Texas Rising Star Assessor III - Children's Learning Institute

UTHealth Houston•Houston, TX

10d•Remote

About The Position

This is a full-time benefits-eligible position with UTHealth Houston hiring across the state of Texas. This is grant-funded. The Texas Rising Star Assessor III is responsible for reliably assessing and monitoring the quality of early learning programs using Texas Rising Star assessment tools and protocols. This role collects, interprets, and enters observation and program data in alignment with all guidelines, scoring manuals, and procedural requirements, while maintaining accurate and timely records. Assessors coordinate and conduct assessment activities, support logistical planning, and may lead or guide assessment teams to ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of protocols. Responsibilities include adhering to all assessment procedures and supporting certification activities for early learning programs statewide. Assessors must maintain Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification through ongoing professional development, weekly coding calls, and quarterly reliability checks to ensure the integrity and reliability of assessment practices statewide. Texas Rising Star assessors complete an intensive 10-week onboarding and certification training designed to prepare them to conduct high-quality assessments with accuracy and independence. Training is fully remote and combines structured learning with independent study. During four weeks, assessors participate in the Assessment Training and Certification Program (ATCP), which requires approximately 35 hours per week of self-paced online learning and participation in small group professional learning communities (PLC), along with an additional 5 hours per week dedicated to team meetings and administrative onboarding tasks. The remaining six weeks focus on administrative processes, systems training, protocol application, and assessment shadowing experiences that allow assessors to observe and practice assessment procedures under guidance. This certification training is fast-paced, rigorous, and highly self-directed, requiring assessors to manage substantial independent learning while demonstrating rapid mastery of Texas Rising Star protocols and scoring expectations. The ideal candidate is an independent, self-directed learner with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They bring a solid understanding of early childhood development and experience in educational settings, enabling them to interpret program practices accurately and apply assessment protocols with fidelity. This individual demonstrates excellent time and task management skills, stays organized across multiple deadlines, and maintains resilience and focus during long assessment days or extended periods of concentrated work. They collaborate effectively within assessment teams, communicate clearly with stakeholders, and uphold professionalism in both written and verbal communication. The ideal candidate is comfortable working with data, confident using technology and online platforms, and consistently follows detailed procedures with accuracy and reliability. Above all, they are adaptable, dependable, and committed to maintaining the integrity and quality of the Texas Rising Star assessment process. These positions are considered travel jobs. Although the team tries to assign staff to complete assessments as close to home as possible, frequent day travel (long commuting) is common, and overnight travel may occur up to twice per week, typically on intermittent weeks depending on the assessor’s place of residence. Assessors are reimbursed for transportation and lodging expenses. For overnight travel, assessors also receive a meal stipend per diem. What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in. Position Summary: A Texas Rising Star Assessor III will be responsible for leading assessment teams, reviewing program data, collecting observation data, adhering to all assessment protocols, and entering data into an online platform. Additional duties include assessing and monitoring ELP program quality using the Texas Rising Star assessment instrument. Assessors evaluate certification status for certified Texas Rising Star early learning programs and all early learning programs interested in becoming Texas Rising Star certified throughout the state of Texas, using the applicable Facility and Classroom Assessment Forms. This is a community-based program that requires frequent local and statewide travel.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in education or related field required.
4 years of relevant experience required.
Basic knowledge of standard Office Software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
Must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in education or related field preferred.
Doctorate Degree in education or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Reliably assess and monitor the quality of early learning programs using Texas Rising Star assessment tools and protocols.
Collect, interpret, and enter observation and program data in alignment with all guidelines, scoring manuals, and procedural requirements, while maintaining accurate and timely records.
Coordinate and conduct assessment activities, support logistical planning, and may lead or guide assessment teams to ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of protocols.
Adhere to all assessment procedures and support certification activities for early learning programs statewide.
Maintain Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification through ongoing professional development, weekly coding calls, and quarterly reliability checks.
Lead assessment teams, review program data, collect observation data, adhere to all assessment protocols, and enter data into an online platform.
Assess and monitor ELP program quality using the Texas Rising Star assessment instrument.
Evaluate certification status for certified Texas Rising Star early learning programs and all early learning programs interested in becoming Texas Rising Star certified throughout the state of Texas, using the applicable Facility and Classroom Assessment Forms.
Collect assessment data from a Texas Rising Star Assessment Visit as described in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines and Texas Rising Star Staff Handbook.
Utilize the Texas Rising Star Notetaking Forms and the Texas Rising Star Assessment Record Forms.
Assist management in planning methods and procedures for data collection.
Make independent decisions to interpret, score, and input facility and classroom assessment data to complete the Texas Rising Star Assessment.
Maintain accurate and timely records including entry of facility and classroom assessment data into the Texas Rising Star Assessment Tool in CLI Engage.
Collaborate with Texas Rising Star mentors by sharing/communicating assessment results of early learning programs.
Attain and maintain the Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification (ATCP).
Provide direction and training to Texas Rising Star Assessors to ensure efficient, timely, and high-quality results in compliance with all protocols and guidelines.
Participate in weekly coding calls and demonstrate ongoing mastery of the criteria and ability to reliably assess program quality through participation in quarterly reliability checks.
Complete annual professional development and continuing education consistent with the Texas Rising Star annual minimum training hours required for a Texas Rising Star-certified child care center director.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
Retirement/pension plan
Work/life services
Free financial and legal counseling
Free mental health counseling services
Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
Other employee discounts, including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
Resources for child and elder care