School Support Specialist

Job Posting Title

School Support Specialist

Agency

265 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Supervisory Organization

Department of Education-Oliver Hodge Education Building

Job Posting End Date (Continuous if Blank)

July 09, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time

Full time

Job Type

Regular

Compensation

$72,800

Job Description

ABOUT US

At the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), we go beyond merely offering jobs - we actively seek out extraordinary individuals to join our team. As the primary agency entrusted with overseeing K-12 public education in Oklahoma, we are steadfastly devoted to making a meaningful impact on the districts and students we serve. Our exceptional team at OSDE is renowned for its commitment to superior customer service, innovation, and unwavering dedication to shaping a brighter future for students across the state. We work hand-in-hand with over 500 school districts and maintain a close partnership with the legislature, ensuring that each Oklahoma student receives the exceptional education they deserve. If you're in search of a fulfilling career that allows you to make a profound difference in the lives of children, you've arrived at the right place. Join us in our mission to empower students and elevate the standard of education in Oklahoma. For further insights into OSDE, please visit our website at www.sde.ok.gov.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The School Support Specialist at the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is dedicated to enhancing schools and educational institutions by providing vital support and resources. Ideal candidates will have a strong educational background and experience working with diverse student, teacher, and administrative groups. This role guides Oklahoma public schools in their Continuous Improvement Cycle, aligning with federal and state requirements. The primary aim is to build capacity and drive lasting improvements in student achievement. Your expertise and commitment can be instrumental in advancing positive changes for students throughout Oklahoma.

Please note: this role does not allow for any form of remote work, including telecommuting or hybrid arrangements. The nature of this position necessitates a consistent in-person presence. Prospective candidates should be aware that the responsibilities associated with this role require physical presence at the designated workplace in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in education or a related field [official transcripts required upon hire];

• Possession of a valid teaching or administration certificate;

• 5 years of experience as an instructional coach or in school administration.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Special Education, Native student populations, and English Learners;

• Experience with student academic achievement and family engagement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Knowledge & Expertise: In-depth knowledge of educational practices, policies, and regulations, including the ability to develop, implement, and monitor policies, assess their effectiveness, and use data analysis for recommendations. Proficient in evidence-based teaching strategies, professional development, and skilled in problem-solving, decision-making, and effective communication. Strong collaboration skills and a commitment to continuous improvement in education.

• Educational Enhancement and Collaborative Leadership: Evaluate the effectiveness of school improvement initiatives and recommend adjustments for improved educational outcomes while ensuring compliance with state and federal policies. Collaborate with school leadership teams to identify areas for improvement and actively assist in developing and implementing action plans. Foster a culture of collaboration to promote continuous improvement within educational institutions.

• Professional Development and Coaching: Design and deliver tailored professional development programs for teachers and staff, equipping them with the latest educational strategies and tools to excel in their roles. Provide ongoing coaching and support to help educators reach their full potential.

• Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices: Facilitate the adoption of evidence-based teaching strategies and practices that have been proven to boost student achievement. Support teachers in implementing these approaches in the classroom, promoting a more effective and engaging learning environment.

• Teacher Training Programs: Develop comprehensive training programs aimed at improving teacher effectiveness and fostering continuous growth. These programs encompass a range of teaching methods, classroom management techniques, and innovative educational tools, enabling educators to enhance their teaching skills and outcomes.

• Professional Demeanor: Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude at all times; ability to build and maintain positive work relationships; demonstrate integrity and ethical conduct in all aspects of your work; ability to display a high level of professionalism in communication, behavior, and appearance; ability to accept constructive feedback to increase performance.

• Attendance: Regular and reliable in-person attendance is required to ensure quality teamwork, performance, productivity, and collaboration; ability to demonstrate a commitment to your work and team by committing to punctuality and dependability in the work environment; this includes arriving to work on time, being present, engaged, and available to colleagues, internal and external customers.

• Innovation: Ability to identify and address the evolving needs and challenges of the education landscape; ability to think critically, explore new ideas and embrace innovative approaches to improve educational outcomes for all students; apply creativity, resourcefulness, and forward-thinking in finding solutions to complex problems and driving positive change in the field of education.

