Education Consultant

Iowa This position is for permanent Iowa Department of Education employees. Those in any other status are not eligible to apply. The Iowa Department of Education's mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential. The Iowa Department of Education is seeking an Education Program Consultant to serve as a key member of both the Division of PK-12 Learning and the Division of Special Education. This position will support statewide efforts to improve outcomes for students through integrated accountability, monitoring, continuous improvement, and technical assistance systems aligned to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The successful candidate will work collaboratively with Department staff, Area Education Agencies (AEAs), school districts, and other partners to strengthen district and school improvement efforts, support compliance with federal and state requirements, and improve outcomes for students, particularly students with disabilities. Your Responsibilities: Support ESSA and IDEA-DA Alignment and Accountability Systems Coordinate and support statewide efforts to align ESSA and IDEA-DA accountability, monitoring, and support systems. Assist in the development and implementation of integrated district and school improvement processes. Collaborate with Department teams to align communication, reporting, identification, designation, and support structures. Facilitate collaboration among cross-functional support teams serving identified districts and schools. Provide Monitoring, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement Support Support implementation of ESSA and IDEA monitoring activities and federal program requirements. Review monitoring reports, corrective action plans, progress reports, and improvement plans. Assist districts in addressing identified areas of need and correcting noncompliance. Analyze trends and recommend improvements to statewide monitoring and support systems. Support Data Analysis, Diagnostics, and Evaluation Participate in statewide data collection, analysis, and reporting activities. Support implementation of needs assessments, diagnostic reviews, resource allocation reviews, and continuous improvement processes. Use data to identify trends, evaluate the effectiveness of supports, and inform decision-making. Develop recommendations to strengthen district and school improvement efforts. Provide Professional Learning and Technical Assistance Design, coordinate, and facilitate professional learning, coaching, and technical assistance for educators, administrators, AEAs, and Department staff. Support implementation of evidence-based practices, including specially designed instruction (SDI), literacy, mathematics, instructional and behavioral management, and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). Build statewide capacity for continuous improvement and implementation of effective educational practices. Support District and School Improvement Efforts Provide differentiated support to districts and schools identified through ESSA, IDEA-DA, and other accountability systems. Collaborate with internal and external partners to support improved academic, behavioral, attendance, graduation, postsecondary readiness, and special education outcomes. Facilitate ongoing district and building-level support and monitoring activities. Contribute to Department Priorities Participate in Department, Division, Bureau, and cross-functional workgroups. Support strategic initiatives and statewide priorities focused on improving student outcomes. Perform other duties as assigned. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: Experience with ESSA, IDEA, special education accountability, school improvement, or related federal education programs. Experience providing technical assistance, coaching, professional learning, or consultation to educators and administrators. Experience analyzing and interpreting student, district, or statewide education data. Experience developing, implementing, or monitoring improvement plans. Experience interpreting and implementing state and federal education laws, regulations, and guidance. Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders to achieve common goals. Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday; some nights and weekends, occasional in-state and out-of-state travel A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn: Passion for pursuing common goals in pursuit of public service Strong technical skills Strategic and analytical mindset Ability to work in complex situations and meet deadlines while leading teams as a non-traditional leader (no supervisory authority) Experience providing technical assistance and professional learning to educators Ability to interpret and break down highly technical or regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner Ability to manage self in relation to prioritization and time management Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills Desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU? Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities Collaborative, positive work environment Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country Employee discounts from a variety of vendors Competitive salary and benefits package: (Download PDF reader) E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and five years of full-time post-graduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas: a. Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting; b. Professional administrative experience in an educational setting; c. Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements; d. Professional experience in a major technical program area housed within the Iowa Department of Education; e. Professional data integration, data analysis, and statistical analysis experience; f. Professional communications experience, including public relations, marketing, or journalism; g. Professional school safety and emergency preparedness experience. A combination of a total of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree, possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution. Possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements. If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr