1. Do you have any senior teachers? Form committees including both old and new teachers that can address issues that the staff identifies as their major areas of concern.
2. Find a mentor at another school.
3. Discuss school issues with other departments in your school.
4. Open the dialogue among the teachers in your department.
5. Attend conferences- NSTA etc.
6. Read teacher journals- Science Teacher, American Biology Teacher, Educational Leadership. Also, find resoujrces in the other sciences which are not your major area. You have to supervise the entire department.
7. Set up subject area committees- not sure of the size of your department. Have a committee for Bio, Chem, Physics, Earth Science at a minimum.
8. Set up opportunities for discussion of subject matter based on article/ books.
9. Find students who can serve on an advisory panel.
10. Keep a "wish list" of stuff that you and the other teachers would like to purchase.
11. Join BAP or have one of the other teachers in your area to receive notices from NSTA.
12. Have a discussion about short term vs long term plans.
13. Look for sources of grants.
14. Keep a folder/ bulletin board with opportunities for teachers/ students.
15. Look for projects that enhance the study of each area of science.
16. Evaluate textbooks as they are made available from publishers.
17. Keep inventory of equipment, supplies, AV, software etc.
18. Look at safety issues that are consistent with local considerations, NSTA recommendations.
19. Be aware of STATE requiements for graduation.
20. Arrange visits to other schools for yourself and for teachers.
21. Arrange intervisitations amond teachers in your department.
22. Look for associations that can be developed with Guidance Department, Library, Educational Technology, and other departrments.
23. Get information from college board about AP Science courses. Send teachers for training before you begin a program.
24. Develop a website list of important sites that you can refer to for assistance/ information.
25. Develop a professional library.
26. Keep a file of catalogs from supply/ equipment companies. You never know when you need this information.
27. Have a course calendar for all courses developed bhy teams of teachers. Have a lab schedule so that supplies can be available.
28. Contact local colleges- Education Department and Science Department. They can be a source of assistance, future teachers, guest speakers etc.
29. Keep a contact list of local informal science organizations- zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, parks that could be used as sites for field trips, volunteer opportunities.
30. Look at school facilities so that you can discuss needs with custodian and principal.

These won't happen over night but if you commit to just a few, you can be confident your team will become more effective.