History Department Chair

Position Type: This is a full-time, salaried (overtime exempt) supervisory position with full benefits. It reports to the school’s Middle and Upper School Division Directors.

Subject Matter & Projected Pay Range (per the D.C. Wage Transparency Omnibus Amendment Act of 2023): History, Social Studies, Departmental Leadership. $80,000 - $110,000.

Position Term and Equivalency: Faculty employment agreements are written annually for the employment term of July 1st - June 30th. Depending on the needs of the year, Department Chairs may be asked to begin their on-campus work ahead of the general faculty. On-campus work has anticipated beginning and ending dates of mid-August through the end of June, respectively. Curriculum design, faculty evaluation, and program development are ongoing throughout the year.

Position Description: The Field School’s program is ambitious and bold, and our teachers are required to embody the mission of the school – students discover their authentic selves and distinctive paths to become empathetic, creative thinkers who act boldly to shape our shared future – in their day-to-day interactions with students, in the design and implementation of curriculum, and in their professional interaction with colleagues. At Field, we believe that students learn best when they feel a sense of belonging at their school – when they are seen and valued by their teachers, peers, and school community.

Our approach to community emphasizes respect for, and the inclusion of, all community members as individuals. We equally value a focus on the common good and the well-being of the school community as a whole. This balance means that we prioritize the community without prioritizing sameness. Field is a place where our classrooms are better because they mirror the outside world. We have a diversity of identity, thought, experience, and ability. We believe in the interconnectedness of people and ideas, and we strive to be a learning community at every level of the school. At the core, teaching faculty of any discipline are expected to be committed learners and model community members.

While Field is an independent school we are not independent of each other, or our established academic standards. Faculty are members of the larger Field community and are expected to shepherd the values of the school. Specifically, Department Chairs are curricular and pedagogical leaders at The Field School and play a key role in upholding a high standard for teaching and learning. Department Chairs are responsible for observing teacher planning, assessment, and classroom practice and communicating departmental objectives and expectations to teachers, students, parents, and administrators.

The Field School is deeply committed to creating and sustaining a learning environment that values equity, diversity, and inclusion as outlined above. This commitment requires sustained effort and a willingness to grow as a community of professionals. In order to serve all students and teachers, Department Chairs must actively reflect these values and commitments, while uplifting the school’s efforts to advance a culture of inclusion and belonging for all students and teachers.

Duties and Responsibilities: ? Evaluate lessons, units, and assessments to ensure that they are skill-based, culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate, and in line with the teaching model being used at the time. ? Examine, assess, and facilitate the vertical integration of skills and content within the department. ? Develop and implement departmental academic standards in conjunction with Division Directors and the Dean of Instruction and Dean of Innovation and Experiential Learning. ? Directly observe department planning and instruction in order to provide meaningful and timely feedback to faculty about their performance. ? Maintain detailed and accurate records of curriculum design, professional development, classroom observations, and feedback. ? Serve as a member of an individual teacher’s evaluation team. ? Engage in hiring and retention of faculty through targeted support and onboarding. ? Oversee the departmental budget in coordination with Division Directors. ? Maintain a departmental environment that addresses implicit and explicit bias, and that is inclusive of all faculty. ? Teach three classes and serve as a student advisor. ? Lead department meetings and engage in grade level, staff, and other meetings. ? Engage in professional development as determined by the Division Directors. ? Attend events outside of regular school hours as determined by the Division Directors, whether virtual or on campus. ? Represent the school through admissions-related activities as requested. ? Other duties as assigned by the Division Directors.

Qualifications and Competencies:

Department Chairs should: 1. Have a degree in their content area from an accredited college or university. Master’s and other advanced degrees are encouraged. 2. A minimum of five years of teaching experience. 3. Have content and pedagogical expertise, a strong knowledge of subject area skills, and standards, and an informed developmental understanding of the age group. 4. Have an ability to develop strong, trusting relationships with faculty, students, and families. 5. Have an ability and commitment to creating a culturally-responsive classroom and department that furthers the school’s work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 6. Have strong communication skills. 7. Have an ability and commitment to continuously grow and learn as a teacher and leader. 8. Have an ability to work creatively and flexibly.

Work Environment: All Faculty may be asked to perform their work duties at home (in the event of remote learning) and/or on campus. In both settings, this role is required to maintain a professional, shared work environment. While on campus, classes and other activities may be operating either in person or in a distributed setting. All faculty are expected to be present and accessible for the entire school day, regardless of the setting. Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, all faculty are regularly required to talk and hear. This position, while primarily desk, office, & classroom-based, is at many times active. It requires both sitting and standing for prolonged periods, and at times walking, including stairs, and the occasional moving/rearranging of furniture, equipment, and other heavy and bulky items.

