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Early Childhood Intervention and Special Education Specialist (Education Specialist V)
Austin, United States
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.
Position Overview
The Early Childhood Intervention and Special Education Specialist position is responsible for developing and supporting a statewide culture that assumes high expectations for all students, specifically those in early childhood intervention (ECI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) programs. This position is in the Special Education Technical Assistance Division which is housed in the Special Populations Policy, Compliance, and Technical Assistance Department within the Office of Special Populations and Student Supports (OSPSS). This specialist will play a critical role in executing statewide initiatives to support positive outcomes for students transitioning from ECI services to and then receiving ECSE services. The specialist collaborates with and provides programmatic and technical assistance to program staff, agency staff, other state agencies and organizations, Education Service Center (ESC) staff, school personnel, families, and other stakeholders regarding the identification, evaluation, and provision of special education services for students ages 3-5. This specialist will oversee the Agency's implementation of continuously improving support infrastructures for programs and activities that support positive student outcomes.
Additionally, this role will support best practices around inclusive services, transition from ECI to ECSE, and supports in ECSE programs. This work involves establishing, approving, and reporting on project plans, work plans, and measurement tools to accomplish specified goals and objectives; reviewing policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and ensuring alignment with existing resources; developing and tracking grant deliverables and budgets; evaluating the quality of the services and deliverables provided; and consulting with stakeholders to resolve problems, identify new training/program needs, and discuss program effectiveness.
The specialist performs advanced (senior-level) consultative and technical assistance work related to ECSE services. This person will coordinate and provide programmatic and technical assistance around evidence-based programs, services, and interventions for students ages 3-5, as well as special education in general, to internal and external stakeholders. They will participate in intra-/inter- agency and national discussions to identify opportunities for collaboration and prioritize initiatives related to ECSE services. This specialist works under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
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. Policy Implementation, Alignment, and Compliance: Provide content knowledge, insight, and expertise on policies, procedures, statutes, and rules related to special education and provide related technical assistance to ESCs, LEAs, and other relevant stakeholders who serve students with disabilities. This includes conducting regular reviews of existing resources to identify revisions needed due to policy changes and identifying gaps in resources to ensure effective policy implementation.
2. Evaluate Impact of Technical Assistance Resources & Professional Development: Lead, guide, and evaluate the impact and reach of high-quality technical assistance resources and professional development to support internal and external stakeholders in meeting the needs of students with disabilities and improving student outcomes.
3. Lead Stakeholder Engagement: Lead, provide support, communicate, and engage strategically with all stakeholders, including other state agencies, professional organizations, ESCs, LEAs, families, and community members, so that they are a true part of the process of resource and program development, implementation, and improvement.
4.Effective Grant/Project Oversight and Implementation: Lead, guide, and support the development and implementation of assigned division initiatives through thorough and effective technical reviews, progress monitoring, and grant management (if applicable), and provide related technical assistance to ESCs, LEAs, and other relevant stakeholders who serve students with disabilities. Maintain current grant paperwork, work plans, and metric sheets, and make informed, data-driven decisions for future work that is responsive to the needs of the field.
5. Serve as the Statewide Early Childhood Special Education Representative: Remain current with research- and evidence-based interventions and inclusive strategies for students in ECSE, including those transitioning from ECI to ECSE. Oversee statewide activities relating to policies, procedures, and programming for children with disabilities ages 3-5 and early childhood transition from Part C to Part B. Serve as a leader for providing information and guidance as well as developing resources and professional development for ESCs, LEAs, agency staff, families, and other relevant stakeholders regarding evidence-based best practices, rules, regulations, and policies around early childhood special education.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
- Required Licenses: Licensed or certified in a special education evaluation role (e.g., diagnostician, school psychologist, speech-language pathologist)
- Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in special education programs that support students with disabilities.
- Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.
- Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
- A degree in special education or other related field with a concentration in early childhood is strongly preferred
- Extensive experience working with students receiving ECSE services and/or leading others who work in this environment is preferred
- Understands special education law, identification, and effective programming
- Skill in project management and change management strategies
- Skill in the use of computers and applicable software
- Critical thinker skilled in analyzing problems and devising effective solutions
- Ability to engage with people, including staff across the agency and external stakeholders; skilled at public speaking and presenting in front of large groups using effective adult learning strategies
- Effectively gives and receives feedback and has a continuous improvement mentality
- Ability to direct multiple work streams at the same time while maintaining timelines in a fast-paced, continuous improvement environment
- Skilled at communicating effectively orally and in writing for a variety of purposes and audiences and reviewing materials for content and grammatical accuracy, coherence, messaging, and alignment
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 "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.
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