Multilingual Learner (ML) Department Chair -District

Biddeford and Dayton Schools & Southern Maine Administrative Collaborative; San Jacinto (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A school district in Maine is seeking a Multilingual Learner Department Chair responsible for leading instructional strategies for multilingual programming, coordinating assessments, and ensuring compliance with educational policies. The ideal candidate will possess teaching experience and a Master's degree in a relevant field. This role emphasizes collaboration with families and community stakeholders to support diverse learners. Located in a coastal area with a vibrant community, the position offers an opportunity to engage in meaningful educational leadership.

Qualifications

• Valid Maine teaching certificate with endorsement in ESL or ESOL.
• Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience with multilingual learners.
• Knowledge of second language acquisition theory and differentiated instruction.

Responsibilities

• Make recommendations for multilingual learner programming.
• Coordinate district-wide ML assessments.
• Assist with ML teacher staffing and resources.
• Conduct annual review of compliance with federal ML education requirements.
• Oversee translation services for ML families.

Skills

Instructional leadership

Assessment and data management

Staffing coordination

Policy compliance

Family and community engagement

Education

Master's degree in TESOL, Applied Linguistics, Bilingual Education, or related field

Job description

Multilingual Learner (ML) Department Chair - District JobID: 3103

• Position Type: Elementary School Teaching / ELL Instructor
• Date Posted: 10/28/2025
• Location: District Wide

Specific Job Details

Starting ASAP. Find the Biddeford School Department's Three Pillars of Commitment to Students attached. Check out why we are a different experience.

Brief Job Duties

• 1. Instructional Leadership
  • Make recommendations to senior leadership regarding instructional models and best practices for multilingual learner programming.
  • Facilitate the ML Curriculum Design Team to ensure coherent and vertically aligned programming across all grade levels (K-12).
• 2. Assessment and Data Management
  • Monitor and coordinate district-wide ML assessments including WIDA Screener and ACCESS for ELLs administration.
  • Analyze annual WIDA scores and other assessment data to inform instructional practices and programming decisions.
• 3. Staffing and Program Coordination
  • Assist senior leadership with recommendations for ML teacher staffing deployments and resource allocation across all buildings.
  • Coordinate services and collaboration between ESOL specialists and mainstream teachers in partnership with building administrators.
• 4. Policy and Compliance
  • Conduct annual review and updates of the district's LAU Plan to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with all federal ML education requirements including Title VI, ESSA, and relevant Supreme Court decisions (Lau v. Nichols, Plyler v. Doe, Castañeda v. Pickard).
  • Coordinate with building administrators to ensure consistent implementation of ML program policies and procedures.
• 5. Family and Community Engagement
  • Oversee coordination of translation and interpretation services to ensure meaningful communication with ML families.
  • Support and facilitate community partnerships for cultural brokering and case management services.

Full Job Description

Certification/License
Valid Maine teaching certificate with endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Criminal History Record Check (CHRC), which includes Fingerprints on file with the Maine Department of Education.

Education
Master's degree in TESOL, Applied Linguistics, Bilingual Education, or related field preferred.

Experience
Minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience with multilingual learners. Demonstrated knowledge of second language acquisition theory, sheltered instruction strategies, and differentiated instruction for English learners. Working knowledge of WIDA standards, ACCESS for ELLs assessment, Language Acquisition Plans (ILAPs), and federal compliance requirements under Title VI and ESSA.

Live and Work in the Biddeford, Maine Community

• Located along the Atlantic coastline with miles of beaches
• Views of the Saco River to its west
• Less than 20 minutes south of the Greater Portland Area
• It is less than two hours north of Boston.
• Home to a growing population of diverse residents
• Picturesque downtown
• Maine's youngest city, with a median age of 29 in the historic downtown
• Thriving economy
• Many recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, biking, public parks, and kayaking

Equal Opportunity

The School Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district shall actively work to ensure that the teacher and administrator workforce reflects the diversity of the student body. The School Department's selection will be based on those with the highest capabilities, the most significant commitment to quality education, and the greatest likelihood of effectively implementing the learning program. Therefore, selections will be made without consideration of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, marital status, parental status, disability or genetic information, pregnancy, membership in an employee organization, military service, political affiliation, and any other state or federal prohibitions. For this policy, "sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression.

Criminal Background Check

All employees of Maine schools must be fingerprinted for a criminal history background check. Please create a Department of Education log-in and make an appointment for a fingerprinting appointment at https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/fingerprinting.