School Staff Duty and Responsibility

(Modified: 1/16/2006)

The Principal is elected annually by the parent members. A qualified Principal candidate must have previously served the NWCS community in an elected position. He/She is responsible for the overall execution of the school operations. The Principal’s responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

School Operations

1. Attend NWCS Board meetings and report on school operations
2. Conduct and report at the NWCS General Meetings
3. Appoint school staff members: Student Counselors, Registrar, Academic Dean, urchaser, Webmaster, and Leader of Parents Communication Network
4. Conduct regular staff meetings
5. Recruit and appoint teachers and teaching assistants
6. Conduct teacher conferences
7. Maintain teachers’ records (background, seniority, awards, attendance, etc.)
8. Coordinate with Somers School District to determine the NWCS school calendar
9. Update school calendar and record major school events
10. Reserve school facilities with the school district for regular school operations and Commencement/New Year party
    1. - Briarcliff Middle School is solicited for regular schools
    2. - Briarcliff High School is solicited for the Commencement ceremony
11. Nominate teachers, staff, and students for awards
12. Present graduating students name list to the NWCS Board for approval
13. Prepare and grant diplomas for graduating students and organize commencement
14. Make sure the school liability insurance is in effect
15. Notify parents for school closing due to inclement weather or other reasons
16. Other school operation decisions which obligated by the school’s Bylaws and Rules

Public Relations

1. Represent the school in the public – e.g. contacting reporters for releasing news of events
2. Maintain a good relationship with the school district

Miscellaneous

§ Handle parent club activities according to Board-approved guidelines

§ Designate a parent to pick up mail from the School’s P.O. box

§ Designate a staff member to deliver cookies to Briar Cliff Middle School’s Christmas party

§ Prepare the Teacher Communication Network – Head Teacher

§ Conduct teachers conferences and workshops – Head Teacher

 

The Vice Principal is elected annually by the parent members. He/She shall assist the Principal in all aspects of school operations and assume full responsibilities in the Principal’s absence. The Vice-Principal’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Arrange classes and assigns classrooms

§ Run parent workshops and seminars

§ Organize New Year Party events with class parents and the Counselors

§ Organize annual picnic events (e.g., applying for the Park permit)

§ Assist ACE programs and other programs

§ Conduct a fire drill once per semester (see Appendices for details)

§ Answer outside inquiries about the School as needed

The Secretary is elected annually by the parent members. The Secretary’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Help the Principal with paper work (e.g. correspondence)

§ Publish newsletters and yearbooks

§ Attend Board meetings and record meeting minutes

§ Attend General meetings and record meeting minutes

§ Assist with ACS programs and other programs

§ Update and archive school procedures and documents:

- School Operating Manual

- Parents Handbook

- Staff Duty and Responsibility Document

- NWCS Board Director Duty and Responsibility Document

- Other school procedures and documents

The Registrar is appointed by the Principal. The Registrar’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Prepare registration and Add/Drop forms

§ Handle student registration and Add/Drop

§ Work with the Treasurer on tuition deposit and refund

§ Maintain student and class registration records

§ Organize student data in the data format defined by the School

§ Maintain and publish the school student/parent directory including the Class Parent Communication Network – complete before October

§ Print school mailing labels based on registration records for school mailing

The Treasurer is elected annually by the parent members. The Treasurer’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Prepare school budget with the Principal

§ Maintain and prepare school financial statements and report in General Meetings

§ Reconcile the bank statements

§ Manage the Reserve fund such as searching for better yield of the CD

§ Handle account receivables and payables

§ Dispense salary checks

§ Prepare W2 forms and distribute to teachers and staff

§ Prepare tax forms:

- W-2 and W-3 forms to IRS – due 2/28

- Form 990EZ (if the gross receipts under $100,000) or Form 990 (otherwise) – due 11/15

- Form 941 payroll tax – due each quarter

- Payroll deposit due on the 15th the following month after issuing paychecks

§ Hand over bank account signature process to the newly elected treasurer prior to the end of the term

§ Join the Board’s finance committee if needed

§ Report at Board meeting when requested

§ Pay the school liability insurance premium

§ Pay rent to Briar Cliff School District, in two installments

The Academic Dean is appointed by the Principal. The Academic Dean’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Run student competition events

§ Work with Head Teachers on issues related to teaching

§ Provide information and services to teachers regarding Chinese Language and Culture

§ Maintain student attendance and academic records

§ Make student grade advancement decisions based on students’ records, teachers’ recommendations, and school guidelines

§ Maintain and order teaching materials and textbooks, before the end of each semester, for the following semester

§ Handle NWCS Language/ACE Teaching Materials

§ Manage school library operations

§ Collect copies of class materials, test and exam papers and homework from teachers at the end of each semester

§ Conduct entrance/advancement exams

§ Provide Principal with a list of students for academic awards/recognition every semester

§ Attend external events related to teaching Chinese Language and Culture

§ Maintain school supplies – copy machine paper, stationeries, teacher and student supplies, New Year party and annual picnic supplies, etc.

