Teacher Mentor Specialist (Education Specialist V)

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 March 3, at 11:59pm.

Position Overview: The Talent Pathways division supports the Texas Education Agency's strategic priority to recruit, support, and retain teachers and principals. The Teacher Mentorship Specialist will lead implementation and ESC capacity-building efforts related to statewide novice teacher mentoring initiatives, ultimately creating a positive impact on pre- and early-service teacher supports across Texas. This role includes translating high-level visions and strategy into concrete work plans, planning and coordinating stakeholder engagement, monitoring program effectiveness and engaging in high-quality performance management routines. This position will also support the development of a statewide mentorship training.

This is an individual contributor role within the Talent Pathways division and reports to the Director of Teacher Mentorship.

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. Statewide Mentor Program Implementation: Improve beginning teacher retention and effectiveness through management of the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership (PREP) Mentorship Program. Develop and track all aspects of program implementation as outlined in the project charter. Lead the development and execution of stakeholder and communication plans. This includes developing PREP Mentorship Program applications, hosting onboarding and webinar sessions, serving as a TEA representative for this program, engaging in site visits, and executing a performance management plan rooted in the collection and analysis of project metrics. Develop program policies, procedures, and manuals related to mentoring (e.g., rulemaking, bill analysis, policy implementation plans) and contribute to long-term strategic planning via the project chartering process. Evaluate the quality of services and deliverables provided.

2. ESC Capacity Building for Mentorship: Contribute to the development and execute a strategy to build ESC capacity related to statewide mentorship efforts. Create and implement a grant program to provide seed funding for ESC staff to re-deliver the statewide mentorship training. Develop and track grant deliverables. Collaborate with external contractors, internal stakeholders, and ESC staff to ensure alignment on goals, on-time and high-quality execution of tasks and deliverables, and investment in those goals. Create and oversee a plan to ensure ESCs build business models and any other necessary plans to ensure long-term sustainability of statewide mentorship training. Create and manage a project charter for this work connected to the Statewide Mentorship Training. Evaluate the quality of services and deliverables provided.

3. Statewide Mentorship Training: Support the development of a statewide mentorship training program. Support stakeholder engagement efforts, the development of communication and marketing plans, and the execution of those plans. Review and provide high-quality, aligned feedback on contract deliverables such as competencies, scope and sequences, Training of Trainer materials, module content, learning management system and website updates. Develop statewide mentorship training program policies, procedures, and manuals. Develop and track contract deliverables.

4. Talent Systems Support: Support the alignment of cross-agency strategies related to strengthening the quality of pipelines into the teaching profession and teacher leader roles. Engage in cross-team coordinated efforts such as strategy development, rulemaking, and grant application development.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

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

• Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in education

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

• Ability to distinguish elements of effective teacher leadership and mentorship programs

• Self-starter with ability to learn quickly and adjust based on external feedback and self-learning

• Vision-driven; consistently looks for opportunities for program improvement and growth

• Experience 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

• Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to copyedit work products and produce high quality work in a dynamic environment

• Diligent in setting measurable goals, long-term project planning, tracking progress, and prioritizing work

• Analytical with the ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions

• Communicates complex ideas clearly, using practical and accessible language; excellent written and oral communication skills

• Highly-skilled in presenting to/engaging with stakeholders from various backgrounds

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 "[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.