Education Specialist (Special Education Liaison)

ESCSPED; Texas; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ESCSPED is seeking a Specialist focused on Special Education liaison work across Texas. You will lead professional development for LEAs, embed design thinking and 4DX, and collaborate with TEA and ESC teams to improve service quality and student outcomes.

The role emphasizes data-informed decisions, strategic communication, and sustained engagement with districts and campuses to fulfill grant objectives.

Qualifications

• Strong program development and project management skills with clear results for student achievement.
• Plan, implement, and follow up on staff development and training.
• Provide coordinated assistance in the assigned area.
• Demonstrate strong leadership capacity.
• Knowledge of instructional processes for learners in LEAs.
• Ability to analyze data and drive data-based decisions.
• Experience managing fiscal and facility resources for programs.

Responsibilities

• Embed Design Thinking and 4DX to meet ESC grant performance measures.
• Deliver regional professional development and support to LEAs on special education monitoring.
• Coordinate with TEA and LEAs to align policy and practice statewide.
• Assess and tailor support to each site and networks of stakeholders.
• Maintain ongoing communication with key connections vital to implementation.
• Lead program metrics, deliverables, and annual review activities.

Skills

Program development

Project management

Staff development

Coordinated assistance

Leadership

Instructional processes

Education

Texas teaching certificate

Master's degree

Job description

ESCSPED

Professional/Certified - ESC - Specialist

Job Number 0000765644

Start Date

Open Date 11/03/2026

Closing Date 11/17/2026

Attachments

Required Training

• OmniTrack User Training
• Ascender User Training
• Microsoft Office
• Network/Email (Universal Basic Required Training)
• Sexual Harassment (Universal Basic Required Training)

Education Qualifications

1. Valid Texas teaching certificate or related certificate/license required

2. Master's degree required

Experience

1. At least 5 years of experience working in an LEA, regional education service center, or the Texas Education Agency in a management position.

2. Successful experience in collaboration with and learning from multiple sources (working successfully on a team).

Additional Requirements

1. Successfully embed Design Thinking and 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) processes to meet goals outlined in ESC Special Education Liaison Grant performance measures 1 and 2.

2. PERFORMANCE MEASURES: ESSENTIAL FUNCTION #2: 80% of LEAs who engage in a reciprocal relationship with ESC Liaisons show evidence that connections are meeting intended needs.

Activities:

• - Connect individuals or groups by providing advice and serving as a relational resources.
• - Maintain ongoing communication with people or groups whose connections are vital for the success of the implementation efforts.
• - Assess the effectiveness of connections in meeting the intent of the implementation efforts.

3. Prioritize, protect, and attend all required ESC Liaison week activities and participate in feedback loops and collaborative activities that connect policy and practice statewide. A maximum of three (3) Austin-week days may be missed for reasons other than personal leave with advanced approval from TEA grant program manager. These days are not required to be consecutive

4. Deliver or facilitate regional professional development and support to LEAs regarding special education monitoring procedures and expectations, including review preparation and post-review follow-up, in coordination with TEA´s Department of Review & Support; and participate in certification requirements with TEA´s Leaders and Educators Addressing Disproportionality in Special Education (LEADS) initiative, including training sessions with grantee, training sessions with LEAs, and other duties as assigned (e.g. pre-work, debrief sessions, attending coaching sessions).

5. ESSENTIAL FUNCTION #1: 80% of LEAs engaged in tailored support and assistance with ESC Liaisons show evidence of adequate improvement in targeted areas.

Activities:

• - Assess and agree to the support and assistance to be made available to each individual site and/or collectively to a number of sites.
• - Schedule virtual and onsite meetings based on the goals of the team and stakeholders.
• - Tailor support based on needs of the team and systems stakeholders.

6. PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Assess the effectiveness of the level of support in meeting needs, goals, and context of the implementation effort.

7. Complete one (1) observation that aligns to essential functions and follow-up debrief meeting with TEA Grant Manager annually.

8. Working primarily with LEA special education and campus leaders, increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation of LEA teams to analyze data relevant to students receiving special education services and supports; identify a problem; reflect critically on end-user input, root causes and potential solutions; create a plan for improvement that includes sustainability of progress; and maintain a cadence of internal accountability.

9. Working primarily with LEA special education and campus leaders, identify target LEA needs relevant to students receiving special education services and supports and connect them to supports and resources that effectively meet those needs.

Special Knowledge and Skills (Required)

1. Strong program development and project management skills in special education and general education as an educator and/or administrator with quantifiable and clear results for student achievement.

2. Ability to plan, implement, and follow up on staff development and training.

3. Knowledge and skills for providing coordinated assistance in the assigned area.

4. Ability to demonstrate strong leadership capacity.

5. Knowledge of instructional processes and strategies used with struggling learners in LEAs.

Special Knowledge and Skills (Preferred)

1. Ability to analyze data, direct and facilitate data-driven processes.

Budget Management

1. Appropriate use of fiscal and facility resources to support program and organizational goals and activities.

Organization Morale

1. Contribute to the mission, vision, and core values of the organization to promote a positive organizational culture

2. Demonstrate a professional attitude as a member of the ESC-2 staff, carry out commitments made to LEAs and fellow colleagues.

Organization or Community Relations

1. Assist with effective operation and pursue a common vision for the improvement of the department and the ESC-2.

2. Cooperate and coordinate with other regional education service centers to contribute to the effectiveness of the organization and the program.

3. Collaborate and actively participate with ESC-2 program teams across departments and divisions to improve student performance and to meet goals and objectives of ESC-2 and TEA.

4. Participate collaboratively with regional LEAs, other ESCs and the Texas Education Agency representatives to enhance services and support to LEAs statewide.

5. Serve as a representative of ESC-2 displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with other members of the education community and with the public

6. Demonstrate a professional attitude and employ professional ethics in relationships with external clients, internal staff and the community

7. Contribute to a positive image of the ESC-2 and the department.

Professional Growth and Development

1. Participates in meetings, trainings, and special events as appropriate

2. Employs professional ethics in relationships with regional program clients, staff, and the community

• Accepts responsibility for professional conduct regarding attendance of and attitudes toward scheduled meetings
• Assumes responsibility for acquiring knowledge, skills, and attitudes for fulfilling duties, including participating in professional development activities to maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, and practices

Program Management

1. Design, develop, and direct professional development through multiple delivery models on a variety of topics related to special education.

2. Manage the metrics and deliverables for this program and report those to ESC-2 leadership and TEA as directed.

3. Proactively seek information and resources needed for regional growth in identified areas of need and oversee the effective implementation of supports and services to improve achievement of students with disabilities.

4. Analyze data for all LEAs within the region with a focus on significant proportionality; design and implement a process for maintaining profiles for each LEA and provide reports as requested.

5. Lead the development of and execute a design thinking-based strategy for enhancing and improving state services and supports.

6. Participate in required program meetings/trainings/events to meet program goals

7. Perform other duties as assigned

Mental Demands

1. Ability to maintain emotional control under stress

2. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

3. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written

4. Ability to interpret and follow policy and procedures

5. Ability to multi-task and cross-train

6. Ability to think critically and problem-solve

7. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision

Physical Demands

1. Occasional prolonged and irregular hours.

2. Occasional out of region travel

3. Regular in-region travel.

4. A minimum of 25% of the position's time will be dedicated to collaboration with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and fellow Special Education Liaisons at Education Service Centers (ESCs) across Texas.