• Efficiency: Ensure our resources are utilized effectively, and our operations are streamlined; optimize our processes, eliminate redundancies, and leverage technology to enhance productivity and performance; proactively identify opportunities for efficiency gains and implement best practices.

• Superior Customer Service: Willingness to go above and beyond to provide outstanding assistance that exceeds expectations, ability to create positive experiences and build relationships based on trust and satisfaction; maintain a positive and helpful attitude using the appropriate language, tone, and behavior to reflect the agency in a way that leaves a positive and favorable impression.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Effective Communication: Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas, while also listening actively to others and demonstrating understanding; Ability to demonstrate empathy by showing respect and understanding for the feelings and perspectives of others while paying close attention to non-verbal cues; Ability to adapt communication style to suit the needs of the audience and situation.

• Take a proactive approach and work independently: Be resourceful and self-motivated, prioritize work effectively by managing your time well, anticipating challenges, developing creative solutions, paying close attention to detail, and taking ownership of your work.

• Collaborate as a team player: Ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal. Including being openminded, respectful, and responsive to others' ideas and perspectives. Sharing knowledge and experience while being committed to achieving the teams' objectives and understanding the importance of working collaboratively to achieve success.

• Demonstrate excellent planning and organizational skills: Ability to set clear objectives, create a plan of action, break down complex tasks into manageable components, delegate tasks when necessary, and establish a realistic timeline to meet deadlines consistently while developing contingency plans to ensure adaptability to changing circumstances.

• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to analyze complex situations, identify key issues, patterns, connections and develop effective logical solutions; Ability to think critically, anticipate potential problems and develop innovative solutions to address them.

• Ability to function well in an, at times, stressful, fast paced and deadline driven environment: Ability to work under pressure and in situations where time is limited whilst remaining calm and focused, prioritizing tasks, and adapting to changing circumstances.

• Ability to build strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders: Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration, leverage resources effectively, and negotiate mutually beneficial outcomes. Possess strong interpersonal skills in order to resolve conflicts and manage difficult conversations in a constructive and professional manner.

• Knowledge of technology and ability to use it to maximize efficiency and services: Ability to identify opportunities to leverage technology to streamline processes, automate tasks, and improve customer experiences; Familiarity with software, hardware and other relevant technological tools while being able to learn new technologies as they emerge.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT & TIME ALLOCATION

Location: Oliver Hodge Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & Assigned School Sites

This position involves a dynamic work environment that encompasses both fieldwork with frequent travel in and around assigned school districts, as well as office-based tasks. Fieldwork provides hands-on engagement with schools and educators, while the office setting allows for paperwork and administrative responsibilities.

• The work environment for this position includes:

• 75% fieldwork, which takes place in assigned schools; Employee is continuously required to walk, talk, stand, and visit school sites.

• Climate-controlled office setting with exposure to moderate noise; employee is frequently required to talk, walk, and stand; this position requires long periods of sitting and daily use of computer and phone. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 25% of the time;

• Ability to stand, reach and bend 50% of the time;

• Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine/printer, office telephone 50% of the time;

• Ascends/descends stairs 25% of the time;

• Communicate with others accurately and effectively 100%;

• Ability to lift to 25 lbs.

TRAVEL

75% in-state/out-of-state travel may be required.

BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS

• Generous benefit allowance in addition to salary to off-set insurance costs, more information at https://www.ebd.ok.gov

• 11 Paid Holidays

• 15 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave in the first year

• Compensatory Time for FLSA Exempt and Nonexempt Employees

• Teacher's Retirement System (TRS) participation with all contributions paid by the employer, more information at https://www.ok.gov/TRS

• Employee Assistance Program

• Longevity Bonus for years of service

TELEWORK

• The position is ineligible for telework.

• The position is ineligible for fieldwork in a home office

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without sponsorship;

• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check;

• Must possess a valid driver's license from a U.S State or Territory to perform necessary job-related travel;

TIME & EFFORT TRACKING

• Maintain a weekly time and effort log to accurately document activities, work hours, and tasks performed within school districts;

• Obtain time verification by a member of the school administration;

• Ensure that time and effort logs are submitted every Monday for the preceding week.

EEO STATEMENT

The Oklahoma Department of Education provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, OSDE complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.