Department Chair - Science

Department Chair

Department Chairs at Proviso Township High Schools serve as instructional leaders dedicated to improving classroom instruction through the successful implementation of the Proviso Instructional Framework. They act as instructional coaches, facilitators of adult learning, and models of best practice within their departments and schools.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Education/Training: Minimum of a Master's Degree
• Licensure: Valid Illinois Professional Educators License (PEL) or CTE license for grades 9-12
• Endorsement: In subject area of the department
• Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of successful classroom teaching experience in area of discipline, demonstrating a deep understanding of effective instructional practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of and compliance with District policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Desired Qualifications:

• ESL or Bilingual Certification (Grades 9-12)
• Special Education Endorsement (LBS1)
• Multiple subject-area endorsements within the department, where applicable
• Experience teaching a variety of levels of coursework (e.g., honors, AP, IH)
• Ability to design and deliver interactive presentations for large and small groups and to coach colleagues in effective instructional strategies
• Capacity to critically evaluate and enhance the quality of education within one's discipline
• Strong understanding of data-driven instruction and assessment, with proven ability to analyze student data to support teaching
• Excellent verbal, written, and public-speaking skills
• Proficiency with educational and presentation technologies
• Sensitivity to and effectiveness in working with a diverse school and community
• Ability to foster growth, motivate colleagues, and build a positive, organized learning environment
• Documentable equity-based leadership ability and success working in challenging environments
• Willingness to fully participate in all district curriculum and instruction initiatives and projects
• Broad, up-to-date knowledge and experience in one's discipline, with a commitment to lifelong learning
• Enthusiastic, open, and organized approach to teaching and collaboration
• Able to prioritize Department Chair work by limiting competing priorities
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish

Distribution of Key Responsibilities:

• Teaching 25%
• Coaching 50%
• Leading Professional Learning 20%
• Miscellaneous Support to Teachers 5%

Department Chairs Duties and Responsibilities:

Instructional Leadership:

• Collaborate closely with the Director of Instructional Framework to ensure alignment of departmental instructional practices with district expectations, instructional guidance, and implementation of timelines.
• Champion the Proviso Instructional Framework by consistently modeling, supporting, and reinforcing its principles in all interactions with teachers, Department Chairs, and instructional teams.
• Lead and monitor the alignment of department instructional practices to all phases of the instructional frameworkLearning Objective, Focused Instruction, Guided Instruction, Collaborative Learning, Independent Learning, and Daily Formative Assessmentthrough intentional planning, observation, and feedback cycles.
• Establish and implement an instructional support schedule that reflects the core functions of the role, including classroom visits, coaching cycles, department meetings, professional learning facilitation, and follow-up, with clearly defined timelines and due dates.
• Monitor fidelity of instructional framework implementation using walkthroughs, lesson artifacts, student work, and formative data, and adjust supports in collaboration with school leadership and the Director of Instructional Framework.
• Serve as a primary decision-maker for departmental professional learning, proactively identifying needs, planning supports, and requesting district-level resources or coaching as needed to meet instructional goals and timelines.

Adult Learning Facilitation:

• Partner with the Director of Instructional Framework to co-plan professional learning priorities, align session content to district initiatives, and ensure coherence across buildings and departments.
• Design, facilitate, and monitor departmental learning cycles aligned to the district instructional calendar, ensuring each cycle includes goal-setting, new learning, implementation, evidence collection, reflection, and next steps.
• Foster a culture of reflective practice and peer-to-peer learning by establishing clear norms, protocols, and structures for collaborative inquiry during department meetings and professional learning sessions.
• Lead regular analysis of student performance data (formative, interim, and summative) according to established review cycles, identifying trends, strengths, and areas for instructional growth.
• Support teachers in using data to inform instruction by modeling data analysis protocols, planning responsive instructional strategies, and setting clear implementation targets with follow-up dates.

Coaching and Support:

• Conduct non-evaluative classroom observations on a defined coaching schedule to support teacher professional growth and instructional consistency.
• Provide timely, actionable feedback aligned to GRR implementation, student engagement, and lesson outcomes, with documented next steps and agreed-upon follow-up dates.
• Engage in co-teaching and demonstration lessons, as needed, to model effective instructional strategies and support teachers during implementation phases of learning cycles.
• Maintain a model classroom that exemplifies high-quality instructional framework implementation and functions as a learning lab for peer observation, coaching, and professional learning.

Planning and Coordination:

• Collaborate with the Director of Instructional Framework, school leadership, and district teams to align departmental goals, learning cycles, and implementation plans with district instructional priorities and timelines.
• Develop and maintain an annual and quarterly implementation plan that outlines required responsibilities, key deliverables, due dates, meeting structures, and instructional support routines.
• Communicate progress, challenges, and implementation data regularly to the School Improvement Team to support shared problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Identify and communicate needs for additional professional learning or instructional support to the School Improvement Team and/or Educational Service Team in a timely and strategic manner.

Expectations:

• Department Chairs are expected to demonstrate deep understanding of and commitment to the Proviso Instructional Framework.
• Maintain strong interpersonal and communication skills to foster trust and collaboration.
• Serve as a thought partner and instructional resource for teachers, fellow teacher-instructional coaches, school administrators, and district administrators.
• Complete relevant and purpose-aligned duties at the request of the Director of Instructional Framework and Support and the Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and Principal.
• Communicate concerns about relevancy of assignments to the Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning to stay current with best practices in instruction, adult learning, and instructional coaching.

Work Environment/Conditions:

As established by the current Agreement between Proviso Township High Schools District No. 209 Board of Education and the Proviso Teachers Union, Local 571, AFL-CIO. Participation in school events, meetings, and extended professional development sessions is expected.

Position Goals:

In consultation with the supervisor, the employee will set annual goals, which will be included in the performance evaluation document. In the event of a disagreement regarding the goals, the Superintendent will make the final determination.

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary Range and benefits as established by the current Agreement between Proviso Township High Schools District No. 209 Board of Education and the Proviso Teachers Union, Local 571, AFL-CIO.

Selection Process:

The selection process will be rigorous, transparent, and aligned to district instructional priorities. Candidates will participate in a multi-step process designed to assess instructional expertise, leadership capacity, and impact on adult learning. The process will include:

• Application and Screening: Review of qualifications, leadership experience, and alignment to district instructional priorities.
• Framework Alignment Exercise: Candidates will observe a live or recorded lesson observation, demonstrating their ability to analyze instruction, identify evidence of student learning, and provide actionable, standards-aligned feedback grounded in the district's instructional framework.
• Artifact Review: Candidates will submit artifacts demonstrating evidence of instructional coaching and professional development/learning facilitation, such as: Coaching plans or cycles Feedback tools or observation notes Professional learning agendas, materials, or facilitation guides Data used to inform instructional decision-making and adult learning.
• Panel Interview: Candidates will participate in an interview conducted by a cross-functional team comprised of district and school-based leadership, including instructional leaders, administrators, and content or program specialists. Interview questions will assess instructional leadership, coaching practices, equity-driven decision-making, and facilitation of professional