Education Program Consultant (ELPA21)

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Iowa Department of Education seeks a senior leader to provide technical and programmatic guidance on ELPA21 assessment, English learner identification, and statewide testing. The role collaborates with districts, AEAs, and state teams to ensure compliant testing and effective data use.

The position requires strategic thinking, strong communication with diverse stakeholders, and the ability to manage complex contracts and MOUs while steering large-scale assessment initiatives.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with five years of post-graduate work experience.
• Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting.
• Professional administrative experience in an educational setting.
• Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience.
• Professional data integration, data analysis, and statistical analysis experience.
• Professional communications experience, including public relations, marketing, or journalism.
• Professional school safety and emergency preparedness experience.
• Combination of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (24 semester hours = 1 year).
• Master’s degree + Iowa Teaching Certificate + three academic years teaching/admin experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical assistance to districts, nonpublic schools and AEAs on ELPA21 assessment requirements, data, and accessibility.
• Lead the implementation and vendor coordination to administer the statewide ELPA21 assessment.
• Plan and conduct district assessment monitoring visits as part of the assessment team duties.
• Collaborate, plan and present at SASA group meetings.
• Assist with data use for reporting, funding, research, accountability, and peer review submissions.
• Serve as statewide English learner content expert and present on related topics.
• Participate in ELPA21 consortium to lead test development activities.
• Manage the ELPA21 assessment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and contract.

Skills

ELPA21 expertise

Education data analysis

Public speaking

Project leadership

Policy interpretation

Education

Master’s degree

Iowa Teaching Certificate

Job description

Job Description

Iowa Department of Education’s mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

Iowa Department of Education’s mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

Your Responsibilities

Provide leadership and technical assistance to districts, nonpublic schools and AEAs on federal and state assessment requirements, ELPA21 assessment data, English learner identification and exit procedures, measuring student progress, and English learner accessibility. Lead the implementation and vendor coordination to administer the statewide ELPA21 assessment. Plan and conduct district assessment monitoring visits as part of assessment team duties supporting Iowa's Differentiated Accountability system. Collaborate, plan and present at the Statewide Assessment System Advisory (SASA) group meetings. Assist and collaborate with the data team on utilizing ELPA21 testing data for student reporting, funding, research studies, accountability, and peer review submissions. Serve as a statewide English learner content expert and present on topics related to English learner programs, standards, and assessment. Participate in ELPA21 consortium to lead test development activities. Manage the ELPA21 assessment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and contract.

Participate in comprehensive efforts of the Department and Bureau, including Department, Division, and Bureau meetings, and other assigned work groups.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with specially designed instruction and assessments for students who are English Learners.
• Experience interpreting complex state and federal education law.
• Experience providing accurate technical assistance to educators.
• Experience in large-scale project leadership and implementation in education.

Hours:

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday; some nights and weekends, occasional in-state and out-of-state travel

A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn:

• Passion for pursuing common goals in pursuit of public service
• Strong technical skills
• Strategic and analytical mindset
• Ability to work in complex situations and meet deadlines while leading teams as a non-traditional leader (no supervisory authority)
• Experience providing technical assistance and professional learning to educators
• Ability to interpret and break down highly technical or regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner
• Ability to manage self in relation to prioritization and time management
• Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
• Desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
• Collaborative, positive work environment
• Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
• Competitive salary and benefits package:

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/employment/Benefits_Beyond_the_Paycheck.pdf

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov .

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and five years of full-time post-graduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas:
• Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting;
• Professional administrative experience in an educational setting;
• Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements;
• Professional experience in a major technical program area housed within the Iowa Department of Education;
• Professional data integration, data analysis, and statistical analysis experience;
• Professional communications experience, including public relations, marketing, or journalism;
• Professional school safety and emergency preparedness experience.
• A combination of a total of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree, possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution.
• Possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements.