Job Title: Certification Specialist
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Grade: 103
Work Days: 226
Reports To: Director of Instructional Services or designee
Primary Purpose
Ensure well-articulated and comprehensive certification programs including the recruitment, training, and support of candidates leading toward Texas Teacher and/or Principal Certification. Provide appropriate professional development and technical assistance to campuses/districts/charter schools and private schools where program participants are working and/or completing internships/practicums.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Education/Certification
- Master's Degree
- Valid Texas Teacher Certificate
- Valid Texas Administrator Certificate
Special Knowledge/Skills
- Team oriented attitude and desire to work collaboratively with ESC staff and campus/district/charter school personnel.
- Strong organizational, communication, public relations, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
- Strong project management skills.
- Knowledge of adult learning theory.
- Global perspective of educational issues.
- Knowledge of the Texas Administrative Code governing educator preparation programs.
- In-depth knowledge of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the state assessment and accountability system, and state & national initiatives and standards.
- Knowledge/experience with learning management systems and online course development.
- Knowledge of successful practices and current trends in educational leadership.
- Strong understanding of and experience in instructional coaching.
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of successful teaching experience.
- Minimum 3 years of successful principal experience.
- Successful experience in program development.
- Successful experience in training teachers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- This job description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. They are intended to be accurate reflections of those principal job elements essential for making fair hiring and pay decisions.
This position may be partially or completely funded using grant and/or federal monies and is assigned programs to include activities designed to enhance the effective and coordinated use of funds.
- Recruit and select qualified candidates for certification programs.
- Develop quality training reflecting scientifically-based research, and national and state initiatives.
- Deliver/facilitate training sessions as needed with team members in the Certification Department.
- Analyze and evaluate program components and services.
- Identify, plan, develop, and implement new initiatives/services in the Certification Department.
- Analyze available needs assessment data from regional, state, and national sources, including data from the Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP), local surveys, etc.
- Research, develop, and continually revise the program curriculum.
- Evaluate the impact of training and make recommendations for modifications to ensure a high-quality program.
- Verify that all candidates have met program and state requirements for certification.
- Provide quality coursework to create effective candidates in their certification field.
- Provide meaningful coaching to each candidate in the program.
- Effectively communicate and provide timely updates to candidates.
- Increase the number of active candidates through strategic marketing.
- Provide assistance to all certification staff as needed.
- Participate in the collaborative development of a comprehensive plan for training, products, and services to meet regional needs and meet state standards.
- Model effective use of technology in personal productivity and instructional applications.
- Actively participate in and/or provide leadership for inter-departmental teams to help improve student performance in the region, improve the ESC's internal operations, and meet the established goals and objectives for the ESC.
- Provide technical assistance to campuses/districts/charter schools.
- Be responsive as the first point of contact to all stakeholders in the education community.
- Participate in designated local, state, and national professional development activities and share information with ESC staff and appropriate regional personnel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Duties
None
Equipment/Specialized Software Used
Computers, projection devices, control panels in meeting rooms, printers, productivity software, software specific to the job assignment, network resources, internet resources, and other hardware and software necessary to perform the functions of the job effectively and efficiently.
Working Conditions (Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors)
Mental: Public relations and people skills are always required, work with frequent interruptions, and maintain professional composure and confidentiality under stress.
Physical: Occasional prolonged and irregular hours, ability to move tables and chairs and load/unload boxes and materials. Prolonged use of a computer. Frequent region and state-wide travel.
Environmental: Open cubicles/workstations.
Evaluation
Annual performance evaluation will be performed in accordance with the adopted policies of the Education Service Center Region 11. Employment in this position is contingent upon performance, need, and funding.
Revision Date: August 2026
Benefits at ESC Region 11
- $645 monthly contribution for Medical Insurance
- Competitive Pay and Growth Opportunities
- Retirement Account Matching Program
- HSA, FSA, Dental, Vision, Life, Cancer Insurance Offered
- 10 Local Sick Paid Days provided Annually (Per School Year)
- 5 State Personal Paid Leave Days provided Annually (Per School Year)