DEPARTMENT HEAD- Social Studies (9-12)

(School Year 2024-2025)

 

Responsibilities:

The Department Head is responsible to the High School or Middle School Principal.

 

Qualifications:
* Master Degree in Education
* Minimum of five to seven years teaching experience in content specific secondary education
* Hold and maintain MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education content specific license and Supervisor/Director license
* Experience in secondary curriculum development, curriculum review/evaluation, preferred

Desirable Qualifications:

* Demonstrated student-centered leadership ability.

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

* Demonstrated ability to succeed in complex and changing environments.

* Proven ability to communicate effectively and collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds including administrators, teachers, staff, parents, guardians and students.

 

General Duties:

* Serves as a member of the leadership team and oversees curriculum development and pedagogical practices that result in interpersonal connections, culturally relevant learning experiences, and equity and access to high quality instruction for all students.

* The Department Chairperson will assist the Principal in providing supervision and evaluation of faculty and other staff members along with management of the total school program

 

Specific Duties:
* Provides instructional leadership that is supportive of a coherent curriculum, and reflects the philosophy of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.
* Engages data-driven decision-making and effective change management strategies.
* With assistance from building administration, lead in the supervision and evaluation of staff within their department.
* Provides the first line of support to teachers who are new to the department or profession, teachers who might be struggling professionally or personally, and partners with the administration when more significant intervention is needed.
* Research and analyze content curriculum needs of the department and perform continuous audit of curriculum to ensure equity.
* Maintain a teaching schedule, as determined by the principal, while modeling and supporting department members in culturally responsive classrooms and parent/community outreach strategies.
* Supervises the development of department budget proposals and the ordering and distribution of supplies, equipment and technology needs.
* Leads departmental meetings and professional development that model social justice, standards-based practices, instructional priorities, and supports curriculum and accessibility in a blended learning environment by maintaining relationships with local, regional, and national associations of teachers of their respective subjects.
* Assists in the hiring, training and supporting of and orientation of new staff members.
* Assists the principal in the process of appropriate student and teacher scheduling.
* Leads regular reviews of the curriculum in the department to ensure vertical continuity and alignment of content, skills, and assessment with the school’s mission and vision.
* Attends regular cross-departmental meetings to encourage interdisciplinary connections in teaching and learning.
* With the support of building administration, lead in the interpretation and analysis of all local, state and national testing.
* With the support of building administration, lead in the planning for and remediation of students at risk for graduation.
* Supports substitute coverage and matters pertaining to teacher absence, teacher punctuality, and homeroom management.
* Performs other such duties as may be assigned by the building principal.

Physical Demands:
* While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit and talk or hear.

* The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

* The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

* Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

]* The employee is continuously interacting with the public, staff and students.

* The employee frequently must meet multiple demands from several people.

* The employee may be required to walk long distances; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and hear. 

* Occasionally the employee must use hand/grip strength to operate office equipment.

* The employee will be required to respond quickly in the event of emergencies.

 

Work Environment:
* The noise level in the work environment is consistent with working in a secondary level educational setting.

* Workday may be long and work week may include nights and weekends.
* Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Classification:

* This position is classified as Exempt (Professional)

 

Terms of Employment:

Position is covered by the Unit B Collective Bargaining Agreement of the Weymouth Educators Association

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Weymouth Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.