MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values:
• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

This is a 10-day posting, which will close on April 7, at 11:59pm.

The Educator Preparation Specialist will report to the Director of EPP Management and Monitoring will contribute to strengthening the quality and accountability of all 120 educator preparation across Texas—ensuring that programs meet state standards, regulations, and produce well-prepared, effective educators for Texas classrooms. The specialist will be responsible for detail-oriented and collaborative work across multiple operational areas to support Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs), including technical support and customer service, management of complaint and risk tracking systems, and management of compliance and monitoring processes. The Specialist will play a key role in supporting EPPs through state reporting, application reviews, and the 5-year Continuing Approval Review cycle. The preparation specialist performs advanced administrative work with limited supervision, under guidelines established by the Director of EPP Management and Monitoring in the Division of Quality Preparation.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume, tailored cover letter, and short answer responses are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions
Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Customer Service and Technical Training Support: Provides guidance and technical support to educator preparation and manages the internal system for tracking technical support. Provides technical training support to EPPs, including the process of annual state reporting.
2. Complaints and Risk Management System Support: At the direction of the director, the specialist will track and process complaints to resolution, maintaining a tracker of complaints outcomes as a component of the overall risk management, and address relevant PIRs.
3. EPP Review and Monitoring Support: The specialist will support the 5-year Continuing Approval Review process through onsite reviews. The specialist will participate in vendor-led quality reviews for pilot participant EPPs and all related training and preparation activities, lead the compliance reviews for non-pilot participant EPPs and support monitoring EPP progress toward addressing outcomes of the 5 continuing approval reviews, including the review and approval of any necessary compliance plans.
4. Application Processing and Review Supports: The specialist will provide technical support and guidance for existing and potential EPPs in the application processes to approve new routes and certification areas and will review applications for new entity approval. The specialist will support SBEC item development related to application approvals.

Minimum Qualifications
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least three (3) years of experience in education, with a demonstrated track record of success improving student outcomes for diverse student populations
• Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis

Other Qualifications
• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• Experience applying and developing others in the best practices of effective teaching and learning
• Knowledge of best practices in educator preparation, support, and development
• Familiarity with Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code provisions related to educator standards, testing, and preparation and the ability to recognize and work within regulatory constraints
• Skill in reviewing plans, documents, and drafts to provide high-quality feedback both verbally and in writing
• Proven experience in designing and leading effective professional learning for educators
• Capable of working with a variety of stakeholders through small and large group facilitation opportunities
• Expert in long-term project planning, including establishing outcomes, determining evaluative measures, and tracking progress
• Adept with balancing the demands of multiple projects at different stages of development while maintaining quality and consistency across all work with periodic job and task ambiguity
• Superior and effective professional verbal and written communication skills, including development of appropriate guidance documents and effective presentations
• Communicates complex ideas into practical and accessible language
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Employment at TEA page

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.