Department Head, Social Studies (3150)

The Natick Public Schools Seek a

Social Studies Department Head at Natick High School

Start date: 07/01/2026

We invite you to explore a career with Natick Public Schools.

The Natick Public Schools educate approximately 5300 students from Pre-K through age 22. We are an innovative supportive and high-performing district whose outstanding staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families from Natick and Boston. Natick Public Schools is a community dedicated to all students achieving high standards in a safe trusting respectful environment where learning is exciting dynamic and engaging and where connectedness and belonging are valued and actively cultivated. We are home to families that speak almost 60 different languages and our student population is approximately 29% Students of Color and 71% White students. With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world.

We enthusiastically welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the whole child in a strengths-based approach. Please partner with us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff students and families and create meaningful connections that enable everyone to feel included and thrive.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of successful Social Studies or History teaching experience at the high school level required preferably in a public school setting
• Current Massachusetts licensure as Social Studies Teacher 9-12 required
• SEI Endorsement required
• Massachusetts licensure as either Supervisor/Director - Social Studies or Vice-Principal/Principal 9-12 preferred
• At least a Masters degree required preferably in history a related social science social studies education or educational leadership
• Prior leadership experience preferred
• Strong communication team-building and organizational skills

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Hiring Retention Coaching Supervision and Evaluation of Social Studies Department Educators
• Provides coaching feedback and support to Social Studies teachers through classroom observations coaching cycles mentoring collaborative planning and collaborative data analysis
• Evaluates members of the Social Studies Department using the district-driven evaluation model and in adherence with the Education Association of Naticks (EANs) contractual deadlines for supervision and evaluation
• Supports new teachers and long-term substitutes in onboarding planning and classroom management
• Collaborates with the Special Education Administrator the Alternative Education Administrator and Multilingual Learner Department Head to support high quality instruction in co-teaching and small group Social Studies classrooms
• Leads the hiring and onboarding process for new Social Studies teachers
• Coordinates and leads professional development aligned to departmental needs and school goals
• Builds and maintains a positive departmental culture

• Teaches Two Social Studies Classes
• Aligns instruction to departmental curriculum and rigorous objectives
• Employs best practices in Social Studies pedagogy and models these strategies for other educators
• Uses differentiated instruction and Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) strategies to support each learners engagement and growth
• Maintains communication with students parents and community fostering a strong home-school connection

• Curriculum Development and Alignment
• Leads the design alignment and evaluation of the Social Studies curriculum for grades 912
• Guides the development and cohesive implementation of common assessments rubrics and grading practices
• Provides curriculum materials and texts that are on-grade level rigorous and represent diverse voices and perspectives
• Collaborates with the Kennedy and Wilson Middle Schools Social Studies Department Heads to ensure vertical alignment and continuity for students
• Maintains current standards-aligned curriculum documents that accurately represent the current teaching and learning taking place in Social Studies classrooms

• Instructional Leadership
• Develops and articulates a clear departmental vision aligned with school goals and the districts strategic plan
• Leads the implementation of high-quality social studies instruction grounded in best practices including differentiated instruction Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and culturally sustaining teaching practices
• Uses data to guide instructional improvement and to inform decision-making
• Facilitates regular Social Studies Department PLCs and Department meetings rooted in collaboration instructional planning and professional learning
• Designs professional development that supports educator growth and is in alignment with department school and district goals
• Applies knowledge of current research and theory in social studies pedagogy to leadership practices
• Collaborates with intervention teams to ensure support for struggling students
• Collaborates with other instructional leaders to improve literacy instruction across the curriculum
• Ensures equitable access to advanced coursework in the social sciences including Honors and AP classes

• General Leadership
• Serves as the primary point of contact for Social Studies Department communication with families administrators and community partners
• Works with the NHS Leadership Team principal and district administrators to implement district state and federal initiatives as needed
• Fosters a positive school culture
• Represents the Social Studies Department at public forums (i.e. School Committee PTSO Parent Nights etc.)
• Serves as a member of the schools Leadership Data and Department Head teams
• Contributes to broader school improvement efforts
• Collaborates with special education multilingual learner educators and school counselors to ensure inclusive practices
• Participates in hiring processes for building-wide roles
• Supports and collaborates on the design of building-wide professional development

• Department Management
• Maintains the departments budget with fiscal responsibility including procurement of instructional materials supplies and other resources
• Maintains annual media and equipment inventory
• Oversees the storage and maintenance of textbooks and Social Studies department supply areas
• Ensures that social studies teachers adhere to school-based deadlines including grade submissions and course recommendations
• Coordinates course offerings scheduling and placement recommendations in partnership with school counseling staff and the administrative team
• Creates the scheduling and staffing matrix annually for all social studies classes
• Uses departmental school and district priorities to guide the approval process for new courses
• Engages in student management in assigned areas and addresses students initial cut classes to Social Studies classes
• Complies with school regulations and protocols School Committee and district policies and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

• Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE

Candidates must demonstrate:

• A passion for working with adolescents and their caregivers.
• An ability to multitask in a fast-paced supportive environment that nurtures student growth
• A knowledge of adolescent development
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Flexibility and a strong desire to collaborate
• Excellent organizational and data literacy skills
• An ability to meet ongoing time-sensitive deadlines
• A deep knowledge of high school history and social science content and pedagogy including Universal Design for Learning (UDL) SEI strategies and differentiated instruction.
• An ability to reach each learner using a variety of approaches.
• A strong belief that all students can grow and achieve.

Bilingual skills especially in Spanish and Portuguese are highly desirable

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent may find appropriate and in conformity with state certification requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily and if requested reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job absent undue hardship.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to:

• Move about the classroom school school grounds office and/or off-site locations. On some occasions it may be necessary to move quickly across even or uneven surfaces;
• Use technology including but not limited to a phone intercom personal computer and software applications projector scanner copy machine calculator camera printer fax machine;
• Remain in a stationary position for periods of time;
• Operate a computer and other school/office productivity machinery (i.e. iPad copy machine computer printer assistive technology etc.);
• Read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids;
• Position oneself to maintain files and access school/classroom/office materials;
• Communicate with others so that information received and given is understood and accurately communicated;
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with students parents and other staff members in person via video conference on the telephone and/or in writing;
• Observe details at close range;
• In the school setting ensure the safety of students;
• Multitask and meet multiple demands from several people;
• May need to teach and support students with life skills development such as eating cleaning and toileting;
• Lifting up to and including 25 lbs;
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

• Formal application
• Assessment of qualifications education licensure skills and experience
• Oral interviews
• Performance task
• Reference check
• Strong record of work performance in current and previous roles required
• Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.) Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.) and fingerprints.

The Natick Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age race creed color religion nationality sex sexual orientation gender identity disability pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions physical and intellectual differences immigration status homeless status or any other class protected by law.