Director, Accountability Strategy and Policy (Director ...

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. Core Values: • We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them. Position Overview: TEA's Performance Reporting division seeks to ensure continuous improvement in the academic achievement of all Texas public school students by 1) developing and implementing transparent, rigorous, and fair academic accountability systems, 2) providing accurate and comprehensive academic performance reporting systems, tools, and trackers and 3) monitoring and validating data to ensure the integrity of these systems. The Director of Accountability Strategy and Policy holds a thorough, expert, and ongoing understanding of the current state and federal accountability systems and is responsible for evaluating the state and federal academic accountability system design and policy and recommends improvements, through statute interpretation and proposed legislation review, stakeholder feedback analysis, and advanced research and data analysis, and ensures the systems are in compliance with state and federal laws. The Director sets a strategy for continuous improvement, including establishing workstream plans, goals, and metrics; developing policies, procedures, and guidelines; establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals; and coordinating and evaluating program activities. The Director immediately serves as a leader and supervisor that collaborates and interacts regularly with senior stakeholders within the agency and in the field. The Director also plans, assigns, and supervises the work of highly specialized individual(s) with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates. Essential Functions Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned. 1. Strategically Direct State & Federal Accountability Policy Implementation: Directs the processes and procedures to ensure that the accountability system is in compliance with State and Federal legislation and executed effectively. This will include reviewing proposed state legislation for its potential impact on accountability and technical support for the support documentation related to accountability releases.2. Project Manage the Continuous Improvement of the Accountability System: Directs the development and execution of the division's continuous improvement accountability refresh plan, to set the direction of short-term and long-term strategy and policies that drive the state's A-F and federal accountability systems.3. Facilitate Data Review of Accountability System Implementation: Supports and facilitates data analyses and modeling exercises based on stakeholder feedback and proposed legislation to evaluate the successful implementation of the state's A-F and federal accountability systems.4. Oversee Accountability Analyses for Internal and External Communications: Oversees the accountability data analyses and technical assistance conducted as part of data releases, including support documents, visualizations, and data queries. This work includes oversight of the review of policies in response to stakeholder inquiries throughout the year, production of final ratings results products, and research review of appeals during the accountability appeals process.5. Team Management and Supervision: Effectively lead and manage a high performing, engaged team. Minimum Qualifications • Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university• Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in managing, directing, or coordinating professional staff performing research, evaluation, analysis, or policy development projects is required. Experience in project management, as well as extensive knowledge of research and evaluation methodologies, is required. Extensive knowledge of research and evaluation methodologies is required. Experience in federal, state, or local accountability programs or school system leadership is preferred.• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience. Other Qualifications • Strategic Leadership: Develop and articulate a strategic vision for the organization, accurately assessing opportunities and challenges while inspiring and steering the direction of the team.• Project Management: Coordinate complex initiatives and large projects by setting goals, defining objectives, planning tasks, and monitoring progress. Drive cross-functional collaboration, excelling in strategic planning, and engaging stakeholders effectively. Manage multiple priorities with precision and clarity will be crucial to ensure the successful execution and follow-through on commitments.• Commitment to educational equity: A deep personal interest in and demonstrated commitment to educational equity and TEA's mission.• Data-driven and analytical mindset: The desire to proactively seek out and absorb information, data, and research from disparate sources and the intuition to determine relevance to make evidence-based decisions; the desire to communicate from a place of data; the ability to structure and process qualitative or quantitative data and draw insightful, second and third order insights.• Problem-solving and creativity: The ability to look at a tough problem, see the systemic dynamics at play, and work with others to develop solutions that address root causes.• Technical expertise: A working knowledge of research methodologies and policy development; state and national education data sources; state and national education statutes; quantitative research design; database design and development; statistical analysis and methods.• Emphasis on outcomes, quality, and efficiency: An insistence on consistently delivering high-quality work on time and dedicated follow-through on commitments; a track record of streamlining and creating operational processes, systems, and protocols that enable organizations to become more efficient and effective.• Superior prioritization and project and time management: The ability to balance and manage multiple workstreams and effectively identify key priorities; a track record of performance and successful implementation across multiple concurrent projects.• Coaching and people management: The ability to set clear and high expectations and hold teams accountable to those expectations; the ability and desire to coach and develop individuals and teams to reach short- and long-term goals.• Outstanding communications and interpersonal skills: Clear, concise, and persuasive written and verbal communications; the ability to develop and present clear, data-driven storylines and effective slides; an aptitude for effective listening and meaningfully engaging a wide range of diverse stakeholders and quickly building credibility and relationships.• Relentless pursuit of continuous improvement: A persistent desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve; cultivates and demands a growth mindset from self and from team.• Flexibility and adaptability: The ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities and conditions, deal effectively with ambiguity, and work effectively with complexity and change. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference. This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency. No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-02-13