes, and general operation of the department.

Supervise certified and non-certified staff and evaluate staff as assigned, certified staff in the department with the purpose of improving instruction and learning, and achieving the school's and district's mission and goals.

Completes in a timely fashion all records and reports as required by law and regulation or requested by administration.

Conducts meetings as necessary for the proper functioning of the school and department, distributing minutes of each meeting to the administration and to all department members.

Continues to grow professionally through collaboration with colleagues and professional growth experiences.

Recommend, and/or create and provide professional development training for the department and other staff when needed; attend or facilitate those programs as leader of the department.

Develops and recommends to the Principal and AP for Curriculum and Instruction a budget for the and recommends all purchases in accordance with district and building policies and procedures; monitors department spending.

May develop and support individual staff members an Individual Improvement Plan (IIP) under administrative guidance.

Displays the highest ethical and professional behavior and standard when working with students, parents, school personnel, and agencies associated with the school.

Ensures that personnel evaluation procedures are accomplished in a fair and consistent manner that encourages accountability, growth, and excellence, in accordance with law, Board policy, and contractual requirements.

Establishes and maintains an effective accounting and inventory system for department supplies, materials, and equipment.

Establishes and maintains high standards and expectations for all students and staff for academic performance and responsibility for behavior.

With the AP for Curriculum & Instruction and the PreK-12 Content-Area Coordinator, establishes procedures for the evaluation and selection of textbooks, instructional materials, and equipment.

Establishes procedures that create and maintain attractive, organized, functional, healthy, clean, and safe classrooms, with proper attention to visual, acoustic, and thermal environments.

Informs Principal or designee of difficulties staff is experiencing.

Informs or facilitates Counseling Department to be informed of students that may be experiencing difficulty and assist in providing additional services.

Keeps the department informed and seeks ideas for the improvement of the school.

Coordinate communicate and articulation efforts with schools.

Coordinate and participate in special programs involving community and other agencies and resources and attend pertinent after school and evening events (i.e., Open House, Academic Awards Night, Parent University, etc.).

Leads a planning process to ensure the development, implementation, and evaluation of department programs and activities.

Support innovative, dynamic, and inquiry-based learning within department to promote and implement best practices within the field to increase student learning outcomes.

Support and monitor collaboration meetings.

Maintains positive, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationships with the administration, instructional staff, students, parents, and representatives resource agencies within the community.

Provide an orientation for substitutes following school expectations and department procedures, seating and lesson plans, teacher schedule, keys, discipline and attendance procedures, issuance of passes, instructional materials, and equipment.

Organizes and maintains a line of communication with building administration and the Community Relations Department that consistently celebrates and informs parents and the community of the accomplishments of students, and staff within the department.

Organizes, manages, evaluates, and supervises effective and clear procedures for the operation and functioning of the department consistent with the philosophy, mission, values, and goals of the school and district, including instructional programs, content standards, program evaluation, financial and resource management, substitute coverage, personnel management, schedules of classes and tests, and community relations.

Protects the confidentiality of records and information gained as part of exercising professional duties and uses discretion in sharing such information within legal confines.

Assists in the development of the master schedule by recommending course offerings (including new course proposals), teacher assignments, courses, room usage, and number of sections.

Coordinate departmental placement of students based on building and district placement criteria.

Assists in the interview, selection, and assignment of certified and non-certified staff.

Recommends to the AP of Curriculum and Instruction the supplies and equipment needed to support instruction and assist with ordering, following established procedures.

Represents the school and district at community, state, and professional meetings.

Research and collect data regarding the needs of students, and other pertinent information affecting the design and implementation of services and programs, using the information to recommend new programs and modifications to existing programs.

Develop expertise in the Student Information System and other tools related to digital instruction to provide support for staff.

Serves as a role model for other teachers, dressing professionally, demonstrating the importance and relevance of learning, accepting responsibility, and demonstrating pride in the school and the honorable profession of teaching.

Serves as the department's representative on the leadership team, or other representative body of the school.

Building based Department Chairs will participate on the School Improvement Leadership Team, which includes an additional stipend. Multi-building Department Chairs may apply for additional positions on the School Improvement Leadership Team.

Summarizes, interprets, and disseminates current developments in learning, instructional strategies, and classroom management through reading of professional journals, participation in professional development, and involvement in professional organizations.

Supervises all certificated and non-certificated personnel assigned to the division to ensure that all job responsibilities are met and exceeded.

Supervises the instructional programs of the department, reviewing and evaluating learning progressions, and observing classes on a regular basis to encourage the use of a variety of instructional strategies and materials consistent with research on learning.

Uses effective presentation skills when addressing students, staff, parents, and the community, including appropriate vocabulary and examples, clear and legible visuals, and articulate and audible speech.

Works closely with other department chairs, administrators, and supervisors to coordinate services and activities.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The following identifies the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential for the Department Chair (this is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all duties).

Considerable knowledge and understanding of curriculum development and program evaluation, trends and developments in the field, organization of the content field, child growth and development, effective instructional strategies, classroom management, learning assessment and diagnosis, and research related to learning.

Considerable knowledge of core curriculum areas for which the high school department chair is assigned.

Considerable knowledge of the district's education philosophy, teaching methods and approaches, and currently researched best practices.

Knowledge of instructional technologies.

Knowledge of learner outcomes, learning theory, student's learning styles and needs, both academic and affective, and theories of multiple intelligence.

Knowledge of multicultural, gender, and disability fair curriculum concepts.

Knowledge of building and district resources.

Excellent listening skills.

Leadership skills.

Skill in human relations, mediation, conflict management, and interpersonal interactions.

Skill in classroom presentation, management, and organization.

Skill in maintaining and developing reports.

Ability and flexibility to interact effectively with students, parents, and other school staff, the administration, and community members of diverse ethnic/racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ability and knowledge of staff evaluation process.

Ability to adapt teaching styles to diverse student populations.

Ability to apply the principles of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using proper grammar and vocabulary.

Ability to evaluate student performance and to present these evaluations in a manner that fosters higher student achievement.

Ability to multi-task and be flexible.

Ability to plan and implement lesson plans based upon District and building goals, as well as the objectives, needs, and abilities of students.

Ability to provide appropriate instruction in core subjects.

Ability to use electronic equipment for word processing, data management, information retrieval, visual and audio presentations, telecommunications, and multimedia technology as appropriate

Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively in a variety of settings.

Supervisory ability.

Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, Master's degree preferred.

5 years professional teaching experience in content area.

Illinois Professional Educator's Licensure with content area certification.

Maintain PERA Evaluator's certification.

Must have tenure currently or have attained tenure previously.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the essential functions and related requirements of persons assigned to this job. They are not intended as an exhaustive list of job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.

Physical Requirements:
Individuals appointed to these assignments must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties of the assignment.

Reports To:
This job assignment falls under the direction of the Principal and Assistant Principal for Educational Services.

Application Instructions:

Apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/rlas/onlineapp/default.aspx