Internal Only** SGC Department Chair

Urbana School District #116

TITLE: UMS Department Chair

LOCATION: Urbana Middle School

SUPERVISOR: Building Principal and Assistant Principal

JOB SUMMARY: Department chairs are the educational leaders and coordinators of activities (for both curriculum and professional development) within each department . They are responsible for working cooperatively with teachers and administrators in determining the basic needs for effective and efficient operation of the department. Department chairs work collaboratively with the School Improvement Team to support building-wide school improvement initiatives.

Department Chair Positions at the SGC (one position per department): Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies, Special Education, Exploratory, Multilingual (ML/DL),

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The department chairperson shall:

• Lead department meetings once a month with the agenda provided to building administration. Actively participate in Department Chair meetings held at least once a month with building administration.
• Distribute agendas and minutes to department members, administrators, and then send to the staff as whole.
• Work with department members to create departmental goals and monitor progress toward goal attainment linked to student outcomes and increasing academic achievement.
• Serve on interview teams to hire new teachers/staff. Meet with new staff before school begins to explain subject area curriculum, materials, and assessments, as well as answering questions.
• Maintain an inventory of departmental materials. Prepare requests for textbooks and/or other large department orders as requested by administration.
• Budget departmental funds with input from department members. Approve all departmental spending.
• Serve as an instructional leader both within and outside the department.
• Find and share professional development opportunities.
• Plan and implement professional development for Institute Days.
• Facilitate Wednesday early release staff development time. Communicate plans and accomplishments to building administration weekly.
• Implement school improvement initiatives within the department.
• Relay information from the School Improvement Team and Department Chair Leadership Team meetings to department members each month. Implement school improvement initiatives within the department.
• Showcase and explain department’s class content and achievements to students, families, and community as requested by administration.
• Work as a liaison between buildings (UMS and the Urbana Sixth Grade Center) if necessary.
• Complete additional duties as assigned by administration.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred, from an accredited college or university with certification and content endorsement.
• 2-3 years of teaching experience at this level, except in the case of a new college graduate.

LICENSES/CREDENTIAL: Valid Illinois Teaching Certificate with the appropriate endorsements.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Salary is based on a stipend determined through the Urbana School District #116 and UEA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Benefit information can be found on the Human Resources webpage.
• This is a position within the collective bargaining unit and is not an administrative position.
• One year commitment (SY25-26)

EVALUATION: The performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on the evaluation of professional personnel

UPDATED: March 2025