§ Estimate price and evaluate quality for the items which school is interested in purchasing

§ Prepare award certificates

§ Keep the key to the School’s supply room and keep the room clean and orderly

The Student Counselor is appointed by the Principal. The Student Counselor’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Establish counseling procedures

§ Maintain school order and safety

§ Assign on-duty parents

§ Notify the leader of the on-duty parents one week before the duty date

§ Keep records of the on-duty parents’ fulfillment of their responsibilities every week

§ Counsel students in trouble

§ Communicate with parents of students in trouble

§ Collect and maintain student behavior records

§ Conduct student activity events:

- Organize New Year party games (including dispensing prizes)

- Organize year-end picnic games (including dispensing prizes)

The NWCS head teacher is elected by the NWCS teachers. A qualified head teacher candidate must be a current teacher and have minimum 5 years of teaching experience and have taught at least two grades at NWCS. The head teacher’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Same responsibilities and duties as all teachers

§ Organize teacher conferences with Principal once a semester (prior to the school starts)

§ Prepare the Teacher Communication Network

§ Conduct teachers workshops and organize training sessions for teachers

§ Promote communications among teachers

§ Learn and introduce new teaching skills to teachers

§ Provide help to other teachers

§ Provide mentoring to new teachers

§ Help Academic Dean and other teachers to prepare teaching materials

§ Help the School on the issues of curricula and textbooks

NWCS teachers are appointed by the Principal. A teacher can teach the same grade consecutively no more than four years. However, exception can be granted with the Board’s approval. An NWCS teacher’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Prepare teaching materials according to the School’s curriculum

§ Conduct classroom teaching according to the Class Work Guidelines

§ Prepare and assign student homework according to the Homework Guidelines

§ Correct and grade student homework

§ Give student tests and exams (quizzes, midterm and final) and grade the tests

§ Update and develop courses and class materials

§ Organize student semester and year records

§ Submit student records to Academic Dean (attendance, grades, etc.)

§ Send parents report cards

§ Conduct parents/teacher conference once a semester

§ Send a copy of tests, exams, and homework to Academic Dean at the end of each semester

§ Make recommendations to the Academic Dean on Student’s grade advancement at the end of a school year

§ Attend teacher conferences called by the Principal and/or Academic Dean

§ Work with Class Parents on other School’s activities such as New Year party, students extracurricular competitions, etc.

§ Attend internal and external workshops

§ Maintain classroom order and safety

§ Report abnormal classroom incidents to Student Counselors

§ Attend ACS conference at least every 3 years (new teachers must attend one

§ ACS conference within the first two years)

NWCS teaching assistants are appointed annually by the Principal. A teaching assistant’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Help the teacher in the classroom on class activities

§ Help the teacher prepare student homework

§ Correct and grade student homework and exams

§ Maintain classroom order and safety

§ Work with the Class Parents for other school’s activities

The parent communication network leader is appointed by the Principal annually. The parent communication network leader’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Work with Principal to identify Class Parents

§ Call Class Parent meeting at the beginning of school year, preferably in the first week, to convey the duties of class parents (See Appendices for details)

§ Conduct communication drill one week after the class parent meeting

§ Start the Parent Communication Network by calling the first parent in the list of the network immediately after receiving instructions from the Principal

§ Prepare and sell tickets for New Year Party and Annual Picnic

The purchaser is appointed by the Principal annually. The purchaser’s responsibilities and duties include:

§ Purchase school materials and supplies

§ Arrange and order food at school functions

§ Order moon cakes for teachers before Moon Festival

The webmaster is appointed annually by the Principal. He/She is responsible for the design of the School website. The webmaster’s responsibilities and duties include:

School Operations

§ Update the School website with newsletters prepared by the Principal and Secretary

§ Maintain the School website with updated school related information and activities

§ Update the School website with Board member, staff and teachers for each school year

§ Ensure the domain name is renewed as needed

§ Integrate e-school functions into the website when available