Director of Pathways and Licensure

Holyoke Public Schools • Holyoke, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Pathways and Licensure leads Holyoke Public Schools' efforts to build a sustainable, diverse, and highly qualified educator workforce. This position is responsible for designing and managing teacher pathway programs and overseeing all aspects of educator licensure, and pathway development for paraprofessionals and other aspiring teachers. The Director works in close partnership with Human Resources, the Director of Recruitment, central office leadership, and higher education partners to grow the district's internal talent pipeline and reduce reliance on emergency waivers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Human Resources, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in education, human resources, workforce development, or a related field.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts educator licensure requirements, DESE regulations, and waiver processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing programs, grants, or initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, data management, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Education, Education Policy, Public Administration, or related field.
• Experience working in an urban or high-need school district.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
• Familiarity with registered apprenticeship programs
• Experience with Special Education staffing, paraprofessional development, or alternative licensure pathways.
• Experience with grant writing and management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation, management, and continuous improvement of the district's DESE Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP), including coordination with higher education partners.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with universities, community colleges, and workforce agencies to create formal pathways into teaching for paraprofessionals and other district staff.
• Design recruitment and selection processes for apprenticeship and pathway program cohorts, with a focus on bilingual candidates and candidates for Special Education roles.
• Oversee program participants' progress through licensure milestones, academic requirements, and on-the-job learning components.
• Manage grant-funded pathway initiatives, including compliance reporting, budget tracking, and communication with state agencies such as DESE and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD).
• Collaborate with Human Resources to maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date database of educator licensure statuses across the district, identifying staff on waivers, provisional licenses, or approaching licensure deadlines.
• Monitor regulatory changes to Massachusetts educator licensure requirements and update district practices accordingly.
• Partner with the Director of Recruitment on strategies to attract bilingual educators, Special Education teachers, and other hard-to-fill roles.
• Collaborate with the district translation department to develop and distribute bilingual (English/Spanish) communications, materials, and resources in support of pathway and licensure programs.
• Analyze workforce data to identify emerging staffing gaps and inform proactive pipeline development.
• Serve as a core member of the district's RTAP planning committee alongside HR, Special Education, building principals, and community partners.
• Prepare and submit grant applications, interim reports, and final reports related to pathway and licensure funding opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records, timelines, and program documentation in compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Present program updates and data to district leadership, the School Committee, and external stakeholders as needed.

Benefits

• health insurance
• life insurance
• retirement through the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System (MTRS) or the City Retirement System
• professional development opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager