Appointments

Administration will request new department head appointments when vacancies occur, discuss the appointment with the departing department head, and approach the candidate for interest in a timely fashion, based on the needs of the school.

Length of Service

NPA encourages Department Heads to serve at least 3 years, there is mandatory timeline.

Members

Academic members for the 2024-25 school year:

• Ahern, Kylie - Fine Arts
• Brown, Susan - Science
• Byers, Thomas - World Languages (interim); Dean of Faculty
• Erwin, Bailey - English Language Arts
• Rogers, Molly - Mathematics
• Shafer, Laura - Social Studies
• Wiese, Dedrick - Physical Education

Ancillary contributors

• Prentice, Dan - SPED Director
• Willis, Carol - Counseling Director/Program Coordinator

Removal

Administration may remove a Department Head if job responsibilities are not executed. This action would also reduce the stipend amount paid in correlation with work accomplished.

Resignations

Department heads will complete an intent to return form each year that coincides with NPA’s general intent to reform timing. At that time, Department Heads may choose to resign the position after completing the school year and the duties therein.

Responsibilities

These are formal responsibilities, the informal parts of this position come with interpersonal support, dialogue, coaching, and mentorship.

• Govern one department meeting per month to sustain department objectives in line with NPA’s overall vision and mission and carry out NPA directed needs, such as information collection, listening database service, and the like
• Participate in one department chair meeting per month with Dean of Faculty to reflect and define on the needs of departments and to ensure regular communication
• Annually review evaluations with Principal, Vice Principal, and Dean of Faculty to further define growth opportunities in the department and celebrate the success in each department
• Model effective teaching practices and work with the Department Head group to suggest best practices, new approaches, and ideas for everyone’s growth
• Participate in one Teacher Award Nomination meeting and, if appropriate, write or assist in writing a teacher nomination (Dean of Faculty will lead on this)
• Identify and recommend particular trainings that could support stronger teaching and department alignment in line with NPA’s vision and mission