Educator Preparation Specialist; ESC

Overview

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Job Description - Educator Preparation Specialist (ESC) (260002B3)

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) seeks an Educator Preparation Specialist to join the Department’s Office of Educator Effectiveness. The Office works to recruit, prepare, develop, and retain a diverse and effective educator workforce so that all students thrive through access to diverse and effective educators who nurture academic achievement, cultural and linguistic competence, sociopolitical awareness, and emotional intelligence.

The Office of Educator Effectiveness sits within DESE’s Teaching and Learning Unit. We aim to advance equitable and effective educator preparation with a focus on culturally and linguistically sustaining practices.

The Educator Preparation Specialist will be part of a team overseeing the effective, equitable, efficient, and consistent review of educator preparation providers in Massachusetts. The role supports increasingly equitable and effective educator preparation as part of our commitment to a diverse and capable educator workforce.

• Facilitate a multi-faceted review process for a caseload of educator preparation providers, resulting in high-stakes accountability recommendations. This involves:
  • Training and managing diverse teams of volunteer reviewers (including teachers, district personnel, and educator preparation faculty and leadership);
  • Providing technical assistance and ongoing communication to educator preparation programs throughout the four stages of the formal review process;
  • Managing the collection of evidence throughout the review process, including coordinating focus groups and interviews;
  • Analyzing and evaluating quantitative and qualitative data related to review criteria to assess program quality (including but not limited to focus group, survey, and other output data);
  • Producing evidence-based evaluation reports that have been calibrated externally, vetted internally, and uphold DESE's rigorous expectations for providers.
• Manage informal program review submissions in high-need licensure areas (e.g., special education, secondary STEM) to review and approve licensure programs outside of the formal review cycle;
• Provide ongoing support and assistance to the Educator Preparation field in alignment with DESE policy and regulations;
• Support broader educator pipeline projects and related licensure programs;
• Serve as a member of DESE’s Teaching and Learning Unit and perform other assigned functions.

• Minimum Entrance Requirements:
  Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional educational experience in a specific or related content area, educational program/or service;
• A Master’s degree or higher in a related educational content area may substitute for two years of the required experience (30 semester hours equals one year of substitution);
• Special Requirements:
  Depending on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's License or equivalent may be required.
• First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

• Superior project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, capable of tailoring communication to diverse audiences;
• Strong ability to comprehend, analyze, and convey complex information;
• Track record of delivering on commitments;
• Experience working with educator preparation organizations;
• Commitment to equity in education and anti-racist practices; collaborative problem-solving; proactive initiative.

Location:

Hybrid, full-time position based at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Everett, MA. In-person work two days per week, increasing to three days per week beginning August 31, 2026. Regular travel to events, meetings, and school visits around Massachusetts is required.

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