Improving Communication Among Colleagues 4/24/22

Presentation Objective: Educational Hook

Improving Communication ● Present and support the idea of creating a department
Among Colleagues chair for specialist teachers 1) What is the purpose of a Department Chair?
2) How does/can a Department Chair help you as a teacher?
Standards:
Presented to: TLMS Standard: Domain 1: Fosters a Collaborative Culture to
HDS Lower School Specialty Teachers Support Educator Development and Student Learning

Presented by: Lauren Buth NBPTS Standard: Proposition 5: Teachers are Members of
Date: April 20th, 2022 Professional Communities
Title Page 1 Objectives 2 Educational Hook 3

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Generic Roles of Department Chairs Why Create a Department Chair for Specialists Why Create a Department Chair for Specialists
➢ To improve communication between colleagues that will:
➢ Oversee Curriculum Development
○ Prevent inconveniences that may occur due to lack ➢ Provide a voice for specialist teachers who may feel:
➢ Ensure quality teaching
➢ Support extracurricular activities of communication ○ Taken advantage of
➢ General support to department faculty*
➢ Supports/Encourages professional development ○ Provide support for each other ○ Their opinion is not often taken into account
➢ Write a post for the Weekly
○ Execute smoother transportation of classes
➢ Assist in the hiring of new faculty in that department
➢ Act as liaison between faculty and administration*

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Lauren Buth 1
Improving Communication Among Colleagues 4/24/22

Pause for Consideration How Many Students do We Teach?

Why Create a Department Chair for Specialists
Teacher Grade Levels # of Students # of classes each week Length of lessons

Joel K-4 220 2 sections, twice a week 30-40 min

➢ Build respect for specialist teachers who may feel that:
➢ Has there been a situation where you would have liked Kristi K-3 176 2 sections, 3 times a week 30 min
○ Others don’t view them as equals Leslie K-4 220 2 sections, twice a week (k split into 4) 30-40 min
support from another specialist teacher or
○ Others don't think they work as hard as they do Derick K-6, Elective (8) 315 + elective K-2 (1x); 3-5 (x2); 6 (x1); 8 (x2) 30-45 min
Advis. Advis.10 min - 1hr
administrator?
○ Specialist classes are treated as “just for fun” Sean 1st Sem: 1-4, 7 1st: ~226 1st Sem: 1-4(x2 split); 7xyz(x2) 1st Sem: 30-50 min
○ Would a department chair have been utilized in this 2nd Sem: K-4 2nd: 220 2nd Sem: K-4 (x2 split) 2nd Sem: 30 min

situation? Jo 1-4, 6-8; advis. ~326 + advis 1 section, 5 times a week 30-50 min + advis

Joshua K-2, 5-8; advis. ~326 + advis 1 section, 5 times a week 30-50 min + advis

Katie C. K, 3-8; advis. ~326 + advis 1 section, 5 times a week 30-50 min + advis

Lauren K-4, 6 237 K-4, 2 sections, 2x a week; 6th 4 times 30-50 min
Presentation Content 7 Progress Monitoring 8 9

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How a Department Chair Could Help You at HDS How a Department Chair Could Help You at HDS How a Department Chair Could Help You at HDS

➢ It can improve communication and relationships between ➢ Assisting with scheduling ➢ Mentoring/Coaching
teachers ○ Incoming specialist teachers
○ Scheduling requests for specialist teachers
○ Provide resources and strategies for the
○ Teacher to teacher concerns ○ Duties outside of teaching
classroom
○ Student learning/behavioral concerns
○ Provide assistance on parent teacher
communication

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Lauren Buth 2
Improving Communication Among Colleagues 4/24/22

What Questions Do You Have? Department Chairs at HDS Final Thoughts

➢ Below is the current list of department chairs at HDS:
➢ Are there any concerns you have if the school were to ○ English/Literature - Justin ➢ What is one way a Department Chair for Specialist Teachers
○ LS Social Studies - Sarah could help you here in your specific position at Harbor Day
create a department chair for specialist teachers? ○ MS Social Studies - Jon School?
○ MS Math - Meggen
○ LS Math - Amy
○ Science - JP
○ Art - Leslie
○ World Language - Heather
○ Music - Joel
○ P.E. - Jo
○ LS Tech - Casey
○ Associates - Carole
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Lauren Buth 3