Academic Head of Department - SPED

JOBSCOPE: Academic Head of Department

A. ADMIN / SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

1. Selection Process for Staff Recruitment [Crit.2.2.1]

• as a member of the Academic Board (together with Asst. Principal, Principal and School Director), the Academic HOD will participate in the deliberation of the candidates for academic positions

2. Internal and External Communication Process [Crit.2.4.1]

• Prepare school memo relevant to one’s department (e.g., for Senior Dept. – memo re: update on Vocational Program)
  

B. ACADEMIC DEPT – [Crit.5.2.1] Curriculum Planning and Scheduling Process

1. Plan and prepare schedules (for assigned department – Jr./Sr.

• Group Activities Schedule (updated 6-monthly)

• monitor/update consolidated schedules for group activities (i.e., PE, Music, Art, Swimming, Computer classes, Food Preparation, Life Skills/Money Skills, Learning Journeys, and other activities like RDA, CCAs, etc.)

• coordinate with respective teachers to rearrange the schedule if there are clashes

• Lesson Plan Schedule (updated annually

• PTC schedule for IEP and PR (updated 6-monthly)

• Report submission schedule (for quarterly PTCs)

• also coordinate/follow up with teachers re: submission dates
  

2. Participate in meetings for General Curriculum Planning in Assigned Department (Jr/Sr)

• participate in regular meetings for the planning and reviewing of school/academic processes with the principal and/or Academic Board

• Conduct departmental meetings twice a month.
  

C. ACADEMIC DEPT – [C5.2.2] Monitoring of Curriculum Delivery Process / Student Assessment

1. Vet all IEPs, progress reports and other relevant reports before submission to Principal for approval

• train and guide teachers in student assessment (especially new teachers)

• provide input for editing reports; coach/mentor teachers on crafting appropriate IEP goals/objectives and in report writing – clarity of ideas, grammar, fluency/flow of ideas, etc.

• monitor and ensure proper documentation of class/student files

(e.g., Soc-Emo reports, Observation reports, food prep, etc.):

a. annual IEPs & 6-monthly Progress Reports (PRs)

• done quarterly: vetting starts at least 1 month before PTC period

b. additional reports to vet (as needed throughout the year):

• Observation Reports (new students)

• Initial IEPs (new students)

• School Leaving Reports

c. other write-ups to vet (done 6-monthly):

• Life Skills / Food Prep Scheme of Work

• Class Timetable, Class Inventory
  

2. Review and approve all quarterly Lesson Plans, quarterly LP Reflections and daily communication logs

• provide feedback and guide teachers in creating Lesson Plans and writing LP Reflections and comm logs

• ensure timely submission of comm logs, LPs and LP Reflections to parents
  

3. Oversee submission of LPs and 6-monthly reports for PE and Art [supplementary curriculum]

- Follow-up submission of quarterly lesson plans (LPs) and 6-monthly progress reports (PRs) -includes vetting of LPs and PRs before submission to Principal for final approval, and ensuring proper documentation of LPs and PRs

4. Supervise and liaise with external vendors for Supplementary Curriculum (Music and Swimming) re: Lesson Plans and/or Progress Reports

a. Music – quarterly LPs and 6-monthly Progress Reports

b. Swimming – 6-monthly Progress Reports only

• Monitor/follow-up quarterly Lesson Plans and 6-monthly Progress Reports from external vendors (+documentation and distribution of all reports to respective classes)
  

5. Conduct walkabouts/observations in classrooms

• includes assisting the class, when necessary;

• also observe the teaching and assessment procedures, and provide guidance and training, when needed
  

6. Staff Evaluation

• participate in performance appraisals and provide feedback/input to Principal on staff performance
  

7. Attend IEP/PR/PTC meetings

8. EDUTRUST Preparation / Compliance

• review assigned area/criterion and ensure proper documentation

• oversee proper documentation of relevant files in assigned Department (Jr/Sr) for Edutrust compliance
  

9. Monitor and approve purchase requisition for respective department

• ensure that all requisitions are approved within the budget allocated class wise.
  

D. OTHERS

1. Supervise Assigned School Events

2. Pre-Course Counselling (to be trained by Principal)

3. Parent Orientation (to be trained by Principal)

4. Cover for classes, when needed (staff absence, manpower shortage, etc.)

5. Oversee holiday programs during the June school holidays (2 weeks rotational)

6. Report to work a day earlier in December prior to the teachers’ workshop