Middle School ELA Department Head

Overview:

Located in Waltham, Lincoln, and Wayland, Massachusetts, Carroll School is an independent day school that serves students with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia. Carroll School empowers children to become academically skilled students who are strong self-advocates and confident lifelong learners prepared to enter other academic settings. Carroll is an inclusive community committed to embracing diverse strengths, identities, and lived experiences in order to give each child what they most need to thrive. Carroll Middle School is located on the Lincoln campus and serves grades 6-8.

Diversity is essential at Carroll. Creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace is an important part of our mission that fosters greater creativity, innovation, and connection to the communities we serve. That mission starts here by building a robust, diverse talent pool. No matter what makes you uniquely different – size, color, culture, gender identity and expression, beliefs, religion, age, race – know that you are welcome here. Your difference makes Carroll stronger. Research shows that people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Carroll School encourages you to break that statistic and apply as it’s rare to find applicants who meet all the qualifications. We look forward to receiving your application.

Research shows that people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Carroll School encourages you to break that statistic and apply as it’s rare to find applicants who meet all the qualifications. We look forward to receiving your application.

Carroll School is an equal opportunity employer that offers competitive salary and benefits, including a strong professional development programming such as Orton Gillingham training.

Position Summary:

This position provides academic leadership for the Middle School’s ELA Department as a member of the Academic Leadership Team, with close collaboration with the History department in particular. This position seeks to find a leader with an ELA background. Responsible, under the direction of the Head of Middle School, for the scope and sequence and integrity of the curriculum across the grades and for supporting and evaluating teachers in delivering the curriculum to students with language-based learning differences through a culturally responsive lens.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with teachers and academic leaders to create class groupings:
  • Creates homogenous ELA class groupings that best meet the whole child’s needs, including the academic and social/ emotional needs of individual students.
  • Gathers input from ELA and Language Focus Area* (LFA) teachers to place students in Focus Area* (FA) classes that address the students’ greatest area of academic need. Grouping for FA classes also involves collaboration with other academic leaders.
• Teaches 1 section of Middle School ELA or Focus Area class
• Trains new teachers (ELA) in programs used in ELA classes: Project Read’s Framing Your Thoughts & Report Form, Carroll Middle School Writing Curriculum, grammar conventions, etc and supports those teachers in implementation.
• Encourages the development of teacher knowledge and skills through coaching, observations, teacher/peer observations, and professional development workshops with the goal of improving teacher expertise and delivery of instruction to students through a culturally responsive lens.
• Chairs regularly scheduled Department meetings with the goal of encouraging collaboration among teachers, sharing pertinent information, developing academic technology integration skills, inviting colleagues to train teachers on new educational developments, previewing upcoming events such as parent conferences, etc.
• Supports teachers at parent conferences, Student Action Plan meetings, and any other situations in which a teacher asks for or benefits from Department Head assistance.
• Responds to families questions and concerns as it relates to a student’s ELA and/or Focus Area experience.
• Responsible for overseeing and monitoring student progress through the use of data analysis and teacher feedback.
• Budgets for annual departmental expenses, which include the ordering of class materials such as book sets, student workbooks, relevant subscriptions, etc.
• Sits on the Admission Committee, interviewing and assessing students applying to the Middle School and participating in meetings that make decisions about candidates.
• Represents The Carroll School at required special events, such as Open Houses, Parents’ Day, etc.
• Focus Areas are small classes that target an area of great need; Language Focus Areas center around developing reading and writing skills

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s in Education preferred
• Trained, or willing to be trained, in Orton-Gillingham approach
• A solid foundation in English grammar and conventions
• Trained, or willing to be immediately trained, in Project Read (Story Form, Report Form, Framing Your Thoughts) and The Writing Revolution
• Experience in teaching students with language-based learning differences. Must have a strong subject background and knowledge of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for both EL.
• Commitment to multi-sensory education and ability to develop curriculum
• Possesses a passion for education, conveyed by a solid understanding of educational practice and philosophy grounded in DEI practices
• Has the ability to:
  • Convey ideas clearly both orally and in writing
  • Communicate effectively with parents, students, teachers, and administrators, especially about program
  • Manage time and set priorities
  • Be flexible
  • Be able to problem-solve, particularly situations regarding students’ placement