Math Department Head

Reports to:

STEM Curriculum Administrator

Department Chair Certification (105). An Intermediate Supervisory Certificate (092) may be accepted instead of the Department Chair endorsement.

Accountable to the Curriculum Administrator, department heads serve as lead teachers in the implementation of curriculum and instructional practices that result in exceptional student achievement and teaching. With the support of the Curriculum Administrator, department heads are responsible for providing targeted professional development, assisting in the research and implementation of best practices in curriculum and instruction through coaching, meaningful observation, and constructive content-based formative evaluation.

The functions of this Department Head position are intended to support an effective Teacher/Leader operating under the Curriculum Administrator in close collaboration with site-based building administrators to improve and enhance the effectiveness of the delivery of instruction District-wide.

This position is limited to a two (2) academic year term. Incumbents are eligible to apply biennially.

• Demonstrate outstanding scholarship in Mathematics and expansive knowledge of standards-based instruction
• Act as a role model for the department by demonstrating a commitment to learning:
  • Maintain current knowledge and model best practices for effective instructional and assessment strategies.
  • Model professionalism and respect for others
• Lead change initiatives for the improvement of student learning based on data analysis, best practices, and shared beliefs and values about student learning and intellectual development in accordance with the Danbury Public Schools Mission Statement.
  • Conduct department meetings,
  • Provide support to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
  • Facilitate the creation of common assessments, analysis of data, and collaborative lesson planning in response to data.
  • Support the actualization of department goals in connection with the building level goals
  • Expand professional learning in content area knowledge and proficiency of standards-based instruction among departmental staff.
• Report for New Teacher Orientation to lead professional development on curriculum and standards-based instruction.
• Attend four days of summer development and maintenance of curriculum and instructional resources through a mutually agreed upon schedule with the Curriculum Administrators.

• Facilitate curriculum and assessment implementation, high-quality instruction delivery, and identify and share best practices.
  • Assist in developing an assessment system that monitors student learning and analyzes data to ensure that district educational goals are met.
  • Create and deliver professional development on research-based best practices, including but not limited to standards-based instruction, technology integration, interdisciplinary instruction, and project-based learning, maintaining up to date knowledge of best practices for instruction.
• Directly work with students: equivalent to two teaching periods a day.

• Mentor and coach teachers, tenured and non-tenured, to ensure that the instructional program is delivered and assessed in a manner consistent with district and department goals and objectives.
• Under the district curriculum administrator and in collaboration with the building administration, conduct formative observations of department staff, assist in the development of instructional improvement plans, and identify resources to facilitate the professional growth of department staff, leading to the implementation of best practices.
  • Observations and evaluations by Department Heads are intended as support to the Administrator and primary evaluator, who bears ultimate responsibility for summative evaluations.

• Participate in prospective faculty members' recruitment, screening, and interviewing process.
• Monitor and maintain an inventory of equipment, supplies, and textbooks.
• Collaborate on behalf of the department with administration and counseling regarding master schedule,…