World Languages And ELL Department Chair

Position Title: World Languages and ELL Department Chair (ELL Experience/Certification Preferred)

Location: Deerfield High School

Reports To: Assistant Principal

Application Deadline: April 30, 2024

Starting Date: August 2024

SUMMARY:

The World Languages and English Language Learners (ELL) Department Chair exercises direct supervisory and administrative responsibility for Deerfield High School's World Languages and ELL Department. We expect this candidate to lead teachers in both World Languages and ELL, and ELL experience/certification is strongly preferred. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, organizing, maintaining, and administering the Department's curricular and extracurricular programs.

The Department Chair is provided with a .8 FTE release time for Department Chair duties and ELL compliance and will also have a .2 FTE teaching assignment based on candidate expertise.

Deerfield High School is committed to academic excellence and personal success for all students. Central to this commitment is educational equity. We are committed to providing instruction with the rigor, cultural relevance, and relationships that ignite the potential of each and every student.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION, LICENSURE AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Education (M.Ed.) required

• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with appropriate administrative license

• At least four (4) years' teaching experience

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Department Chair shall plan, direct and supervise the Deerfield High School World Languages and ELL Department and shall perform related duties as required. Essential responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Supervision of Staff

• The Department Chair carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the District and High School policies and applicable law. Responsibilities include hiring and training of employees; planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance; assisting in the measurement and analysis of student data in accordance with PERA; investigating complaints and alleged misconduct, when necessary; and resolving problems for all department staff.

• The Department Chair has prime responsibility for assisting teachers to improve their instructional skills and must be familiar with evaluation techniques and with other tools designed to assist teachers in analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Through a systematic program of visitation and conferences, the department head is a teacher of teachers.

• The Department Chair submits periodic evaluation reports on all personnel within the department, according to established standards set by the District approved evaluation plan.

• The Department Chair is responsible for identifying staff needs through careful assessment of programs and personnel. The Department Chairperson shall assist teachers in preparing and accomplishing annual and career goals.
  
  The Chairperson shall counsel teachers to use the resources of the Professional Advancement (PARC) program in facilitating their professional growth. Working cooperatively with the Principal and district administrators, the Chairperson helps recruit and select new staff members for the department.

• The Department Chair, as the first-line supervisor, responds to the needs of administration as well as to the personal and professional needs of the teachers in the department. In this dual role, the Department Chairperson provides communication between the department and building administration. Within the limits of their skills, they provide counsel to individual members who have a broad range of personal or professional concerns.

• The Department Chair will be responsible for the assignments, performance, and evaluation of specialized support staff such as teacher aides and administrative assistants.

Program Development

• The Chair oversees program development, focusing on holistic conceptualization, course interrelation, and meeting student needs. They collaborate with the curriculum committee to revise as needed.

• The Chair gives leadership to the staff in assessing overall program impact and in designing instructional programs appropriate for a public secondary school.

Student Services

• The Department Chair will assist counselors in working with students to ensure appropriate course selections. When offered courses do not attract sufficient enrollment, the Department Chairperson will work with counselors in finding an acceptable placement for students if placement within that department is necessary.

• The Department Chair helps the staff translate broad educational plans into specific plans and relate operational needs to the broader programming of the department. In this capacity, the Chairperson gives leadership to specific program developments within the context of the overall plans of the department and the school.
  
  While responsible for one department, the Chairperson is expected to offer insight and to assist in developing total school or district positions. The Chairperson develops the department budget and makes staff assignments, in cooperation with building administrators, in relation to these overall plans.

• The Department Chair will assist students, parents, and counselors in selecting the appropriate level or section of courses.

• The Department Chair will identify and recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the World Languages and ELL areas.

Other:

• The Department Chair will teach one class or the equivalent thereof (0.2 FTE assignment)
• Perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities as may, from time to time, be assigned by the Superintendent or designee.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. As this is a World Languages and ELL position, we expect Advanced-level proficiency in at least one other World language in addition to English.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in a specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community.

Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, bend, write, type, speak, and listen. In addition, the employee may occasionally be required to bend, twist, reach and climb.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, peripheral and distant vision. Ability to work in an office environment, sitting, standing, light lifting, filing, operating office machines and computers, communicating with staff and others. Occasional lifting, otherwise non-demanding office activities.

The noise level in the work environment ranges from quiet/moderate to loud. The employee is frequently required to interact with the other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety and well-being of students and staff members.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by (an) individual(s) assigned to this position.

They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities related to the position.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity and School Board Policy and procedures. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.