Education Specialist, Special Education Performance Diagnostic (Education Specialist IV)

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values:

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

Position Overview

​​The Special Education Performance Diagnostic Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing the development and implementation of a robust, data-informed continuous improvement diagnostic tool for special education programs across Texas. Reporting to the Special Education Performance Diagnostic Manager within the Division of Continuous Improvement and Academic and Behavioral Supports, this position is housed in the Department of Special Populations and Student Supports, under the Office of Special Populations and Student Supports (OSPSS). This specialist is responsible for supporting the design and ongoing refinement of diagnostic tools and processes that promote a statewide culture of high expectations and equitable outcomes for students with disabilities. The role requires consultative expertise and technical assistance capabilities to ensure that special education performance data is meaningfully integrated into broader district and agency improvement efforts.

This role involves collaborating across divisions and with external partners, including ESCs, school systems, and other stakeholders, to align diagnostic efforts with other statewide initiatives. This specialist primarily supports the integration of special education data into district level planning and decision-making, contributes to cross agency collaboration to address the needs of diverse learners systemically, and provides expert input into the development of policies, procedures, and guidance documents. The role includes establishing and reporting on project plans, work plans, and performance measures to monitor progress and impact.

This specialist will also provide support and consultation to aligned continuous improvement initiatives within the office. Business needs may shift the role and essential job functions for this education specialist position. The individual serving in this position is expected to adapt to shifting business priorities as long as any revised duties are within the same job classification title.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. 1. Effective Product/Resource Development: Lead the development, coordination, and enhancement of products and services in line with office priorities by building relationships with partners, establishing and enforcing quality standards, designing effective product review processes, ensuring timely submissions, and implementing effectively.   
2. 2. Policy Implementation and Compliance: Collaborate across the TEA team to ensure products are created and updated to align with current policy and maintain knowledge regarding the implementation and compliance requirements associated with state policy. 
3. 3. Project Management: Utilize project management techniques by tracking activities, ensuring project tasks are completed on time, monitoring and reporting resource utilization, facilitating collaboration and communication to support project outcomes, continuously assessing and evaluating assigned projects to determine their impact, and suggesting new projects to promote positive outcomes for students with diverse learning needs.  
4. 4. Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Integration: Coordinate, collaborate, and track internal and external stakeholder engagement efforts, including, but not limited to, TEA offices, divisions, and departments, education service centers, school systems, parents/families, and community members to ensure initiatives meet the needs of various stakeholders.   

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in working with students with disabilities, special education, or a related field, to include a minimum 2 years of experience in special education leadership.

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, establish goals, and continuously improve
• Understanding of local, state, and federal education laws, rules, and regulations applicable to special education
• Understanding of special education program requirements and best practices
• Knowledge of tiered intervention systems for academics and behavior
• Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to produce high quality work in a dynamic environment
• Highly organized; ability to manage multiple components of projects at once and meet deadlines
• Ability to engage in a collaborative, results-oriented team environment
• Highly skilled in Microsoft Office applications and managing the lifecycle of complex technical document

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.