Arizona Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Job Location:

Certification Section

Phoenix Location

Posting Details:

Salary: $70,000 - $72,000 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 10/06/2024

Job Summary:

• The Education Program Specialist will be responsible for the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) approval process (R-7-2-604) as well as provide technical assistance to institutions of higher education, certificate programs, and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) seeking State Board approval of their educator preparation programs.
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel is required for this position.

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Job Duties:

• Responsible for the Educator Preparation Program approval process as defined in State Board rule R-7-2-604
• Serve as liaison to Professional Preparation Institutions (PPI)
• Oversee program reviews, trainings, communication, and technical support to stakeholders regarding Educator Preparation
• Stay apprised of federal regulations and national trends regarding Educator Preparation
• Collaborate with PPIs, LEAs, educators, educator candidates, and other community representatives regarding the effectiveness of preparation programs and the needs of the field
• Provide expertise in the form of written communication, reports, training design, and guidance documents for EPP approval processes
• Support continuous training of other program specialists within the agency and certification staff
• Schedule meetings, facilitate webinars, and trainings
• Organize and provide training for review teams
• Responsible for Title II-A federal reporting deadlines
• Ensure PPIs are submitting information in a timely manner, and provide technical assistance to PPIs regarding Title II-A reporting requirements
• Communicate updates to the State Board of Education through presentations and reports
• Responsible for the maintenance of the Educator Excellence website, including updating EPP information, uploading documents into the system, maintaining the EPP Portal, and general webmaster duties
• Serve on work teams and committees and attend conferences related to Educator Preparation Programs, when appropriate

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge in:
• Arizona State Board of Education Rules
• Arizona Professional Teaching Standards
• Arizona Professional Administrative Standards
• Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment
• Arizona State Board of Education Educator Preparation Program approval process
• Pre-service educator support programs
• Educator induction/mentoring programs
• A Bachelor's degree in Education or a related field or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree is required

Skills in:
• Systems analysis
• Interpretation
• Research
• Observation
• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Customer service
• Written and verbal communication
• Leadership
• Consulting
• Training
• Active listening
• Organization
• Intermediate to advanced skill in using Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel

Ability to:
• Manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision
• Respect for confidentiality
• Prioritize tasks and develop workflow
• Complete all job responsibilities in a timely manner
• Work with a diverse team
• Manage change and lead continuous improvement to meet the needs of customers and stakeholders
• Draw accurate inferences from quantitative, qualitative and situational data
• Accurately assess a variety of situations and select the best option for action
• Synthesize diverse data and information
• Exercise initiative and good judgement to make quality decisions within the scope of assigned authority

Selective Preference(s):

Preference will be given to those applicants with:
• A minimum of three years of teaching experience in PK-12 and/or post-secondary setting
• A National Board Certification
• An Educational Leadership degree or Administrative degree

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