CERTIFICATION SPECIALIST

Orange County Public Schools; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange County Public Schools in Florida seeks a qualifications specialist to support certification of instructional and administrative personnel. The role involves reviewing transcripts, determining eligibility for Florida certificates, and assigning contracts based on certification status.

You will liaise with the Florida Department of Education, monitor PEC requirements, and maintain district certification files while ensuring compliance with state rules.

Qualifications

• Requires ability to review, classify, and analyze data and information
• Ability to guide others on applying procedures and standards
• Ability to operate complex processes and maintain records with accuracy
• Strong numerical literacy for decimals, percentages, and charts
• Ability to interpret written, oral, and schedule instructions

Responsibilities

• Respond to internal/external customers accurately and courteously
• Analyze transcripts to determine Florida certificate eligibility
• Determine certification status and assign employment contracts
• Monitor and ensure compliance with Florida State Board Rules and statutes
• Maintain district certification files and coordinate with DOE

Skills

Data Utilization

Human Interaction

Equipment, Tools & Materials Utilizat

Verbal Aptitude

Mathematical Aptitude

Functional Reasoning

Situational Reasoning

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Florida Dept of Education Partnership Training (within 6 months)

Job description

Salary Schedule

Under general supervision, the purpose of this position is to perform district-based duties associated with certification of instructional and administrative personnel. Employees in this classification function in a specialist-type capacity and perform a variety of duties including researching, analyzing, verifying, retrieving and entering database information; accessing confidential information, and interpreting Florida state statutes, regulations and procedures. This position also serves as an informational resource in their specialized area for all district instructional and administrative personnel. May perform other duties as directed.

Examples Of Essential Functions

• Responds to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous and empathetic manner representing OCPS in a positive light.
• Conducts content course analysis of academic transcripts to determine eligibility status for a Florida certificate based on Florida State Board Rules and Statutes and determines eligibility status for employment for individuals for instructional positions based on transcript course by course analysis.
• Determines highly qualified status and ensures compliance with the No Child Left Behind Legislation, where applicable.
• Assigns initial employment contract for newly hired full-time instructional employees based on certification eligibility/status, out-of-field status, and vacancy reason.
• Assigns contracts and approves certification eligibility for instructional changes in positions and transfers.
• Tracks instructional contract assignments and inputs changes as certification process progresses.
• Tracks non-faculty paid Athletic Coaches, monitors status and requests issuance of Athletic Coaching certificates.
• Determines certification eligibility and appropriate coverage needed for course assignments based on the Florida Course Code Directory.
• Identifies teachers without appropriate coverage for course assignments and monitors out-of-field teachers to ensure compliance in meeting Florida State Board of Education Administrative Rule, 6A-1.0503 out-of-field requirements.
• Advises teachers regarding acceptable courses for satisfying out-of-field and runs SAP actions for School Board agendas for approval of out-of-field.
• Identifies teachers for Professional Education Competence (PEC) based on degreed program on transcripts and/or out-of-state certification. Serves as the authorized designated signature for the Superintendent to submit CT-118 online forms to the Department of Education verifying completion of PEC's.
• Monitors and coaches teachers regarding required coursework, exams, PEC's, and experience to move from a 3-year temporary certificate to a 5-year professional certificate.
• Advises principal/work location supervisor when individuals fail to meet any certification requirements resulting in no expectation for continued employment.
• Serves as the authorized designated signature for the superintendent to submit CT-113 online forms to the Department of Education verifying teaching experience to meet professional certificate requirements as outlined on an individual's Official Statement of Status of Eligibility.
• Serve as the authorized designated signature for the superintendent to submit CT-110 online forms to request issuance of a teacher's initial certificate.
• Serves as liaison between the district and the Florida Department of Education regarding all certification issues and communicates daily with Florida Department of Education Bureau of Certification representatives regarding teaching certificates.
• Reviews and processes initial certification documents as well as follow-up documents for maintaining certification continuity.
• Notifies all certified employees (teachers and administrators) on October 1, of expiring certificates per CTA Contract, Article VIII, K.
• Serves as a liaison between certification and schools/work locations regarding certification issues/requirements and advises district staff of compliance issues related to certification.
• Maintains district and vocational certification files.
• Assigns contracts for vocational instructors, monitors certification requirements and issues district certificates for vocational teachers.
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review, or modify data; utilizes word processing, database, and software programs.
• Operates a variety of machinery, equipment, and tools associated with department activities, which may include a typewriter, copy machine, or fax.
• Responsible for keeping up to date on current technology, as job appropriate, being used by OCPS. With the support of the district, attends training to ensure skill level in various technologies is at the level required to perform in current position.
• Responsible for timely and accurate information they maintain as part of their job responsibilities.

Marginal Functions

• Post instructional and administrative certificates, out-of-field status, completed course work and/or other related data in the SAP system.
• Run various reports for letters to be generated.

Minimum Training And Experience

Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration or related field highly desirable supplemented by minimum five (5) years previous experience and/or training that includes clerical, secretarial, or governmental relations work, or any equivalent combination of related education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential job functions. Satisfactory completion of the Florida Department of Education Partnership Training required within six (6) months of start date for position.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

Data Utilization

Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

Human Interaction

Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization

Requires the ability to operate and control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and rapid adjustments.

Verbal Aptitude

Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may require ability to utilize principles of fractions and/or interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning

Requires ability to apply principles of rational systems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Ability to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning

Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability

Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Sensory Requirements

Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Some tasks require oral communications ability.

Environmental Factors

Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

The Orange County School District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.