Texas Rising Star Assessor III - CAE

UTHealth Houston; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid medical premiums

Generous time off

Longevity Pay

Retirement plan

Free mental health counseling

Job summary

An educational institution in Texas is looking for a Texas Rising Star Assessor III to assess and monitor early learning program quality. The role requires strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the ideal candidate must possess a Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience. Responsibilities include collecting and interpreting data, maintaining certification, and providing logistical support. This position involves frequent travel and offers significant benefits including medical premiums and time off.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with four years related research experience, or Master's degree with two years, or Doctorate.
• Understanding of early childhood development and evidence of educational experience.
• Ability to maintain Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification through professional development.

Responsibilities

• Assess early learning program quality using Texas Rising Star assessment tools.
• Collect, interpret, and enter observation and program data.
• Maintain accurate records and coordinate assessment activities.

Skills

Critical thinking

Problem-solving skills

Strong organization

Data handling

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

Doctorate degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Position Overview

The Texas Rising Star Assessor III is responsible for reliably assessing and monitoring early learning program quality using Texas Rising Star assessment tools and protocols. This role collects, interprets, and enters observation and program data in alignment with all guidelines, scoring manuals, and procedural requirements, while maintaining accurate and timely records. Assessors coordinate and conduct assessment activities, support logistical planning, and may lead or guide assessment teams to ensure consistent, high quality implementation of protocols. Responsibilities include adhering to all assessment procedures and supporting certification activities for early learning programs across the state. Assessors must maintain Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification through ongoing professional development, weekly coding calls, and quarterly reliability checks to ensure the integrity and reliability of assessment practices statewide.

The ideal candidate is an independent, self-directed learner with strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills. They bring a solid understanding of early childhood development and experience in educational settings, enabling them to interpret program practices accurately and apply assessment protocols with fidelity. This individual demonstrates excellent time and task management skills, stays organized across multiple deadlines, and maintains resilience and focus during long assessment days or extended periods of concentrated work. They collaborate effectively within assessment teams, communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders, and uphold professionalism in both written and verbal communication. The ideal candidate is comfortable working with data, confident using technology and online platforms, and consistently follows detailed procedures with accuracy and reliability. Above all, they are adaptable, dependable, and committed to maintaining the integrity and quality of the Texas Rising Star assessment process.

These positions are considered travel jobs. Although the team tries to assign staff to complete assessments as close to home as possible, frequent day travel (long commuting) is common, and overnight travel may occur up to twice per week, typically on intermittent weeks depending on the assessor’s place of residence. Assessors are reimbursed for transportation and lodging expenses. For overnight travel, assessors also receive a meal stipend per diem.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides coordination and logistical support for Texas Rising Star assessments in the Gulf Coast Workforce Board region, including assigning assessment personnel to sites, ordering and allocating assessment supplies and resources, etc. in support of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board Early Education Services - Assessment Workstream priorities, desired outcomes, budgets, and timelines.
• Assist management in planning methods and procedures for the collection of data.
• Collect assessment data from a Texas Rising Star Assessment Visit as described in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines and Texas Rising Star Staff Handbook. This includes utilizing the Texas Rising Star Notetaking Forms and the Texas Rising Star Assessment Record Forms.
• Makes independent decisions to interpret and score, and input facility and classroom assessment data to complete the Texas Rising Star Assessment as described in the Texas Rising Star Technical Scoring Manual and Texas Rising Star Engage User Guide (EUG).
• Maintains accurate and timely records including entry of facility and classroom assessment data into the Texas Rising Star Assessment Tool in CLI Engage as described in the Texas Rising Star Technical Scoring Manual and Texas Rising Star Engage User Guide (EUG).
• Texas Rising Star assessors are required to complete annual professional development and continuing education consistent with the Texas Rising Star annual minimum training hours required for a Texas Rising Star‑certified child care center director.
• May recruit or provide support to Child Care Services (CCS) that submits a Texas Rising Star Certification Request.
• Collaborates with Texas Rising Star mentors by sharing/communicating assessment results of early learning programs.
• Attain and maintain the Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification, as described in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines. Certified assessors must participate in weekly coding calls and must demonstrate their ongoing mastery of the criteria and ability to reliably assess program quality through participation in quarterly checks.
• May provide direction and training to Texas Rising Star Assessors to ensure efficient, timely, and high quality results in compliance with all protocols, and guidelines, as described in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines, Texas Rising Star Handbook, Texas Rising Star Technical Scoring Manual, and Texas Rising Star Engage User Guide (EUG).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification / Skills

Basic knowledge of standard Office Software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.

Minimum Education

Bachelor's degree in related field with four (4) years of related research experience including significant experience in a project management research role; or Master's degree in related field with two (2) years of related research experience including significant experience in a project management research role; or Doctorate degree.

Minimum Experience

Years of experience varies based on the education level.

Physical Requirements

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive

• 51.215 and Texas Government Code 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position.
• Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R.
• 791.4.

Residency Requirement

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full‑time employees.
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37‑38 days per year).
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue.
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service).
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan.

Additional Benefits

• Free financial and legal counseling.
• Free mental health counseling services.
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs.
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care.
• Plus many more!