Department Chairperson, Languages

Job Title

Department Chairperson, World Languages

Marple Newtown High School,  School Year

• Units: 4
• Classification:
  Annual Supplemental
• Reports To:
  
  High School Principal, Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning Supervisor(s), and Special Education Supervisor

Department Chairs are teacher leaders who serve as instructional models, professional learning facilitators, curriculum and assessment stewards, and communication liaisons between their departments and the administration. They champion a culture of instructional excellence by modeling best practices, supporting professional growth, promoting high‑quality curriculum implementation, facilitating two‑way communication, and maintaining alignment between department, school, and district goals.

• Model best practices in instruction, assessment, and classroom environment.
• Support professional growth by helping plan and potentially lead/facilitate department‑level professional development and collaborative planning sessions.
• Mentor new and early‑career teachers in the department, offering informal coaching and support.
• Promote and model data‑driven instruction by supporting administrators in leading department efforts to analyze data, reflect on results, and identify instructional adjustments.

• Assist in reinforcing consistent implementation of district curriculum standards across all courses.
• Assist in reinforcing consistent implementation of district common assessments across all courses.
• Collaborate with administration and curriculum teams to revise curriculum documents, unit plans, and pacing guides as needed to maintain relevance, rigor, and vertical alignment.
• Recommend pilot programs, innovative practices, professional development, and curricular improvements based on research and department needs.

• Facilitate regular department meetings focused on the goals for the department for the year, including data analysis, collaborative problem solving, co‑planning lessons, and professional learning.
• Create and share agendas in advance of department meetings and maintain meeting minutes documenting key decisions, instructional discussions, and follow‑up actions.
• Communicate effectively between administration and department faculty, representing department perspectives and supporting the flow of information both ways.
• Foster a positive and collaborative culture within the department that encourages innovation, reflection, and mutual support.
• Establish instructional priorities, department goals, and improvement plans based on data.
• Lead department analysis of state, local, and formative assessment data.
• Use item‑level and standard‑level data to identify trends, strengths, and priority areas for improvement.
• Monitor student progress toward proficiency and support Tier 1 adjustments and Tier 2 interventions.
• Ensure alignment between classroom assessments, common assessments, and state assessment rigor.

• Assist with budgeting and resource requests for the department, maintaining accurate inventories of instructional materials, textbooks, and technology.
• Support administration with coverage schedules, substitute lesson plans, and other operational logistics as needed.

• Participate in an annual evaluation process specific to the supplemental leadership role.
• Set leadership goals aligned with the expectations outlined in this job description.
• Reflect on and document progress toward those goals throughout the year.
• Participate in a year‑end review with the supervising administrator to assess effectiveness in key areas such as instructional leadership, collaboration, communication, and contribution to department improvement.
• Provide evidence of leadership effectiveness including agendas, facilitation records, curricular contributions, mentoring efforts, and feedback from colleagues and administration.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for department‑specific honor societies, awards, and scholarships.
• Support department‑specific student…