Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Division: Education Staff Salary: $79,407.00 - $133,430.00
Job Profile JC-08021201-86 - Education Specialist Educator Excellence Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours Opening Date: February 12, 2026 Closing Date: February 11, 2026 Job Requisition Number: JR101183 Education Specialist Educator Excellence (Open) Pay Grade: N00C41 A Classification: Education Specialist Educator Excellence Class Definition: DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION NONCLASSIFIED JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Education Specialist- Educator Excellence GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Incumbents are responsible for supporting and implementing a system of educator preparation, certification and professional advancement for Rhode Island educators.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the supervision of a manager with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment. Work is subject to review on a periodic basis or upon completion for results achieved and for adherence to professional standards of conduct.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Generally none. May work as part of teams and in collaboration with others with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to achieve results. May be involved in providing input to the performance management process as a peer or colleague as appropriate.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Ensures that all educator preparation programs in the State meet program approval standards by conducting on-site visits. • Collaborates with institutions of higher education and provides technical assistance to support high quality programming and alignment to PK-12 needs. • Evaluates requests for certification and ensures schools employ properly certified personnel. • Provides technical guidance and assistance in certification processes, beginning teacher supports, evaluation activities and other related work areas. • Ensures State educators and higher education are provided with policy information and research about issues related to educator excellence. • Review teacher assistant training program requests for approval and develop policies to ensure teacher assistants meet state and federal standards. • Identifies exemplary State educators, which includes: soliciting nominations, screening applications, convening panels to select nominees, preparing materials for nominees, and organization of recognition ceremonies. • Conducts research in the design and development of a state-of-the-art system of preparation, certification, and professional development of State educators. • Provides training and policy support in a variety of educator excellence areas including: educator preparation, certification, evaluation and leadership. • Administers grants and other fiscal responsibilities as assigned. • Performs related work as assigned.
Reasonable accommodations can be made for qualified individuals with a disability.
Please note: Candidate selected to fill position will be required to submit official transcripts and will be required to pass and submit a pre-employment history criminal background check (BCI).
Please submit two (2) current letters of reference.
Subject to FTE approval and available funding. C41 Position is part of Local 2012, AFT.
Salary Range: (Subject to change)
At least 5 year(s) of relevant experience preferred. Master degree preferred.
Citizenship, residency, or work visa required.
Supplemental Information
The education specialist hired for the Office of Educator Excellence and Certification Services will focus primarily on educator preparation initiatives, inclusive of but not limited to Rhode Island's educator preparation program review/approval process, supporting districts and educator preparation programs with partnership agreements, supporting the use of High-Quality Instructional Materials in educator preparation programs as well as other office initiatives to advance agency priorities involving educator pipelines and professional learning.
Experience with other types of program approval or accreditation processes such as NEASC high school or regional accreditation or Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) preferred but not required.
Benefits
For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.
Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.