Travel: Regular travel is not expected in this position.

About The Field School: Located in Washington, DC, the Field School (grades 6-12) takes great pride in providing students with an ideal blend of focus on academic excellence and individual expression – all in a relaxed, joyful atmosphere. Through dialogue among students and teachers, we encourage students to seek knowledge and join in community. Field connects the various realms of knowledge to help students understand their world and lead full lives. For more than 50 years, we live our mission every day: Students discover their authentic selves and distinctive paths to become empathetic, creative thinkers who act boldly to shape our shared future.

Contact: Candidates for any open position are invited to send their CV/resume and a cover letter to HR@fieldschool.org and to visit www.fieldschool.org for additional information about our school community. Official Field School Employment Applications are available upon request.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. The School requires full immunization (initial vaccination and all recommended booster shots) against COVID-19 subject to applicable medical exemptions under state and federal law. If an exemption is requested, the School will determine whether reasonable accommodations are available in accordance with applicable law. The Field School is committed to building a diverse and equitable faculty. The school does not discriminate based on a person's race, color, sex, gender, identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, homelessness, or any other ground prohibited by Federal or District of Columbia law.

D.C. Pay Transparency Law:

On Jan. 12, 2024, the District of Columbia’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, signed the Wage Transparency Omnibus Amendment Act of 2023 (the Act) into law. The Act requires Washington, D.C. employers to disclose salary or hourly pay ranges and benefits information for open positions starting June 30, 2024. Requirements of the Washington, D.C. Pay Transparency Law: The Act applies to employers of any size and requires that public job listings and positions advertised include the minimum and maximum projected salary or hourly pay for the job that the employer believes in good faith at the time of posting. Internal announcements concerning promotion and transfer opportunities must also include the salary range or hourly pay. Furthermore, information about the existence of healthcare benefits associated with the position must be disclosed to the applicant prior to the first interview. Employers are prohibited from screening or discriminating against applicants based on their salary history or inquiring about wage history from the candidate or their former employer. In addition, employers may not retaliate against employees who discuss their compensation, which is defined as “all forms of monetary and nonmonetary benefits an employer provides or promises to provide an employee in exchange for the employee’s services to the employer.” Posting Requirement: Employers are required to display a notice in the workplace that informs employees of their rights under the Act.

Disclosure of Healthcare Benefits Availability to all Full-Time Employees:

The Field School offers a comprehensive set of employment-based benefits to full-time employees of the School. Eligibility begins on day one (1) of full-time employment which is defined by the School’s benefit plan as those employees who work at least 30 hours per week on an average weekly basis, consistently throughout the year. Healthcare Benefits including a choice of Medical Insurance Plans, Dental Insurance Plans, and a Vision Plan, are included in the current benefits plan offerings. The School reserves the right to amend or cancel the current benefit plan offerings, at any time, with or without prior notice. New full-time employees to the School will have thirty (30) calendar days from the start of their employment to enroll in or decline all benefits, including these Healthcare Benefit offerings. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, regardless of when the enrollment takes place, provided it is complete within the first 30-day enrollment eligibility window.

About The Field School

For 50 years, The Field School has provided a student-centered education focusing on the whole child. At Field, we create a comfortable, nurturing learning environment where students can take social, emotional, and academic risks. Foundationally, a Field education puts the teacher-student relationship at the center of all classroom learning. Each child is seen, known, and heard by faculty, staff, and peers. Students are valued for their strengths and supported through their struggles. They are encouraged to challenge themselves while our teachers, who serve as mentors and coaches, inspire students to reach beyond what they believe are their limitations and see the opportunities. Our exemplary teaching staff provides the appropriate scaffolding to ensure that students are building the skills they need to be successful not just here at school but in the world beyond. Classroom pedagogy follows best practices and is research-driven. Faculty works collaboratively and engages in ongoing professional development to hone their teaching practice. Field teachers are lifelong learners and share their passion for their discipline through project- and inquiry-based study. Our student...s are innovators, problem solvers, and creators, often described as articulate, entrepreneurial, and kind. At Field, we encourage critical thinking and doing beyond the traditional methodology of schooling, beyond the content of a particular course, and beyond the walls of our campus. We believe that mistakes, trial, and error, are all a part of the learning process and that adolescence is a developmental time to be treasured and valued. School should be joyous, and at Field-- it truly is.

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