Certification Program Coordinator
About the Employer
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Experience
Documented three years of successful teaching experience Administrative experience (e.g., principal, director, supervisor, etc.) at the campus level or central office Demonstrated experience with Texas Educator Certification and/or Educator Preparation Programs required. Experience working with SBEC, TEA, TAC requirements, or related Texas Educator Certification systems strongly preferred Experience managing or coordinating multiple programs, initiatives, or grants Experience working directly with school districts or other educational organizations Experience with teacher recruitment, alternative certification, residency programs, or educator pipelines preferred Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with school districts and external organizations preferred Leadership or supervisory experience preferred
Evaluation
Annual performance evaluation will be performed in accordance with the adopted policies of the Education Service Center Region 11. Employment in this position is contingent upon performance, need, and funding.
Primary Purpose
The Certification Coordinator provides leadership and operational oversight for multiple educator preparation, certification, and teacher pipeline programs serving teacher and school leadership candidates. This position coordinates the effective implementation, compliance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement of the Education Preparation Program (EPP), including programs for teacher candidates and non-teacher candidates pursuing principal and superintendent certification, as well as Texas Strategic Staffing and PALT Residency Pathways implemented in partnership with select school systems.
Education/Certification
Masters in Education (required) Valid Texas Teacher Certificate (required) Valid Principal Certificate (required) Degree in Educational Leadership, Human Resources, or a related field preferred. Texas Superintendent Certificate (preferred)
Special Knowledge/Skills
Team-oriented attitude and desire to work collaboratively with ESC staff, campus/district/charter school personnel Effective skills in leadership, administration, organization, planning, communication, and public relations Knowledge of SBEC rules and standards Knowledge of adult learning theory Global perspective of educational issues Strong program and project management skills Knowledge of successful practices and current trends in educational leadership Administrative and supervisory skills, including but not limited to personnel, budget, and programs. In-depth knowledge of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the State Assessment and Accountability System, and state & national initiatives and standards Sound understanding of effective lesson design, delivery, and assessment. In-depth knowledge of the Texas Educator Certification System, including SBEC rules, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), certification requirements, and applicable TEA requirements. Strong understanding of Educator Preparation Program (EPP) standards, requirements, accountability, and compliance expectations Knowledge of requirements related to candidate admission, eligibility, preparation, clinical teaching/residency, internship, observation, assessment, certification recommendation, completion, and program exit. Knowledge of Texas Certification Pathways for Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents Ability to interpret state rules, regulations, standards, and guidance and translate them into operational procedures and staff practices. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple programs, deadlines, priorities, and stakeholder groups simultaneously. Strong data analysis and monitoring skills, including the ability to identify trends, gaps, risks, and opportunities for program improvement Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills Ability to communicate complex certification and compliance requirements clearly to candidates, staff, district partners, and leadership. Strong relationship-building and partnership-development skills Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment Proficiency with Microsoft Office and technology systems used for candidate management, certification tracking, data reporting, and program administration
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Improve internal operations to align with the organization and department’s strategic goals Work collaboratively with the Director and other ESC staff to implement local, state, and federal programs and initiatives to assist local education agencies (LEAs) improve student outcomes through leadership development Supervise and facilitate consultants’ active participation in collaborative teams to help meet the Commissioner's priorities and meet ESC’s metrics Support the Director in aligning allotted resources to accomplish organizational and departmental goals Supervise and evaluate the implementation of essential duties and responsibilities of Department Consultants and Staff Build, maintain, and monitor program plans and budgets based on needs assessments and state mandate requirements Supervise, guide, and evaluate the efforts of consultants and teams to develop, implement, monitor, and refine program plans and budgets based on needs assessments, state requirements, and client inputs Collaborate with outside educational/non-educational organizations to develop, facilitate, and/or implement T services and partnerships based on client inputs Develop, deliver, and/or facilitate training sessions identified through needs assessments and client requests Coordinate contracts, memoranda of understanding, partnership agreements, and program deliverables as assigned. Establish proactive communication systems that help candidates understand expectations and remain on track toward certification. *Address candidate concerns professionally and escalate complex or high-risk issues when appropriate.
EPP and Certification Program Leadership
Coordinate the day-to-day implementation and continuous improvement of the ESC’s Educator Preparation Program serving teacher and non-teacher candidates. Provide operational oversight for certification pathways for teacher candidates and candidates pursuing principal and superintendent certification. Ensure program policies, procedures, candidate services, documentation, and operations align with current SBEC, TEA, TAC, and EPP requirements. Monitor candidate progression from admission through program completion and certification recommendation. Ensure required candidate milestones, observations, assessments, clinical experiences, internships/residencies, and documentation are completed within established timelines. Coordinate processes related to candidate admission, enrollment, transfer, probation, remediation, completion, withdrawal, dismissal, and certification recommendation. Maintain systems to monitor candidate status and proactively identify candidates who are inactive, at risk, or approaching critical certification deadlines. Support the development and implementation of candidate communication, intervention, and support processes. Establish processes to ensure candidate records and program documentation are complete, accurate, secure, and audit-ready. Coordinate certification-related processes and serve as a knowledgeable resource for candidates and staff regarding Texas Certification Requirements. *Maintain current knowledge of legislative and regulatory changes affecting Educator Preparation and Certification.
Compliance and Quality Assurance
Monitor EPP operations for compliance with applicable Texas statutes, TAC rules, SBEC requirements, TEA guidance, and organizational policies. Develop and maintain compliance calendars, monitoring systems, documentation protocols, and quality assurance processes. Conduct regular reviews of candidate files, program records, observations, assessments, and required documentation. Identify compliance risks and develop corrective actions, improvement plans, and monitoring processes as needed. Prepare documentation and coordinate staff preparation for EPP monitoring, accreditation, audits, reviews, and reporting requirements. Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of continuous improvement plans based on program data, candidate outcomes, stakeholder feedback, and compliance findings. Maintain current knowledge of legislative and regulatory changes affecting Educator Preparation and Certification.
Texas Strategic Staffing and Residency Pathways
Provide coordination and operational oversight for Texas Strategic Staffing initiatives and residency pathways implemented in partnership with select school systems. Coordinate program requirements, timelines, candidate eligibility, district commitments, and deliverables for residency and strategic staffing initiatives. *Identify opportunities to strengthen recruitment, retention, completion, and employment outcomes.
Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
Develop and maintain strong relationships with participating school systems, higher education institutions, community organizations, state agencies, and other partners. Collaborate with ESC departments and subject matter experts to strengthen Educator Preparation and Residency Pathways. Represent the ESC at meetings, conferences, professional learning events, and state-level convenings related to Educator Preparation and Certification. Facilitate communication among internal and external stakeholders to ensure program requirements and responsibilities are clearly understood. Identify opportunities to expand and strengthen educator pipelines in response to district workforce needs.
Supervisory Duties
Certification Officer; Certification Specialists and Field Supervisors; PALT Lead; Texas Strategic Staffing Fellow
Equipment/Specialized Software Used
Computers, projection devices, control panels in meeting rooms, printers, productivity software, software specific to the job assignment, network resources, internet resources, and other hardware and software necessary to perform the functions of the job effectively and efficiently.
Working Conditions (Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors)
Mental: public relations and people skills are always required, work with frequent interruptions, and maintain professional composure and confidentiality under stress. Physical: occasional prolonged and irregular hours, ability to move tables and chairs and load/unload boxes and materials. Prolonged use of a computer. Frequent region and state-wide travel. Environmental: open cubicles/workstations.
Revision Date
September 2026