Head Chaplain/Religion Department Chair

Title: Head Chaplain/Religion Department Chair
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Head of School
Vacation: Holiday break, spring break, month of July
Updated: September 2024

School Overview
Breck School is a preschool through twelve, coeducational college preparatory, Episcopal day school located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, with a national reputation for excellence and achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. Our School’s Episcopal roots are lived through an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging where we respect the dignity of every human being. We prioritize lifelong learning and a commitment to the greater good.

We are a community of highly engaged and motivated students, faculty, staff, and school leaders focused on building trusting relationships and strong academic scholarship through a practice of bridging research to practice. Upon graduation, Breck students are prepared for a life of intellectual curiosity, self-knowledge, and social responsibility, matriculating to colleges and universities throughout the world.

Position Description
The Head Chaplain plays the lead role in defining, preserving, and promoting the School’s Episcopal identity to all constituencies. Building on the Episcopal ideals of inquiry, inclusion, and reason, the Head Chaplain is a community builder. They work across divisions and departments to coordinate a Chapel program that celebrates many paths to God, rather than specific religious formation. Importantly, our Chapel programming is intended to unify our broad community, which represents all faiths, as well as those of no particular organized faith background while simultaneously honoring individual community members’ religious identities.

In collaboration with the Chaplain Team, the Head Chaplain develops, facilitates, and promotes unique, school specific programming for All-School Chapel,and Upper School Chapels. The chaplain also performs duties in the Middle School and Upper School, including leading chapel and teaching religion classes. In addition, this position provides pastoral care to the full breadth and diversity of students, families, and employees as needed and oversees the K-12 Community Engagement program. The Head Chaplain reports directly to the Head of School.
The Head Chaplain will serve as the Religion Department Chair. The Chair is the curricular and pedagogical leader who manages departmental duties and invests in the professional growth of their colleagues while collaboratively advancing Breck’s mission.

Curriculum and Pedagogy
As someone with deep content knowledge and a belief in continuous improvement the Chair models reviews and updates the department’s curriculum to better serve students, effectively communicates about the department’s scope and sequence to students, parents, and colleagues, and advances Breck’s mission. As department chair, you will:

• Serve as a member of the Academic Leadership Team.
• Lead annual review of the P-12 curriculum to innovate, align with EI and MBE (Peter Clark Center).
• Engage the department in research-informed conversations about teaching and learning via the Peter Clark Center.
• Collaborate with department members to develop long-range plans for the P-12 department, plan and write necessary course guides.
• Coordinate an annual inventory of instructional supplies and equipment with the Religion department.
• Actively contribute to the work of advancing intellectual curiosity, self-knowledge, and social responsibility.
• Teach a course within the religion department.

Leadership
As someone with a strong belief in Breck’s mission and a collaborative understanding of how to bring vision into action, you are able to equally advocate for your own department while at the same time supporting the wider mission of the school. As department chair, you will:

• Advance Breck’s mission and values.
• Support a culture of healthy and open discussion about school issues, while communicating active support for Breck’s initiatives and priorities.
• Support implementation of strategic DEI initiatives through partnership with the Melrose Family Center.
• Collaborate with members of the department, other department chairs, and administrators to ensure that department goals and direction are clearly stated and aligned with the mission of the school.
• Participate in design teams, task forces, and cross-divisional committees.
• Identify and respond to questions and concerns within and about the department.
• Meet with school leadership to discuss curriculum, faculty development, and goals for the year.
• Assist in hiring, training, evaluating, and supporting faculty members in your department.
• Recommend individual teaching assignments for the members of your department in collaboration with Division Directors
• Observe and evaluate teachers in your department through observations.
• Review, provide feedback on, and assess teachers’ yearly learning goals.
• Provide the first line of accountability for teachers in the department, partnering with the administration when more significant intervention is needed.
• Screen, interview, and assist in the selection and support of department substitutes.
• Facilitate regularly scheduled department meetings that promote participation from all department members
• Prepare department budget requests, approve all department requisitions, control expenses, and stay within the annual budget.

Competencies

• Effective written and verbal communication skills both one-on-one and within a group
• Subject area expertise
• Offers and receives feedback with grace and purpose
• Models personalization and press for adults in the department
• Collaborative problem solver
• Evaluates issues through a variety of lenses

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Chapel Program:
Oversee, support, and be involved as needed in the chapel program for all three divisions.
Oversee and/or facilitate a meaningful, inclusive and age-appropriate PK-12 chapel program including All-School, Upper School, Middle School, and Lower School Chapels.
Coordinate worship events throughout the year.

Pastoral Care:
Promote and encourage the spiritual well-being of the community
Work with the divisional chaplains, Program Directors, Division Directors, and Senior Leadership on building community and a sense of belonging for families.
Support students, employees, and families as needs arise.
Maintain a visible presence in the school community.

Administration:
Oversee the annual Chaplaincy and Religion budget.
Assume responsibility for the Chapel space.
Recruit, orient, support, evaluate, and supervise the Religion Department and Chaplain Team.
Support the Admissions and Development Offices in maintaining a clear and accurate understanding of our Episcopal identity in service of the mission of the school.
Other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Education and/or Experience:
Status as an ordained Episcopal priest or an ordained deacon preferred.
BA/BS or equivalent in an appropriate field, Master’s preferred.
Three years’ experience working in an educational environment.

Contact Information