Program Associate I - Training and Support, ESE Systems & Analytics

Detroit Public Schools Community District; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telecommuting up to 20%

Benefits Eligible

Job summary

Detroit Public Schools Community District seeks a Program Associate I - Training & Support to lead training and support for PowerSchool Special Programs within the ESE Systems & Analytics team. You’ll develop guidance resources, deliver user training, and provide direct technical assistance to school staff and external providers.

You’ll build a library of job aids, keep materials current with policy changes, and collaborate with the MTSS initiative to align documentation with new workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus in education, instructional design, information systems, public administration, or a related field
• 1–2 years of experience in training development and delivery, technical support, or a closely related role, preferably in a K-12 school district or public sector
• Experience with PowerSchool Special Programs (PSSP), PowerSchool SIS, or similar student information or case management platforms (preferred)
• Familiarity with special education workflows, IEP processes, or compliance timelines (preferred)
• Experience developing job aids, reference guides, or e-learning content for technical systems (preferred)
• Knowledge of Michigan state reporting requirements and pupil accounting processes (preferred)
• Familiarity with MTSS frameworks and tiered support processes (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver high-quality PSSP training for all end-user populations, including school-based special education staff, ancillary providers, and contracted service providers, covering system navigation, document workflows, and compliance-related processes.
• Build and maintain a library of job aids, quick reference guides, and instructional materials that translate PSSP functionality into accessible, step-by-step guidance for users at varying levels of technical comfort.
• Update training content and guidance materials promptly when system configurations, ESE processes, or state requirements change, ensuring end users always have current, accurate information.
• Serve as the first point of contact for PSSP end-user support, fielding questions, troubleshooting common issues, and escalating technical problems that require system-level intervention to the Program Supervisor.

Skills

Training development

End-user support

Instructional design

Technical guidance

MTSS knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in education/instructional design/IS/public administration

Tools

PowerSchool PSSP

PowerSchool SIS

SharePoint

Job description

Job Title

Program Associate I - Training and Support, ESE Systems & Analytics

Location: Fisher Building, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202

Salary: $75,048 - $98,163

Reports to: Senior Director of ESE Systems & Analytics

Bargaining Unit: OSAS

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Telecommuting Eligibility: Eligible for telecommuting up to 20% (one day per week)

Position Summary

The Program Associate I - Training & Support Specialist serves as the internal and external training and support arm for PowerSchool Special Programs (PSSP) within the ESE Systems & Analytics team in the Student Data & Accountability division. The team is responsible for the administration, integration, reporting, and end-user support of PSSP, the district's primary platform for special education data management, and serves as the data quality and systems bridge between the ESE division and the Student Information Services team.

The Training & Support Specialist develops and delivers training, guidance resources, and direct technical support for all PSSP users, including school-based special education staff, ancillary providers, contracted service providers, and central ESE staff. This role works closely with the ESE division to understand the processes end users must follow, translating that knowledge into system-level guidance and support that enables accurate, consistent PSSP use. As the district builds toward MTSS, this role will extend its training and support function to include any platforms or processes adopted to track tiered interventions alongside PSSP workflows. Success in this role requires strong instructional and communication skills, the ability to support users with varying levels of technical comfort, and the capacity to develop working knowledge of special education workflows and compliance requirements on the job.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus in education, instructional design, information systems, public administration, or a related field
• Minimum of one (1) to two (2) years of experience in training development and delivery, technical support, or a closely related role, preferably in a K-12 school district or public sector organization
• Experience with PowerSchool Special Programs (PSSP), PowerSchool SIS, or similar student information or case management platforms (preferred)
• Familiarity with special education workflows, IEP processes, or compliance timelines (preferred)
• Experience developing job aids, reference guides, or e-learning content for technical systems (preferred)
• Knowledge of Michigan state reporting requirements and pupil accounting processes (preferred)
• Familiarity with MTSS frameworks and tiered support processes (preferred)

Essential Functions

• Develop and deliver high-quality PSSP training for all end-user populations, including school-based special education staff, ancillary providers, and contracted service providers, covering system navigation, document workflows, and compliance-related processes.
• Build and maintain a library of job aids, quick reference guides, and instructional materials that translate PSSP functionality into accessible, step-by-step guidance for users at varying levels of technical comfort.
• Update training content and guidance materials promptly when system configurations, ESE processes, or state requirements change, ensuring end users always have current, accurate information.
• Serve as the first point of contact for PSSP end-user support, fielding questions, troubleshooting common issues, and escalating technical problems that require system-level intervention to the Program Supervisor.
• Provide intensified support to end users during high-stakes periods, including count windows, fall placement season, and evaluation surges, when documentation errors have the highest compliance consequences.
• Support new contractor and ancillary provider onboarding by delivering PSSP orientation as part of the district's provider onboarding sequence, ensuring providers can access and use the system from day one.
• Work closely with the ESE division to stay current on process changes, new compliance requirements, and common end-user errors, using that knowledge to continuously improve training content and support resources.
• Collaborate with the Program Supervisor and Reporting & Compliance Specialist to identify recurring error patterns that point to training or guidance gaps, and develop targeted interventions to address them.
• Maintain knowledge management systems, including SharePoint resources, training calendars, and support logs, that make PSSP guidance accessible to all end users and give the team visibility into support trends.
• As the district establishes its approach to MTSS, extend training and support resources to cover any platforms or processes adopted for tracking tiered interventions ¿ ensuring end users understand how MTSS documentation connects to the PSSP workflow.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, ESE Systems & Analytics.

Security Clearance

Internal Applicants

If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or religion. Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at [phone] or detroitk12.org/compliance.