Head Teacher Mentor

**Position Information**:
Narooma High School provides a comprehensive secondary education for the students from Narooma and the surrounding areas of Bermagui, Bodalla, Cobargo, Tilba, Dalmeny and Kianga on the Far South Coast of NSW and surrounding districts.

The student population is 505 with 14% of students identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. We have 61 permanent and temporary teaching staff and 28 permanent and temporary non-teaching staff. At Narooma High School we are committed to a shared community inspired approach to excellence in education and opportunity for all. We are very proud of our strong record of academic, performing arts, cultural and sporting achievements. Students represent the school across a wide range of activities at local, regional and state levels.

Narooma High School values learning through Responsibility, Respect and Support. We have fostered strong partnerships with universities, cultural institutions, businesses and community groups. Parent support is strong and highly valued. The school works in partnership the Department of Education service delivery team and agencies and services to care for, value and support our students and their families. The school joined the Connected Communities Strategy in 2021. This has seen an improvement in support for all Aboriginal students and non-Aboriginal students in literacy and numeracy, attendance, post school options and community engagement.

The Head Teacher Mentor will lead the support for early career permanent, temporary and casual teachers in Connected Communities schools. The Head Teacher Mentor will support teachers to strengthen their practice through an explicit, structured program of professional development, coaching, classroom observation, demonstration, team teaching and individualised professional feedback. The Head Teacher Mentor role will work closely with other executive to strengthen a positive performance and development culture across the school, aligned to the values of the Connected Communities strategy.

The Head Teacher Mentor does not have an allocated teaching timetable, however will work directly in classrooms supporting other teachers for at least half the teaching load of an executive teacher.

While the Head Teacher Mentor does not replace the supervisory function of existing executive, particularly in relation to teacher accreditation, they will play a key role in supporting teachers with accreditation requirements.

**Selection Criteria**:
Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria:

- Demonstrated deep knowledge and understanding of the value of culture, cultural identity and linguistic background regarding the education of students from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, with successful experience in delivering innovative strategies to create inclusive teaching and learning practices and opportunities that lead to high quality learning outcomes for Aboriginal students
- Demonstrated successful experience in supporting teaching colleagues, particularly early career teachers, to improve teaching practice and student outcomes.
- Demonstrated deep knowledge and understanding of the NESA requirements for accreditation at the level of Proficient Teacher, including for temporary and casual teachers;
- Demonstrated capacity to build professional relationships, deliver professional feedback and lead professional learning leading to improved teaching practice and student outcomes
- Deep knowledge of and commitment to the Department’s Connected Communities Strategy and the NSW AECG/Department of Education Partnership Agreement ‘Walking Together Working Together’

**General Selection Criteria**:
1. Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice

2. Knowledge of curriculum, assessment and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs

3. Educational leadership skills to build the capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams

4. Well developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents

5. Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning

6. Knowledge of and commitment to the Department's Aboriginal Education policy

**Conditions**:
To be eligible for consideration, an applicant for a head teacher position in one of these educational support areas must:

- hold tertiary qualifications including a degree; and
- be accredited as a secondary teacher.

**Special Notes**:
The Eligibility Requirements for Head Teacher Positions in NSW Government Schools are located here.

**About the NSW Department of Education