Instructional Specialist

Located 45 minutes from the Nation’s Capital, nestled in a history-rich community of southern Maryland, The College of Southern Maryland (CSM)hasbeen twice named in the top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institutewith academic programs in over 100 disciplines. CSM is among America’s top 100 producers of Minority associate degrees in twenty categories, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. CSM offers excellent health insurance benefits; State Retirement Pension plan; wellness programs; Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer; college closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year; and for several days in March for Spring Break. We are an innovative institution committed to student success and well known for our flexibility to meet student and community needs.

The hiring salary for this position will be from the min to mid-point of the salary range.

The Instructional Specialist works directly with adult education instructors providing curriculum development, support, and professional development training. This position interfaces with adult education students to assist in navigating post‑secondary credit and/or continuing education opportunities. The Instructional Specialist is familiar with LABOR requirements and support compliance with quality mandates, maintain open communication with staff and instructors, and provide program information to members of the community.

The College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well‑being of the College's staff and students. The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks: Criminal History Check and Sex Offender Registry Check.

This position is open until filled. The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

50% Curriculum and Instructor Development

• Oversee all adult education adjunct instructional staff.
• Assure adequate intensity of instruction, schedule flexibility, appropriate teacher/learner ratios, and support services to help learners reach their goals.
• Mentor, coach, and support instructors to improve gaps in instruction.
• Observe classroom instruction and provides feedback to instructional adult basic education staff.
• Research and procure appropriate instructional resource lists.
• Create and provide research-based professional development that addresses instructor needs based on observations, that meets adult education standards, and focuses on overall program and student growth as per Maryland Department of Labor grant requirement.
• Create and maintain proxy hour forms. Provide guidance on the use of proxy hours.
• Provide guidance on digital resources (i.e., Burlington English, Aztec, and ReadWorks, EnGen etc.) to include program implementation and maintenance of usage hours.
• Regularly meet with instructors to discuss student progress.
• Review GED Ready tests results to identify areas of programmatic weakness.

50% Program Management

• Assist Director I with creation and maintenance of yearly schedule of classes in order to provide individual instructional guidance.
• Create instructor personal pay contracts (PPI’s).
• Follow up with graduates to verify measurable skills gains (i.e., gained unsubsidized employment, entered credit classes, or taking trades training.)
• Regularly review NRS data to be aware of annual progress toward state negotiated goals.
• Work as a Transition Navigator, to include, but not be limited to interviewing NRS ABE levels 5 and 6 and NRS ESL level 6 students to determine educational and employment goals.
• Provide guidance on workforce readiness skills, enrollment in post-secondary education, or trades training.
• Cultivate a relationship with the local workforce board, CSM financial aid department, workforce development department for workforce opportunities, and CSM advisors and learning support services coordinators.
• Recruit students for the state mandated Integrated Education and Training (IET) class.
• Attend state Instructional Specialist meetings and communicate/implement pertinent information to appropriate local program staff.
• Collaborate with the larger community to improve the delivery of services, to increase resources, to provide services to learners, and to advocate for the adult learner.
• Attend at departmental and divisional meetings to include workgroups as assigned.
• Represent Adult Education program at CSM and community events.

Additional Duties

Performs other related work as required.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of three years teaching experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Conversant in the Spanish language and familiarity with the Hispanic culture preferred

• Proficient in training, mentoring, and experience delivering professional development.
• Knowledge of assessment, curriculum design, development, and instructional processes and strategies based on research in adult learning and development.
• Knowledge of all LACES data elements and local program’s intake and update forms.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• Aptitude for working in a culturally diverse environment; ability to interact patiently and diplomatically with a wide variety of constituencies.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; detail oriented.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, community groups, educators, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrates integrity, honesty, teamwork, and genuine commitment to education.
• Schedule flexibility – some nights and/or weekends required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment.

General Employment Information

The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Background Checks

The College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well‑being of the College's staff and students. The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks: Criminal History Check and Sex Offender Registry Check.

Conflict of Interest policy

No College of Southern Maryland employee shall engage in or have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any activity that conflicts or raises a reasonable question of conflict with his or her duties and responsibilities. CSM Employees shall not at any time engage in any outside employment or independent consulting that would adversely affect their employment status or performance as employees at the college, create a conflict of interest, or, with the exception of constitutionally protected activities, would compromise or embarrass the college, or adversely affect professional standing. Any full-time college employee who also holds a full-time position or its equivalent in consulting elsewhere (whether permanent or seasonal) will be deemed to have a conflict of interest and will be asked to resign from one of the full-time positions. Full-time employees must promptly disclose in writing, on a form available from the Human Resources Office to the college all other full-time employment or its equivalent in independent consulting.

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