English Department Chair & Teacher

JOB TITLE: English Department Chair & Teacher  

REPORTS TO: Dean of Faculty  

CLASSIFICATION: Full Time / Exempt

START DATE: August 13, 2018

At Marin Academy, we believe that educational excellence should push the boundaries of what is known today in order to prepare students for a world we can’t even imagine tomorrow. Our unique educational approach inspires MA teachers and students to work side-by-side every day immersing themselves deeply in their subjects while honing the ability to think critically and creatively. And because many voices are welcomed and encouraged at MA, our students cultivate the tools they need to live their lives fully—and the inspiration to contribute as compassionate citizens to our world.

We seek an experienced English teacher and school leader for a full-time position beginning in August 2018. Department Chairs at Marin Academy teach three sections and have a one section release focus of their chair duties. Candidates should have at least 5 years of teaching experience and 2 years of demonstrated leadership experience at the high school level, a degree in English, and a desire to teach core courses as well upper level electives.  

Marin Academy’s ninth grade English I course is focused on building a strong foundation of analytical reading and writing skills, and our tenth grade English II course continues to build on these skills while studying world literature specifically. Our elective offerings are vibrant and vary from year to year but may include courses on the 20th Century American Novel, Shakespeare, African American Literature, and the Foundations of Western Literature. Candidates should have a strong background in the teaching of writing.

Candidates should be ready and excited to work collaboratively in teams within the English department and across MA’s academic departments. Candidates should be excited to lead the department in the fulfillment of MA’s strategic plan which emphasizes the development of inter- and trans-disciplinary courses and program.

MA values the student-centered pedagogy and the inclusion of many voices and perspective. Candidates should have the inclination and experience to work in a diverse community focused on issues of equity, inclusion, and social justice.

A department chair at Marin Academy is a curricular and instructional leader and oversees the direction of the department including curriculum design and the professional growth and evaluation of his/her/their department members. The English Department Chair reports directly to the Dean of Faculty and works collaboratively as a member of the Department Chairs Committee. Responsibilities are defined as:

Administrative Leadership

• Partners with the Dean of Faculty, Administration, Staff, and Department on all aspects of recruitment and hiring.
• Works with Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty, and department on course sectioning & staffing.
• Oversees the departmental budget, book orders, stock, storage, spaces, and supplies.
• Acts as contact for parent questions and/or concerns about curriculum or teacher.
• Oversees the placement of new students and communication of placement results to families.

Curricular Leadership

• Leads department in creation and maintenance of departmental philosophy/mission statement.
• Leads the department’s course creation and development including, course teamwork, new courses development, course descriptions, proposal and approval process, UC credentialing.

• Leads the department’s curriculum creation, documentation (e.g. Scope & Sequence), and development including, defining skills and content alignment, evaluation, and assessment expectations.
• Keeps multiculturalism and diversity as a priority of curricular work and curriculum development.
• Manages and oversees independent study proposals.

Departmental Leadership

• Leads department in annual visioning and priority setting.
• Plans, facilitates, and runs department meetings.
• Leads and communicates clearly with department members regarding departmental work, responsibilities, upcoming events and visioning (eg. Math Night, Brizendine Scholar, Lit. Fest, Night of the Arts, Science Symposium, etc.).
• Oversees professional growth and evaluation of department members including goal setting, observation, and feedback.
• Supports, guides, and coaches new faculty members within the department.
• Observes department members classes on a regular basis.
• Works with Dean of Faculty to support the professional growth of department members.
• Practices and upholds the values of multiculturalism and diversity across interpersonal relationships and dynamics.
• Recognizes and addresses the needs, roles, accomplishments and challenges of each department member.
• Holds department members aware and accountable — through motivating, encouraging, and inspiring team members to see the departmental and institutional direction.
• Coordinates and coaches team leaders and teamwork.
• Addresses personnel issues and fosters healthy team dynamics.
• Supports and develops each member as a practitioner of their discipline, advancing and inspiring autonomous, process oriented growth.
• Supports big idea thinking and visionary inquiry.
• Keeps department aware of Professional Development opportunities.

Cultural Leadership

• Models and cultivates a shared sense of purpose in order to create a culture of engagement and investment among all members of the community.
• Models encouragement and compassion through interactions with all members of the community.
• Models transparency in an effort to foster a culture of collegiality.

Institutional Leadership

• Collectively, the department chair teams with the school administration to implement and support school initiatives and keep the school mission at the forefront of all that we do.
• Works with the administration to advance and implement department-generated initiatives.
• Represents and infuses school values in departmental work: Multiculturalism, student-centered work, innovation, interdisciplinary work, and current pedagogy practices.
• Models growth mindset by fully participating in individual professional development (ie. feedback process, workshops, conferences, retreats, meetings with Dean of Faculty, etc.)

Representation of Department

• Communicates and advances department activities and achievements to wider community.  Some venues are: open houses and other admissions events, interviews, publications, website, board meetings, MAPA meetings, conferences, BATDC events, outside school representative visits, etc.  
• Acts as the liaison for department with wider community, including Admissions, Communication Director, Advancement, Operations, Business Office, College Counseling, Diversity Council, Technology, CAC, Crossroads, Deans, parents and MAPA, etc.

Marin Academy is situated on a 10-acre campus at the base of the hills of San Rafael, CA in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a 9-12 grade independent, college preparatory high school, we have an enrollment of 420 students with academic talent, interest in the arts and athletics, and a passion for a multitude of issues. Our students come from San Francisco, the East Bay, and Sonoma in addition to Marin County. Marin Academy has a block schedule in which classes meet every other day for 75-minute periods.   

Marin Academy’s mission statement “asks every individual to think, question, and create in an environment of encouragement and compassion, and challenges each person to accept the responsibilities posed by education in a democratic society.” We welcome those with a progressive and innovative mindset about teaching and learning and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Marin Academy is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity. Salary and benefits are very competitive.  For more information about Marin Academy, please visit our website (www.ma.org).

Qualified candidates interested in the English Department Chair position should send the following to Scott Young, Dean of Faculty (deanoffaculty@ma.org):

• Cover Letter
• Educational Philosophy
• Resume