Educator Development Specialist - Northern Michigan

Who We Are

Talent Together is a consortium of 48 Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) and Regional Educational Service Associations (RESAs). The consortium has committed to working closely together and with key partners, including colleges and universities, the Michigan Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative to design and implement a suite of programs that provide pathways into the teaching profession. 

Talent Together seeks to provide equitable access and opportunity to the teaching profession by eliminating barriers and providing multiple levels of support to ensure candidates can complete a high-quality teacher preparation program. We acknowledge and respect participants’ diverse identities, cultures, and traditions and create environments where participants feel a sense of belonging so that, ultimately, children across Michigan learn from a more diverse and well-prepared teacher workforce.

What We Do

The Talent Together consortium has pledged to significantly increase access to the teaching profession by innovating to overcome common barriers such as the cost of coursework and the need to earn a living wage while seeking certification. By creating a Registered Apprenticeship Program that includes job-embedded coursework and comprehensive on-the-job support and learning from expert teachers, our consortium will create more opportunities for people in communities across our state, many of whom are already working and serving students in our schools, to successfully join and remain in the teaching profession.

Who You Are

The ideal candidate for this role:

• Is skilled at developing others. This person approaches coaching and management of others thoughtfully and strategically, differentiating supports to align with individual needs.
• Has an entrepreneurial spirit. This person enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and does not get easily overwhelmed by shifting priorities and projects. 
• Can build trusting and authentic relationships quickly with a variety of stakeholders who have diverse life and work experiences. 
• Is self-directed and independent. This person will work independently to build systems from the ground up which requires discipline and focus.
• Has excellent communication skills. This person is skilled at both written and verbal communication and can adapt communications for different audiences.
• Believes there is more than one right way for someone to be successful. This person knows that overcoming challenges in order to achieve education and career goals often involve creative problem-solving. This person believes that every candidate can be successful, with the right combination of customized support and advocacy.

What You’ll Do

As a Educator Development Specialist, you will play a critical role in supporting Talent Together candidates to develop into excellent educators. Educator Development Specialists will drive the work of Mentor Teachers and Model Teachers, designing and facilitating learning experiences including communities of practice. Educator Development Specialists will work through layers and collaborate closely with varied stakeholders to ensure the success of program participants. Further, Educator Development Specialists will act as the liaison for the consortium’s Educator Preparation Program (EPP) partners, to ensure coherence between college/university learning and program learning experiences. This role reports directly to a Talent Together Regional Director.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university
• At least 3 years K-12 teaching experience
• Understanding of the K-12 Michigan Standards across content areas, assessment, and curricula being used in various teaching setting
• A commitment to educational equity and demonstrated success with diverse groups (including identities, cultures, and traditions)
• Previous experience designing and facilitating adult learning including professional development, peer observation, and instructional coaching practices
• Previous experience and a proven track record of success managing staff (preferred)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Design and lead cycles of learning (such as professional learning community cycles) for Model Teachers to ensure consistent and high-quality approach for lab classrooms
• Design and lead a community of practice for Apprentice Mentors
• Create differentiated coaching plans and monitor progress for cohort of participants, working with the Apprentice Mentor and Model Teacher to set goals and examine practice
• In collaboration with the Model Teacher, design a lab model classroom for cohort of participants, demonstrating classroom management, use of high-quality instructional materials, high expectations for student learning, cycles of planning, and student work/assessment data analysis
• Support the portfolio completion process for program candidates 
• Serve as the Talent Together liaison for Educator Preparation Program (EPP) partners and engage in partnership with those colleges/universities to ensure coherence
• Collaborate with other Talent Together Facilitators and statewide partners to ensure excellent and equitable experiences for program participants
• Provide excellent customer service to a number of stakeholders in a wide variety of roles
• Maintain strong record keeping for federal and state programs and grants

Salary and Benefits

Salary range of $86,605-$99,482 based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include: health, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off; employee assistance program, long term disability insurance; life insurance; and retirement benefits through the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System (MPSERS).

Terms of Employment

Full time, non-union position; hybrid work environment. This position reports to the Talent Together Regional Program Manager. Some in-state travel will be required. All Talent Together staff members are required to reside in Michigan. This position is required to travel for in-person visits to schools in the Northern Lower Peninsula, including areas such as Alpena, Traverse City, and Saginaw.

Salary : $75,000 - $90,000