Frequently Asked Questions of the EHS Math Dept

Math Teachers, as the content specialist, implement the course curriculum with integrity in their classrooms. Teachers maintain a positive attitude with students as well as the content. They support the course leader by implementing consistent course-wide policies and practices and strive to maintain consistency for all students in the course while being professional enough to make appropriate adjustments as needed to ensure all students are given the opportunity to learn the curriculum.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Leadership:
  • Decide on use of either:
    • Common-Course assessments & material as provided by course leader or
    • Create, maintain, and be responsible for self-generated course assessment & material
  • Support course leader and department chair in his/her duties.
• Communicate:
  • Student & Parental issues to appropriate authority
  • Report to course leader (or dept chair) upon request:
    • Assessment methodology & material[see Leadership above]
    • Textbook counts totals
    • Supplies needed for assigned courses & classroom(s)
• Accountibility:
  • Maintain a safe & secure environment for students and fellow staff
  • Maintain accurate records for
    • grades & student assessment scores
    • textbooks
    • other course or classroom supplies
  • Implement district & departmental policies & procedures for curriculum and assigned courses

Special Education Teachers in the math department support the Math Teacher (content-specialist) in their efforts to teach the course curriculum with integrity in the classroom. Special Educator Teachers maintain a positive attitude with students as well as the content. They support the course teacher by providing insight and advice regarding the unique needs of the students as well as implementing required additional student support as specified in the student's Individual Education Plans or 504 Plans.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Leadership
  • Implement any course-specific accomodations for special education students.
  • Support course teacher (content specialist) and department chair in his/her duties.
• Communicate
  • Special education student & parental issues to appropriate authority
  • Report to course teacher (or dept chair) upon request:
• Accountibility
  • Maintain a safe & secure environment for students and fellow staff
  • Maintain accurate records for each special education student in the classroom.

Math course leaders provide leadership in curriculum implementation to the faculty assigned to teach the same course. Course leaders should model a positive and collaborative attitude among the course teachers and within the math department. Course leaders also support the visions of the math department, Edwardsville High School, and District 7 in all decision-making.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Leadership
  • Maintains & inform course teachers of all common-course processes including:
    • As required by district/dept::
      • curriculum
      • grading scale
      • final exams
    • As recommended by district/dept:
      • common assessments (quizzes, tests, homework quizzes, etc.)
      • methodology for adminstering and grading common assessments (calculator use, notecard use, rubrik, etc)
      • provides initial copies to each course teacher at appropriate times.
    • Note: The above applies to common processes. Any teacher who creates and maintains their own assessments need only inform the course leader and dept chair of their intent. Individual teachers may create & use their own assessments and modify the pacing as needed for their students with the exception of those required by district/dept (i.e. final exams, curriculum, grading scale
  • Makes recommendations to the department chair regarding curriculum and/or course issues
• Communicator
  • Advise and inform the department chair of issues regarding course upon request.
  • Provides each course teacher a reference pacing guide and reference assignments (if appropriate) for the course.
  • Elicit feedback from course teachers on areas of improvement and concern.
• Accountibility
  • Record and report textbook counts totaled from course teachers including
    • Number "Good" books (stored in bookroom during summer)
    • Number "Rebound" books
    • Number "Recycle" books (i.e. Bad or Cannot be Rebound books)
    • Number "Lost/Destroyed" books (each teacher should also turn in to bookkeeper individually)
  • Collects and reports on resources (calculator needs, book counts, D&F lists, etc.) to the dept chair for the course as needed.
  • Maintains for each course teacher a reference pacing guide and reference assignments & assessments (if appropriate) for the course.
  • Reports to the department chair regarding curriculum and/or course issues and serves as a focal-point for improvement and communications within the course.

The EHS math department chair provides leadership in both curriculum implementation and staff development to the faculty assigned to the department. The department chair should model a positive and collaborative attitude both within the department, the school, and the community. The department chair will maintain and support the vision of both District 7 and Edwardsville High School in all decision-making.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Leadership:
  • Curriculum implementation
  • Probationary teachers orientation and supervision
  • Schedule and chair effective math department meetings
• Communicator :
  • Positive liason between the administration and the math department
  • Math department's representative on the Principal's Advisory Council (PAC)
  • Math department's facilitator and point of contact in NCA/CASI evaluation processes
  • Provide input regarding teaching assignment recommendations for master schedule and yearly class and staff assignments, as requested
  • Participate in Freshmen Orientation Program
  • Attend to student & faculty mathematical awards
• Accountability:
  • Maintain the math instructional materials inventory and provide projections for materials needs each year to the curriculum office
  • Assist with "end of year" checkout in accordance with District procedures
  • Assist with monitoring and supporting timely parental communications by department faculty
  • Provide assistance to substitute teachers and provide input on performance as requested
  • Approve field trips taken by department members in accordance with District 7 procedures
  • Maintain a balanced department budget
  • Maintain a reference Course Standards & End-of-Course Assessment (aka Final Exam)