Social Studies Department Head

West Point Grey Academy is seeking a Socials Studies Department Head beginning August 26, 2024. This is a full-time position, eligible for benefits. 

Great schools have great faculty, and WPGA has exceptional teachers and staff who are dedicated to shaping lives of inquiry, action and joy.

West Point Grey Academy teachers and staff focus on the individual child, the whole person, and a balanced life. They give each student transformative learning experiences rooted in inquiry, shaped by action, and celebrated with joy.

At WPGA, Department Head positions are three-year terms with opportunities to continue the role. Our Department Heads are subject-matter experts. They are highly organized teachers, superior communicators, and strong leaders who provide recommendations to the Senior School Leadership Team on program implementation, curriculum development, budget allocation, and teaching assignments. Department Heads are key to our instructional program, acting as catalytic agents of innovative practice. They help to create and maintain a positive school culture, and they empower both teachers and students towards positive change.

All WPGA Faculty:

• Provide future-focused programs and personalized learning experiences.
• Provide and plan for inspirational learning environments that facilitate innovation, collaboration, and inclusion.
• Strengthen our relationship to each other and to our local and global communities with a positive school culture, partnerships, and service to others.
• Are committed to placing wellbeing at the heart of our school.

In your first year at WPGA, you'll be directly involved in:

Leading an Academic Department

• Providing expert-level mentorship on implementing the BC Social Studies Curriculum for Grades 8-12, including AP-level courses.
• Working with the Vice Principal of Teaching & Learning and the Deputy Head of Senior School to coordinate the work of the departmental team and assume responsibility of leading the development of effective teaching and learning situations.
• Collaborating with the Vice Principal of Teaching & Learning to mentor beginning teachers to develop good instructional practice.
• Acting as a liaison with other subject areas and school departments to facilitate information sharing and cross-curricular approaches.
• Collaborating with other Department Heads to advise the Senior School Leadership Team in matters pertaining to curriculum and instruction.
• Leading staff and curriculum development in the area of Social Studies, and collaborating on scaffolded approach to instruction for Grades 8-12 students, including AP offerings.
  
• Working with department members to develop an annual budget.

Teaching 

• Preparing and delivering engaging, future-focused lesson plans and interactive learning activities/materials that follow BC curriculum guidelines.
• Meaningfully integrate digital skills and technology into curriculum and assessment to enhance student learning (laptop and other technology resources provided).
• Adapting instructional materials to students' individual education plans (IEPs).
• Conducting formal and informal assessment of students, including report cards progress reports, and marking.
• Supporting students and families with open, ongoing communication.
• Working flexibly across the Senior School to cover a range of teaching roles on a scheduled basis.

Co-Curricular Involvement

• Modelling and promoting our core values and high standards of behaviour in and out of the classroom.
• Participating in school life and co-curricular activities by coaching a varsity sport or sponsoring a club.

Growing as a Professional

• Actively participating in faculty meetings.
• Seeking opportunities for collaboration.
• Participating in professional development by reading professional literature and attending courses, seminars, and other professional-development opportunities.

About You

I understand that...

• That the work is challenging, but it's worth it because of the impact I have in the lives of others. 
• The needs of students and families are at the forefront of care decisions. It’s not about me.  
• It’s important to be purposefully visible, available and involved in the community outside of my particular assignment. People come before paper. 
• Efficacy of care and school excellence are built upon the collective extra efforts of everyone in the community.  I am a self-starter with an exemplary work ethic who is a continuous learner. I expect to work after hours, evenings and weekends.

I am able to...

• Create safe, positive learning environments.
• Make intentional plans for learning that include Social Studies conceptual understandings, competencies, and character development.
• See the big picture of the curriculum in order to plan meaningful sequences of learning.
• Share my passion for teaching with my colleagues and bring expertise to curriculum and assessment practices. 
• Share my passion for learning with my students and bring expertise to curricular and co-curricular learning.
• Communicate effectively through clear, direct and supportive written, verbal, and digital skills.
• Contribute to a climate of joy at the school through positivity, enthusiasm, a sense of humour and fun so that others enjoy my company.
• Collaborate with all partners (families, administration, teachers, counselling team and community service providers) to maximise positive learning outcomes for students. 

I am becoming more...

• Able to anticipate need and communicate proactively with key stakeholders including parents, teachers and principals. 
• Attuned to the root causes of behaviour.
• Open-hearted and open-minded, but still value critical thinking to make sense of complex issues.
• Aware of how to care for myself and others so that my presence adds to the health of my community.

In my work, I want to …

• Work alongside other talented professionals, passionate about making a better world one student at a time. 
• Feel connected, be part of a values-centred community and have fun!

About Us

Founded in 1996, West Point Grey Academy is an independent co-educational day school in Vancouver, British Columbia. Set on 18 acres with sweeping views of English Bay and the North Shore mountains, we offer future-focused programs to 940 students in junior kindergarten to grade 12. WPGA's educational philosopy is to develop the whole child, who, guided by creative, dedicated teachers and supported by our inclusive, vibrant community, is nurtured to achieve his or her full potential — academically, emotionally, physically and socially. 

Our Process

At West Point Grey Academy, we cherish diversity in our staff and our greater community. We are committed to minimizing bias in our recruitment process as part of our commitment to strengthen inclusion, diversity and equity across all areas of the school.

Candidates are asked to complete their application by February 26, 2024 @ 4:00 pm Pacific Time. 

You will be asked to submit your resume and provide thoughtful responses to few scenario-based questions. Your responses to the questions should outline how you demonstrate the About You section. It will also illustrate how you imagine your first year in the role. Responses will be anonymized and randomized prior to screening. We will screen candidate responses based on the alignment with the knowledge, competencies and character required for this position. The intent is to minimize bias in the first assessment stage. Only after these responses have been assessed will we review your resume. 

You can answer the questions on the form provided, or submit your responses on a single document and upload the file. Please note that all responses will be reviewed for AI-generated content.