© Courtesy of TNTP. 2014.
POSITION TITLE
Grade Level Chair (Elementary Schools)
COMPENSATION
$XXXX
ROLE SUMMARY
Grade Level Chairs provide organizational leadership and support to all teachers within their grade level to ensure the grade
level team meets ambitious student achievement goals. They are consistently effective teachers with demonstrated
strengths according to the evaluation framework. Collaboration among teachers and administrators is critically important to
a school’s culture. In addition to serving as a liaison between a school’s leadership team and teachers in their grade level,
Grade Level Chairs lead and coordinate the grade-level team’s meetings, organizational practices, parent communication,
and grade-wide activities. Grade Level Chairs will also provide instructional support to teachers in the grade level.
REQUIRED RESPONSIBILITIES
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Establish a vision for the grade level in coordination with
school leaders and establish specific goals for the grade-level
team.
Establish a structure for team collaboration, decision-making,
and grade level team meetings.
Set grade level team collaboration norms and ensure they are
implemented by the grade level team.
Develop the agenda and facilitate grade level team meetings
on a regular basis (frequency to be decided on with the
school leadership team and the grade level team).
Model effective instructional practice for the grade level.
Serve as a communication conduit between teachers on the
grade level team and school leaders.
Meet and collaborate with other grade level chairs within the
building to share and discuss progress, successes, challenges,
and problem solve solutions.
Lead the team’s efforts to identify and implement solutions
to challenges.
Lead the grade level team’s tracking and analysis of studentrelated data and work with teachers on the team to plan for
the differentiation of instruction based on the student data.
Provide differentiated support to grade level teachers to
support continuous improvements in their instructional
practice.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES (OPTIONAL/FLEXIBLE)
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To ensure the high quality and timely completion
of lesson plans, review draft plans and provide
teachers with feedback.
Coordinate with other teacher leaders (e.g.,
Curriculum and Planning Team Leader, if available)
to develop a lesson plan template (as necessary
and/or possible).
Contribute to hiring decisions for the grade-level
team.
RELEASE TIME
This teacher leader will receive .5 release time to fulfill
these additional responsibilities.
CASELOAD
Responsible for working with up to 8 teachers
within their content area and/or grade-level.
The teachers on this team will be determined
by the school leader and the school leadership
team.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
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Increased collaboration across the teachers in a grade level team.
Increased number of students are achieving student learning targets due to increased differentiated instruction, strong
instruction, and effective lesson plans.
Stronger school culture and instructional environment.
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© Courtesy of TNTP. 2014.
LENGTH OF TERM FOR THE ROLE
One year.
Term may be extended pending a review of school needs and the teacher leader’s success in the role after the first year.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Overall evaluation rating of Proficient or higher, demonstrating effective teaching experience.
SELECTION CRITERIA
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Exceptional organizational skills.
Very strong verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of adults.
Awareness of resources that are available and ability to utilize these resources effectively.
Willingness to commit to the role for the entire school-year.
SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates will need to complete the following:
 Submit a portfolio containing evidence of their performance and skills.
 An application for this role.
 An interview with the school leader.
Ultimate selection for this role will be based on the principal’s final decision.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This role will require three days of training over the summer and two days of training during the school year (dates
TBD).
Possible training topics include:
 Project management and time management.
 Goal setting and progress monitoring.
 Analyzing student data and differentiating instruction.
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