Program Officer, Teacher Eduation

American Indian College Fund; Denver (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel up to 35%

Job summary

The American Indian College Fund seeks a Program Officer, Teacher Education to lead and coordinate the Native Teacher Education Program with tribal colleges and universities. You will expand pathways for Native students and paraprofessionals toward licensure, collaborate with partners, and oversee program strategy from recruitment to completion.

You will work with TCUs, teacher education faculty, staff, and partners to strengthen pathways, provide technical assistance, and advance campaigns that

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education or related field.
• Experience managing multi-partner grants, budgets, agreements, data, reporting, and measurable outcomes.
• Knowledge of teacher preparation pathways, educator licensure, Praxis or comparable assessments.
• Understanding of Indigenous, culturally responsive, place-based, and Native language education.
• Ability to build respectful relationships with TCUs, tribal communities, educators, students, school leaders, and partners.
• Effective project management, facilitation, communication, problem-solving, data management, and technology skills.
• At least five years of relevant experience in grant management, educator preparation, or multi-institution programs.
• Experience working with Native communities, TCUs, tribal education departments, or Native-serving education organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead program implementation and performance. Manage work plans, budgets, agreements, partner guidance, risks, and reporting.
• Coordinate direct student and early-career teacher support. Manage eligibility, documentation, funding, and confidential records.
• Strengthen TCU teacher education and licensure pathways with emphasis on state licensure prep and Indigenous knowledge.
• Build partnerships that strengthen recruitment and retention through advisory groups, virtual learning, and site visits.
• Advance awareness, recruitment, evaluation, and program learning with campaigns for greater community participation.
• Manage program operations and cross-functional collaboration: contracts, invoices, travel, and updates for leadership and funders.
• Collaborate across departments to align program capacity work with TCUs and partners.

Skills

Project management

Facilitation

Communication

Problem solving

Data management

Technology skills

Relationship building

Grant management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Program Officer, Teacher EducationThe American Indian College Fund (College Fund) strives to positively impact the lives of American Indians by supporting their higher education and career objectives. College Fund team members believe education is the answer and collectively we raise funds, provide scholarships, and holistically support students in achieving their goals. Programming, research, and enhancing the capacities of tribal colleges and universities are also integral elements of our mission.

Program Officer, Teacher EducationThe American Indian College Fund (College Fund) strives to positively impact the lives of American Indians by supporting their higher education and career objectives. College Fund team members believe education is the answer and collectively we raise funds, provide scholarships, and holistically support students in achieving their goals. Programming, research, and enhancing the capacities of tribal colleges and universities are also integral elements of our mission.

The Program Officer leads the administration and implementation of the College Fund’s Native Teacher Education Program. The position works with tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and other partners to expand pathways for Native students and paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers and to support Native educators serving tribal nation communities.

The role coordinates strategies across awareness and recruitment, direct student support, degree completion, Praxis and state licensure preparation, classroom employment, and early-career retention. Program activities include TCU teacher education capacity building; upper-level course enhancement in Indigenous knowledge, cultural competency, content knowledge, Native language, and licensure preparation; coaching and mentorship; Native Teacher Fellowships; secondary mathematics partnerships; the Native Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pathway; and the “Become a Native Teacher” campaign.

This position works with TCU administrators, teacher education faculty, staff, and students; Native teacher fellows; teacher education coaches and mentors; tribal nation schools and superintendents; the Native teacher advisory group; and other partners. The role collaborates closely with Programs, Research and Evaluation, Student Success Services, Communications, and Resource Development to achieve grant outcomes, strengthen Indigenous teacher education pathways, and communicate program impact.

Job Objectives And Responsibilities

This position works directly with tribal colleges and universities’ Teacher Education programs to co-vision successful programming that increases the number of Native and rural teachers in classrooms, preferably on or near Indian reservations served by the TCUs. The Program Officer, Teacher Education, builds TCU-based capacity that focuses on all aspects of teacher education through graduation and certification including recruitment, retention, curriculum development, faculty development and support and student supports.

This position networks with partners and organizations engaged with teacher education and early childhood education including the American Indian Higher Education Consortium . In addition to teacher education programming, this position collaborates with College Fund teams and departments to strengthen TCU capacity and build excellent teacher education initiatives. This position involves extensive interaction with TCU partners including site visits as appropriate as well as joining TCUs at regional and national conferences pertinent to teacher education.

Lead program implementation and performance.

Manage work plans, budgets, agreements, partner guidance, risks, and reporting. Track progress toward program goals for teacher graduation, licensure, classroom employment, TCU course enhancement, , and Community of Practice engagement.

Coordinate direct student and early-career teacher support.

Manage eligibility, documentation, funding, and confidential participant records, including student name, year in program, type and amount of support, and term provided. Work with TCUs to strengthen early identification, developmental education support, capstone experiences, Praxis preparation and testing, student-teaching readiness, degree completion, and licensure.

Strengthen TCU teacher education and licensure pathways.

Provide technical assistance on teacher education degree pathways and course enhancement with an emphasis on state licensure preparation. Provide a secondary emphasis on cultural and content knowledge in teacher education curriculum.

Build partnerships that strengthen recruitment and retention.

Facilitate the Indigenous Education Community of Practice, virtual learning, site visits, and in-person convenings on classroom management, developmental education, capstone design, licensure preparation, Indigenous pedagogy, and Native language integration.

Advance awareness, recruitment, evaluation, and program learning.

Collaborate with TCU partners, the Native teacher advisors and communications to develop and implement campaigns that encourage and support increased participation by community members and students with teacher education.

Manage program operations and cross-functional collaboration.

Administer grantee, vendor, consultant, mentor, and fellow agreements; review invoices and expenditures; monitor budgets; coordinate travel and convening logistics; and prepare program updates for leadership, the Board, and funders.

Collaborate

intra and inter departmentamentally to align and support the College Fund’s program capacity work within the College Fund, TCUs and other partners such as student support, evaluation, communications, fundraising, and partner engagement.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education or related field.
• Experience managing multi-partner grants, budgets, agreements, data, reporting, and measurable outcomes
• Knowledge of teacher preparation pathways, educator licensure, Praxis or comparable assessments, student support
• Understanding of Indigenous, culturally responsive, place-based, and Native language education
• Ability to build respectful relationships with TCUs, tribal communities, educators, students, school leaders, and partners
• Effective project management, facilitation, communication, problem-solving, data management, and technology skills
• At least five years of relevant experience in grant management, educator preparation, or multi-institution programs
• Experience working with Native communities, TCUs, tribal education departments, or Native-serving education organizations

Preferred Qualifications :

• Preferred master’s degree
• Experience with educator licensure, curriculum design, coaching or mentorship, recruitment and retention, Native language education, or program evaluation

Work Environment

• Professional office environment
• Dedicated office space outside of College Fund if working remote or hybrid
• Up to 35% travel by airplane and car

Physical Requirements

Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including frequent keyboarding and screen use, with or without reasonable accommodation