Department Chair - Social Studies

Proviso Township High Schools; Forest Park (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Proviso Township High Schools seeks a Department Chair to serve as an instructional leader, coaching teachers and modeling best practices within the Proviso Instructional Framework.

The role focuses on instructional coaching, data-driven instruction, and collaboration with district leadership to improve student outcomes across departments.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required.
• Valid Illinois Professional Educators License (PEL) or CTE license for grades 9–12.
• Endorsement in department area.
• Minimum of five years of successful classroom teaching experience.
• Understanding of district policies and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Teaching – 25% of time; coaching – 50%; leading professional learning – 20%; miscellaneous support to teachers – 5%.
• Collaborate with Director of Instructional Framework to align instructional practices with district expectations.
• Lead and monitor alignment of department instructional practices through all phases of the instructional framework.
• Establish and implement an instructional support schedule with timelines and due dates.
• Monitor fidelity of instructional framework implementation using data and artifacts.
• Lead departmental professional learning and optimize resources to meet goals.
• Design, facilitate, and monitor departmental learning cycles aligned to the district calendar.
• Foster reflective practice and peer-to-peer learning through norms and protocols.
• Lead analysis of student performance data to identify trends and areas for growth.

Skills

Instructional leadership

Coaching

Data analysis

Public speaking

Collaboration

Curriculum alignment

Equity leadership

Education

Master's degree

PEL or CTE license (9–12)

Subject area endorsement

Five years classroom teaching

Policy compliance knowledge

Tools

Presentation tech

Job description

Position Title: Department Chair
Classification (FLSA): Full-time, Exempt
Position Group: Teacher
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Union Membership: Proviso Teachers Union, Local 571, AFL-CIO
Reports to: Director of Instructional Framework and Support Building Principal
Anticipated Work Year & Hours*: 180 Days, plus five (5) workdays immediately preceding the first regularly scheduled teacher workday each school year.

Department Chair will receive a minimum of two (2) regularly scheduled periods of released time daily to perform their duties and responsibilities, as defined in the job description. Based on the operational needs of the District and at the sole discretion of the Superintendent, a Department Chair may be granted up to a maximum of three (3) released periods per day. The number of released periods assigned to each Department Chair is not required to be uniform across all departments and may vary depending on departmental scope, size, or other relevant factors, as determined by the Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement.

Term: (2026-2027 School Year)

General Description

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

Employees are responsible for obtaining/retaining the most current statutory and administrative rule requirements for their position.

• 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 framework—Learning Objective, Focused Instruction, Guided Instruction, Collaborative Learning, Independent Learning, and Daily Formative Assessment—through 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.

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.

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:

1. Application and Screening: Review of qualifications, leadership experience, and alignment to district instructional priorities.
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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 learning.

*Disclaimer: This job description outlines the duties and responsibilities typical of the position. The listed duties are intended as examples and may evolve over time. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the role if they are similar, related, or a logical assignment for this position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to modification by the district as needs and job requirements change. The district's policies govern all employment matters. As per Board Policy 5:32, no individual with an interested relationship with any member of the Board of Education, the Superintendent, or district‑level administrators shall be considered for employment.

For Additional Information Contact

Office of Human Resources

Proviso Township High Schools District 209

8601 W. Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, IL 60130

[phone]