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Lead teacher vs department chairperson

The differences between lead teachers and department chairpeople can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lead teacher, becoming a department chairperson takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a department chairperson has an average salary of $98,438, which is higher than the $33,652 average annual salary of a lead teacher.

The top three skills for a lead teacher include CPR, customer service and child care. The most important skills for a department chairperson are curriculum development, professional development, and classroom management.

Lead teacher vs department chairperson overview

Lead TeacherDepartment Chairperson
Yearly salary$33,652$98,438
Hourly rate$16.18$47.33
Growth rate5%7%
Number of jobs56,13133,511
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4347
Years of experience26

What does a lead teacher do?

The Lead Teacher works with parents to resolve student issues and train new teachers on effective teaching techniques. A Lead Teacher is a licensed teacher with extensive teaching experience and preferably has a master's in education or related studies. They are an integral part of a school's faculty and the principal's arm in drafting policies for implementation.

What does a department chairperson do?

A Department Chairperson is a faculty member who provides academic and administrative leadership to an academic department. They exercise leadership in recruiting and retaining capable faculty, communicate departmental needs and desires to the Dean and Provost, and coordinate the academic advisement process.

Lead teacher vs department chairperson salary

Lead teachers and department chairpeople have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead TeacherDepartment Chairperson
Average salary$33,652$98,438
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $50,000Between $50,000 And $191,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySuccess Preparatory AcademyMarshall University
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between lead teacher and department chairperson education

There are a few differences between a lead teacher and a department chairperson in terms of educational background:

Lead TeacherDepartment Chairperson
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorEarly Childhood EducationEducation
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Lead teacher vs department chairperson demographics

Here are the differences between lead teachers' and department chairpeople' demographics:

Lead TeacherDepartment Chairperson
Average age4347
Gender ratioMale, 10.2% Female, 89.8%Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 4.2% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage12%16%

Differences between lead teacher and department chairperson duties and responsibilities

Lead teacher example responsibilities.

  • Plan and implement theme and project-base lessons that incorporate math, literacy, science, physical development, and social/emotional skills.
  • Cultivate and foster safe and effective learning environment conducive for Pre-K students.
  • Model positive behavior management techniques through daily contact with children and early childhood staff in the classroom.
  • Develop lesson plans on a bi-weekly basis that comply with early childhood standards and relate to the weekly theme.
  • Require CPR certification and ongoing continuing education.
  • Develop programs that introduce math and literacy concepts.
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Department chairperson example responsibilities.

  • Manage the club's Facebook/Twitter accounts.
  • Lead meetings with ESL department teachers in which teachers collaborate on unit plan ideas, classroom strategies and student needs.
  • Manage the development of an alumni newsletter and coordinate with alumni to provide relevant content.
  • Manage both individual and organizational achievements for the members through involvement with the community, philanthropies, campus involvement, and scholarship
  • Negotiate and obtain clinical sites for PN and ADN programs.
  • Develop and deliver dynamic, rigorous lessons for high school economics classes.
  • Show more

Lead teacher vs department chairperson skills

Common lead teacher skills
  • CPR, 19%
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Child Care, 17%
  • Child Development, 15%
  • Classroom Management, 11%
  • Pre-K, 3%
Common department chairperson skills
  • Curriculum Development, 15%
  • Professional Development, 14%
  • Classroom Management, 13%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Student Learning, 5%
  • Colleges, 4%

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