Deputy Director, Performance Reporting Communications and Stakeholder Engagement (Director I)

Job Description

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 December 17, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Position Overview: TEA's Performance Reporting division seeks to ensure continuous improvement in the academic achievement of all Texas public school students by 1) developing and implementing transparent, rigorous, and fair academic accountability systems, 2) providing accurate and comprehensive academic reporting systems, tools, and trackers and 3) monitoring and validating data to ensure the integrity of these systems.

The Deputy Director of Performance Reporting Communications and Stakeholder Engagement contributes to the strategic vision and operational management of the Performance Reporting division within the Office of Analytics, Assessment, and Reporting. This leader is a direct manager of the communications team within Performance Reporting and ensures that all communication, training, and stakeholder engagement efforts are aligned with the division's mission to advance continuous improvement in the academic achievement of all Texas public school students.

This leader is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive strategies that support transparent, rigorous, and equitable academic accountability systems. The Deputy Director guides the creation and dissemination of accurate, accessible, and visually compelling resources-including accountability manuals, guidelines, and explanatory materials-ensuring these tools empower educators and stakeholders statewide. Additionally, the Director establishes protocols for maintaining and updating public and secure web platforms, guaranteeing the reliability and accessibility of critical Performance Reporting information.

Strategically, the Deputy Director fosters a culture of proactive stakeholder engagement through data-driven outreach and feedback systems. By leveraging surveys, focus groups, and collaborative partnerships, the Director synthesizes insights to drive continuous improvements in division practices and communication. This role also champions best practices in adult learning, actively supporting the development and delivery of training resources and presentations tailored to diverse audiences, including ESCs, school administrators, teachers, parents, and the public.

As a senior member of the Policy and Communications team, the Deputy Director collaborates across agency divisions, coordinates policy analysis, and provides consultative guidance to ensure the effectiveness and consistency of accountability practices. Through visionary leadership, strategic planning, and expert management of communications and outreach, the Deputy Director of Performance Reporting Communications and Stakeholder Engagement is instrumental in upholding the integrity and impact of Texas' academic accountability systems.

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

Please note that a resume 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. Performance Reporting Communications Strategy: In this role, the Deputy Director is responsible for developing and implementing a unified communications strategy designed to enhance the clarity, consistency, and accessibility of performance reporting materials for all stakeholders. By focusing on the timely dissemination of accurate information, resources, and updates related to academic accountability systems, the Deputy Director strives to improve stakeholder understanding and engagement. Written communications are carefully aligned with the division's mission, resulting in measurable increases in stakeholder satisfaction and the quality of feedback received. The Deputy Director also establishes protocols for the regular review and refinement of all communication deliverables, ensuring that they remain relevant and responsive to evolving stakeholder needs. Furthermore, new training opportunities are created and delivered to support stakeholders in interpreting performance reports and applying insights to their strategic decision-making processes.

2. Performance Reporting Communications Project Planning and Management: Responsible for overseeing Performance Reporting Communications project planning and management, the Deputy Director develops and maintains a comprehensive content calendar. This calendar serves as a strategic tool for planning, scheduling, and tracking all communications and engagement activities associated with performance reporting projects. The Deputy Director ensures the timely creation and distribution of targeted materials-including slide decks, surveys, and stakeholder interview guides-to guarantee consistent messaging and effective outreach across all relevant audiences. Stakeholder engagement and feedback are enhanced through the organization of project timelines, which allow for regular review, revision, and improvement of deliverables based on stakeholder input. The Deputy Director collaborates effectively across teams to share project updates, key findings, and actionable insights, thereby strengthening the quality and impact of Performance Reporting products and processes. Transparency and accountability are prioritized through careful documentation of milestones, deliverables, and follow-up actions within the content calendar system, ensuring that all communication project management activities are clearly tracked and managed.

3. Performance Reporting Communications Deliverables: The Deputy Director plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality communication tools, training resources, sessions and presentations, which lead to a deeper understanding of the accountability system and more effective use of performance reporting data among stakeholders. By consistently tailoring communication materials to meet the varied needs of different stakeholder groups, the Director ensures that all information shared is not only technically precise but also accessible and easy to comprehend. Throughout all communications, the Director maintains strict alignment and accuracy, reinforcing the overall effectiveness and impact of the Performance Reporting division.

4. Stakeholder Outreach and Relationship Management: The Deputy Director establishes and nurtures robust relationships with program staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, and the public. These efforts foster greater collaboration and facilitate effective information sharing across all parties. The Deputy Director actively facilitates stakeholder engagement by providing consultative services and creating outreach opportunities, which lead to a stronger understanding of performance reporting processes and requirements among stakeholders. By identifying and leveraging strategic partnerships, the Deputy Director enhances the impact of training and communication initiatives, thereby advancing the broader goals of the agency. Stakeholder feedback is regularly collected and thoughtfully incorporated to refine outreach methods, ensuring that communications remain responsive to evolving needs and priorities. Through targeted relationship management, the Deputy Director achieves measurable improvements in stakeholder satisfaction and participation, demonstrating the effectiveness of these engagement strategies. They provide expert oversight of the Performance Reporting inbox and voicemail, guaranteeing that internal and external inquiries receive prompt and effective responses.

5. Team Management and Support: In managing the team, the Deputy Director ensures that all performance reporting communications are developed, reviewed, and published both accurately and on schedule. The Deputy Director coaches and develops team members, guiding them toward collective outcomes as well as supporting their individual professional growth. By sharing best practices and fostering open collaboration, the Deputy Director builds a cohesive team environment that supports the division's mission and operational excellence.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

• Experience: At least (5) years of experience in public school accountability or in working with a program that required the implementation of legislation and outreach, training, and ensuring the understanding of the program by its stakeholders. At least two (2) years of experience as a supervisor is required.

• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience

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

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal assessment and accountability laws and regulations and the principles and practices of public administration and management

• Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems

• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to develop and evaluate policies and procedures; to prepare reports; and to communicate effectively

• Strong organizational skills and a task orientation to ensure alignment to project management plans and statewide deadlines

• Strong written communication skills, including using Word or other web-based document design applications

• Strong active listening skills to determine stakeholder need or ask correctly

• A self-starter who continuously seeks out opportunities to improve

• Experience with explaining technical data methodology to various levels of stakeholder groups

• Experience with website design and other user engagement modalities

• Strong team player to adapt to other policy and communications needs, as assigned

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.

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 "[email protected]" 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.