Empowering Teacher Learning (ETL) Navigator (Multiple Vacancies)

Appalachian State University•Boone, NC

20d

About The Position

The Empowering Teacher Learning (ETL) Navigator supports day-to-day operations and teacher participation in Appalachian State University's five-year Education, Innovation, & Research (EIR) federal grant program, ETL SPARK (Strengthening Professional Learning to Advance Reading Knowledge). The grant studies an innovative, self-directed, competency-based micro-credentialing program for public school teachers in North Carolina. A team of four Navigators coordinates and implements the framework for more than 500 teachers, with each Navigator supporting a caseload of approximately 125 teachers each year. The role reports to the ETL Program Director and serves as a direct point of contact for teacher participants. Navigators support needs assessments and learning contracts, track progress, assess micro-credentials and award badges, and help ensure teacher stipend obligations are met. The role also contributes to developing and maintaining micro-credentials, teacher recruitment, partner-district relationships, grant administration and compliance, and research implementation. Regular travel to participating schools across North Carolina is required, estimated at roughly 40% of effort.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
At least 2 years of experience working directly with and supporting teachers.
3–5 years of experience working in public schools as a teacher or professional development specialist.
Demonstrated knowledge of North Carolina teacher recertification requirements.
Strong communication skills and ability to build rapport quickly, listen and receive feedback, and adapt to changing needs.
Ability to work independently as a self-starter in a dynamic, evolving environment.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly across North Carolina to support teachers at various school locations; travel is estimated at roughly 40% of effort.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in education or a related field.
Experience facilitating teacher professional learning.
Experience supporting teachers through teacher-directed professional learning practices and/or micro-credentials.
Experience working within a federally funded grant program.
Ability to thoughtfully and efficiently design micro-credentials.
Experience supporting teachers as an external school partner, beyond a teacher or leader within a school.
Experience in literacy education and/or professional development.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the ETL Navigator team to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
Support participating teachers while minimizing the administrative burden of program participation.
Manage day-to-day program communications, administration, and operations, and help ensure adequate grant progress.
Serve as the direct contact for an annual caseload of approximately 125 teacher participants, guiding them through the ETL framework.
Support teachers in completing classroom needs assessments and self-directed learning contracts; monitor progress and provide status updates to program leadership.
Implement and advocate for departmental mission, vision, and core values.
Assess internally developed micro-credentials and award badges to teacher participants.
Coordinate and contribute to writing and developing additional micro-credentials for publication.
Monitor quality of internally developed micro-credentials and provide feedback and requested updates on externally developed micro-credentials to the host organization.
Support teacher development of literacy best practices, including literacy assessment, instruction, and intervention.
Assist in recruiting at least 500 teachers to participate in ETL SPARK.
Build and sustain collaborative relationships between Appalachian State University and partner districts, maintaining a culture of support and engagement.
Maintain regular contact with educators and principals and provide progress updates on grant objectives.
Travel frequently to participating schools to provide technical and coaching support to teachers and administrators.
Provide engaging support to help teachers complete program components, including needs assessments, learning contracts, micro-credentials, and stipend requirements.
Work closely with the micro-credential host site to support a quality participant experience.
Apply federal and state regulations, institutional policies, and program specifications consistently.
Coordinate with the ETL Stipend Coordinator to ensure teacher stipends are issued accurately, efficiently, and on time, with minimal burden on teachers.
Work with Evaluation, Finance, and Compliance departments to support grant compliance and audit readiness.
Maintain accurate records of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities and submit them to the university on time.
Implement program policies and procedures established by the Program Director.
Support the randomized controlled trial and promote fidelity of implementation among teacher participants.
Ensure personally identifiable information is shared and stored securely and managed in accordance with FERPA.
Adapt program implementation to changing conditions, needs, and data within the constraints of the research design.