Deputy Associate Commissioner, Open Education Resources (Director VI)

Agency Information

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and is committed to improving outcomes for all public school students by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems across the state.

Core Values

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in pursuing our primary purpose of improving outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain committed talent that reflects the diversity of Texas, with each individual contributing to our shared vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on outcomes, and continuously improve in pursuit of excellence for students.
• We are Servant Leaders: We are public servants committed to improving opportunities for students and supporting those who serve them.

Job Description

Position Overview: The Department of Curriculum and Instruction is leading the development of high-quality instructional materials through the creation of Open Education Resources (OER), also known as Bluebonnet Learning, across core PK-12 subject areas. These openly available resources are designed to support excellent teaching and learning by providing educators with coherent, content-rich instructional materials that are freely accessible, grounded in evidence-based practices, and aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). As a strategic priority of the Texas Governor, Legislature, State Board of Education, and the Texas Commissioner of Education, Bluebonnet Learning seeks to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy while promoting academic rigor, a coherent body of shared knowledge grounded in the Western intellectual heritage, civic knowledge that promotes Texas and American founding principles and strong content mastery across the disciplines.

The Deputy Associate Commissioner, Open Education Resources (OER), is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end development of Texas-specific instructional materials that reflect the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and usability. This includes procuring, reviewing, editing, publishing, and maintaining comprehensive grade-level instructional resources, including scope and sequence documents, unit plans, daily lesson plans, assessments, and supporting materials. The role requires leadership of editorial workflow management, production planning, release management, copyright and licensing compliance, intellectual property stewardship, content governance, and version control processes. The role also requires performance management of third-party contracts that execute on the processes to ensure the highest quality of product delivered on time and within budget.

The Deputy Associate Commissioner will oversee robust quality assurance processes to ensure all materials meet Texas standards, satisfy rigorous review expectations, and successfully navigate the State Board of Education's Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process. Responsibilities also include ensuring materials are historically accurate, based in the findings from the science of learning, academically rigorous, and reflective of scholarly excellence across subjects, particularly in literacy, literature, mathematics, science, history, and civics.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of curriculum grounded in the science of learning, including explicit and direct instruction, knowledge-rich curriculum development, and cognitive load theory. This leader will ensure that instructional materials are coherently sequenced, build students' background knowledge over time, manage cognitive load, and support effective classroom implementation through clear instructional routines and coherent lesson design. The candidate must also demonstrate knowledge of applicable state statutes and rules and the ability to apply them in the development and implementation of the policies, programs, and initiatives. Relevant statutes include, but are not limited to, Texas Education Code (TEC) §§ 4.001 (public education mission and objectives), 28.002 (required curriculum and essential knowledge and skills), 28.0022 (instructional requirements and prohibitions), and 31.022 (suitability). For example, Texas statutory priorities for social studies, including those reflected in Texas Education Code §§ 4.001 and 28.002, include fostering informed American patriotism, an appreciation for Texas history and heritage, civic virtue and responsibility, understanding of the free enterprise system, and meaningful engagement with the founding principles, institutions, and governing documents of the United States and Texas through primary sources and historically grounded content.

This leader will cultivate strong partnerships with educators, scholars, publishers, Education Service Centers, school systems, and State Board members to ensure stakeholder feedback informs product development while maintaining a clear vision for instructional quality and coherence grounded in research based best practices. The position plays a critical role in communicating the state's vision for knowledge-rich instructional materials and advancing the adoption and effective implementation of Bluebonnet Learning resources throughout Texas.

This position reports to the Associate Commissioner of Curriculum and Instruction.

This position requires up to 25% travel, based on business needs, to support program initiatives, collaboration, and operational priorities.

The Deputy Associate Commissioner, OER, may work a hybrid schedule with regular, weekly in-person presence in downtown Austin.

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Applicants must also complete the required short answer responses as part of the application questionnaire. 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 - Team Management: Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing service-oriented team dedicated to supporting the development of viable high-quality products. This includes development of strong vendor relationships and contract structures that support clear expectations for TEA partners to deliver specified deliverables based on clear criteria within timelines and on budget. Communicate and monitor division vision and strategy aligned to statutory requirements, Texas Education Code, SBOE expectations , and agency priorities for products. Lead the team in development of research-based products designed to improve outcome goals. Ensure team tracks performance and regularly improves program delivery based on data and user needs.

2 - Product Development Vision and Strategy: Oversee a cohesive vision and strategy to support the development of high-quality instructional materials, licensed as Open Education Resources (OER, also known as Bluebonnet Learning), in alignment with statutory requirements, Texas Education Code, SBOE expectations, and district needs. Serve as a key communicator in support of the state`s vision for a high-quality open education resources to Texas stakeholders including the State Board of Education (SBOE), Education Service Centers (ESCs), school systems, and educators.

3 - Product Development Process: Define and lead the development process for all instructional materials, ensuring resources are developed through a knowledge-rich, content-focused instructional lens that emphasizes evidence based instructional design, background knowledge acquisition, and academic rigor. This includes the procurement of materials, development of products in alignment with Texas standards, SBOE expectations, and statutory requirements, in-depth review and editing of products to ensure product viability, and monitoring of large-scale contracts and expenditures. Product development includes accessibility and ADA compliance for all materials as well as content development lifecycle management. Developed materials must meet the quality bar of all existing review processes, including review by the State Board of Education for both quality and suitability. Ensure developed materials are easily accessible in the state-developed Bluebonnet Learning Portal, an online platform that supports easy access for school systems.

4 - Product Stakeholder Engagement: Oversee the development and execution of in-depth stakeholder engagement plans to promote the adoption of the products and ensure Texas educator feedback is incorporated in the development process to continuously improve upon product design. Ensure teams are engaging with a variety of different stakeholders, including but not limited to the SBOE, ESCs, school systems, content experts and Texas educators, and gathering high volumes of input to assess product viability in the Texas market. Collaborate across teams to ensure design and execution of classroom pilots to ensure feedback includes real-time feedback from leaders, coaches, teachers and students.

5 - Initiative Integration Alignment: Collaborate with leaders across other TEA offices, departments, and divisions to ensure that districts are provided coherent services and supports as it relates to implementation of OER products and integration across agency initiatives. This includes supporting the alignment with the Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas (LIFT) program as well as other closely related initiatives. Collaborate across teams to ensure OER products can be effectively accessed and used across these initiatives.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least eight (8) years of experience in leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in one or more of the following areas: curriculum and instructional materials design, publishing, large-scale program or product management, or education-focused operations

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 in district or state education role with demonstrated impact on instructional systems, curriculum design, curriculum implementation, and/or educator supports preferred
• Relentless focus on improving quantitative and qualitative student outcomes
• Understanding of the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code, particularly with respect to curriculum requirements, who can understand and communicate intent of state law and rule and work within statutory authority
• Demonstrated track-record of system level outcomes, with an understanding of the processes and challenges of school systems and educational service centers
• Excellent written and verbal communication, specifically as it relates to clearly communicating initiative goals and outcomes to a variety of stakeholders
• Exceptional personnel management skills, including demonstrated skill in vision-setting and coaching
• Experience authentically engaging stakeholders and leveraging feedback for continuous improvement
• Data-driven decision maker with the ability to structure ambiguity into actionable, value-added plans
• Ability to handle multiple, shifting, and competing priorities, and drive team towards results with a track record of performance and successful implementation across multiple concurrent projects
• Consistently exercise excellent judgement, integrity, and commitment to personal responsibility and accountability
• Understanding of curriculum and assessment design and/or advanced skill in writing and/or reviewing curriculum
• Ability to build relationships and communicate clearly, concisely, respectfully, and inclusively with contractors, ESC staff, Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff, and external stakeholders

New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work.

The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications.

Benefits

TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and work-life balance.

Benefits include:

• Retirement through ERS and employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees
• Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage
• Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay
• Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities
• Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about benefits available to State of Texas employees, please review the State of Texas Employee Benefits brochure and visit the TEA Compensation and Benefits page .

Military/Veteran Information

Applicants eligible for Military Employment Preference (MEP) will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

To claim Military Employment Preference, applicants must:

• Select the applicable Military Employment Preference category in the employment application.
• Upload supporting documentation verifying eligibility in the Attachments section of the application before submitting the application.

Important: Self-identifying as eligible for Military Employment Preference does not by itself establish eligibility. Supporting documentation is required for TEA to verify eligibility before Military Employment Preference can be applied during the selection process. Applicants who do not submit sufficient documentation may not be considered eligible for Military Employment Preference. This requirement is consistent with TEA's Military Employment Preference procedures.

For information about eligibility requirements, required supporting documentation, and instructions for claiming Military Employment Preference, please review the Military Employment Preference page, which outlines eligible categories, documentation requirements, and the eligibility verification process.

To explore how military experience may align with this role, applicants may review Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes within the State's Position Classification Plan. Please refer to the Military Crosswalk and select the occupational category that most closely corresponds with the classification listed in this job posting.

Additional Information

TEA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status.

TEA does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.

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 Careers at TEA page .

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept phone calls or respond to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

To help ensure you receive updates regarding your application, please add [email protected] and @tea.texas.gov to your safe sender's list.

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