Culinary

Lowell Public School District•Lowell, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Lowell Public Schools is seeking an Academic Department Chair for World Languages/Business/Culinary. This role is responsible for coordinating all aspects of curriculum and instruction within these departments, observing teachers, and ensuring the highest quality of curriculum and instruction. The Chair will also assist in managing, supervising, and evaluating departmental staff, including professional, non-professional, full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary, salaried, and non-salaried personnel. Responsibilities include assisting in recruiting and interviewing staff, organizing meetings, developing the master schedule, and ensuring equity and diversity in the classroom. The Chair will also work closely with the Guidance Department and other programs to support student needs, monitor classroom management, review lesson plans, and promote instructional technology. Additionally, the role involves assisting with assessment and testing programs, coordinating curriculum development and revisions, and supporting staff development. Budget preparation, acquisition of instructional materials, and supervision of field trips are also key duties. The Chair will participate in orientation programs for parents and community groups, facilitate parental conferences, and maintain community contacts. Regular meetings with the Head of School are required. This position includes teaching two periods per day, subject to annual waiver by the Superintendent's written approval, and monthly meetings with special education personnel to support IEP implementation. The Academic Department Chair functions under the overall direction of the Head of School.

Requirements

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
Licensure valid for service as a teacher of World Languages in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Licensure valid for service as a supervisor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate all aspects of curriculum and instruction within the World Languages/Business/Culinary departments.
At least five years of successful teaching or related experience.
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated computer proficiency preferred.

Responsibilities

Developing, implementing, supervising, managing, assessing, evaluating, and improving all aspects of instruction and curriculum within his/her department.
Observing teachers in their classrooms with follow-up conferences designed to enhance the teaching-learning process.
Assisting in establishing and maintaining the highest quality of curriculum and instruction.
Coordinating departmental staff efforts in curriculum improvement projects, and the inclusion of appropriate new developments in curriculum and instruction in its department's educational program.
Managing, supervising, evaluation, and ongoing improvement of all of the department's teaching staff.
Managing, supervising, monitoring, and evaluation of all other staff (professional, non-professional, full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary, salaried, non-salaried) assigned to his/her department.
Assisting the Administration in monitoring staff members' attendance and timelines in reporting to duty stations (both academic and supervisory) when specifically requested by the Head of School.
Assisting in recruiting and interviewing prospective departmental staff members in accordance with the School Department's personnel policies and procedures.
Organizing and conducting orientation, departmental and staff committee meetings for the purpose of maintaining currency in curriculum, quality in instruction, conformance with policies and procedures, and effective horizontal and vertical continuity and articulation of the instructional program throughout the high school.
Developing and implementing the annual master schedule, class scheduling, student placement, and staff assignments; and assisting in the coordination of activities and placement of all incoming students.
Providing leadership to ensure equity for all students and the valuing of diversity in the classroom environment.
Providing leadership to meet the needs of all students.
Working in full coordination and cooperation with the Guidance Department; involving all aspects of student assessment, placement, meeting of established prerequisite requirements, transfers, and appropriate intervention as needed.
Working in full coordination and cooperation with all programs pertinent to their departments and working to effectively address issues of students, including students with special needs and limited English proficiency.
Monitoring and assessing implementation of Classroom Management Plans.
Reviewing and assessing Lesson Plans and Classroom activities.
Promoting and integrating effective use of appropriate instructional technology.
Assisting in all assessment and testing programs including standardized tests, state-mandated tests, departmental tests, and placement tests as required.
Analyzing test results for the purpose of integrating the results into meaningful curriculum and instructional revisions.
Coordinating curriculum development, revision, assessment, and implementation including organizing and leading committees in the ongoing effort to upgrade curriculum guides and courses of studies catalogues consistent with the Common Core of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks within the time frame of the contractual work year and to develop recommendations for the addition of new courses, grade placement of new courses, credit allowance for new courses and revisions of graduation requirements.
Assisting in the assessment of the need, planning, developing, scheduling, and implementing of staff development and pre-service and in-service programs under the direction of the Head of School.
Maintaining an updated professional curriculum library for staff use and encouraging the development, publication, and use of new, appropriate instructional materials by staff.
Preparing and administering the departmental budget; and supervising and coordinating the acquisition and utilization of instructional materials, equipment, and supplies; and, maintaining responsibility for the distribution, collection, storage, inventory, and accountability thereof.
Reviewing all staff requests for field trips, conferences, workshops, out-of-district visitations, etc.
Making recommendations to the Head of School and ensuring that all required procedures and paperwork are followed within established timelines.
Participating in established orientation programs for parents and community groups; and orientation and mentoring programs for all students and for all staff members.
Assisting in the preparation and dissemination of appropriate school to home communications; facilitating parental conferences; and maintaining contacts with the community, outside agencies, and consultants as needed.
Meeting with the Head of School on a regularly scheduled basis for the mutual communication of information that is pertinent to the duties and responsibilities that are described herein.
Teaching two periods per day.
Meeting monthly with all special education personnel to assist with problem-solving, professional development planning, ensuring they have the programmatic supports necessary to implement IEPs and perform other duties.
Performing such other tasks and responsibilities related to the foregoing listed duties as may be directed or assigned by the Head of School and Director of Curriculum and Instruction from time to time.