Program Manager, Educator Preparation - Professional Educator Standards Board

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

11d•Remote

About The Position

This position plays a key role in ensuring equitable, high-quality, consistent standards for educator preparation programs across Washington state through the management and co-leadership of the educator preparation program approval system, program support, and related projects. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) strengthens and supports the success of Washington’s educator workforce through every stage of their career. PESB oversees educator standards, licensure, and holds preparation programs accountable for how they recruit, support, and prepare diverse and school-ready educators. Our board members and staff are committed to centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of our work, embracing the opportunity to address disparities and barriers perpetuated by historical and institutionalized racism within the overall education system. Our agency values serve as a compass to guide our work. To operate as an antiracist agency, we seek candidates aligned with these values: Educator voice, Diversity, equity, and inclusion, Educator excellence for student success, Community engagement, and Learning and innovation.

Requirements

Master’s degree in education, Public Policy, or Public Administration (or a similar field) OR a bachelor's degree in education, Public Policy, or Public Administration or in a relevant field and three years of experience in education, Public Policy, Public Administration.
Experience in educator preparation and knowledge of the certification continuum.
Experience with large and small group facilitation and project management.
Demonstrated ability to effectively address a range of public audiences, both formally and informally.
Experience with Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drive.
Demonstrated ability to articulate ideas clearly and effectively in both written and oral form.
Demonstrated ability to work in team environments with tight timelines.
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with diverse colleagues, local and national researchers, higher education faculty, and a variety of community members and organizations.
Experience with understanding and synthesizing data.
Willingness to travel statewide and nationally.
Must live in (or be willing to relocate to) Washington state and maintain residence in Washington.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree in a relevant field (i.e., education, public policy, public administration, etc.).
Knowledge of legislative processes and navigating political environments with differing constituencies.
Experience advancing equity in education, including diversifying the educator workforce, culturally responsive education, or social justice in education.
Knowledge of national and state-level educational trends and policies related to educator preparation and licensure.
Knowledge of the regional education service districts (ESDs), community college system, and/or non-traditional providers of education.
Experience as faculty, staff, or an administrator in an educator preparation program.
Passion for the mission of PESB.
Familiarity with the PESB Program Standards.

Responsibilities

Ensure the integration of diversity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and equity into policy and implementation, through functions, processes, and materials.
Analyze and manage policy, practices, and statutory requirements related to diversity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and equity.
Prepare agenda items and materials that inform and advise the Board.
Provide outreach, respond to inquiries, and work with community members.
Represent PESB’s interests in work groups statewide and nationally.
Manage approval process for educator preparation programs.
Work with PESB staff to continuously develop and implement the educator preparation program approval process.
Provide support to potential educator preparation programs in program design and best practices.
Provide guidance and collaborate with PESB staff to implement internal program approval timelines, communicate with applicant programs, and track data related to program approval.
Develop, analyze, and implement rules, laws, policies, and practices impacting educator preparation program approval.
Collaborate with PESB staff to ensure strong alignment between program approval and program review processes.
Staff committees related to program standards, approval, and review to conduct outreach, as well as share PESB's program approval process and workforce development strategies.
Strategically collaborate to monitor the development of the educator preparation program approval.
Develop materials and monitor the program approval process.
Support preparation programs in meeting curriculum-based requirements.
This support includes developing new materials and disseminating existing materials, sharing examples of promising practices, responding to inquiries, and organizing and presenting at workshops, conferences, and meetings.
Support the development of and monitoring the maintenance of educator preparation program standards.
Lead and contribute to diverse community committees, meetings, and work groups.
Collaborate on, lead, and evaluate legislative initiatives related to program preparation.
Respond to and collaborate with preparation programs on issues from the field.
Support Education Staff Associate programs and educator policy initiatives.
Explore emerging topical issues relating to pre-service educator credentialing and educator preparation.
Engage in cross-agency collaboration.
Ongoing partnership with Tribes and Tribal agencies (e.g., OSPI, ONE, ESDs, Tribal education partners) to ensure consistent understanding and alignment of requirements related to Tribal sovereignty, history, culture, and governance in educator preparation.
Support preparation programs in meeting curriculum-based requirements and the PESB educator preparation program standards.
This includes developing new materials, disseminating existing resources, sharing examples of promising practices, responding to inquiries, and organizing and presenting at workshops, conferences, and meetings, as well as other requirements as set by the legislature or the Board.
Respond to and initiate policy development related to SEL in Washington.
Analyze and support the alignment of educator preparation programs, as well as review and identify areas of misalignment or gaps in how preparation programs address JMLSTI and related requirements and communicate findings to support continuous improvement.
Stay informed on evolving policies, laws, and best practices related to Tribal education and educator preparation to ensure current and accurate guidance is provided.
Apply understanding of Tribal sovereignty, government-to-government relationships, and consultation expectations to inform program guidance, policy interpretation, and communication.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.