POSITION SPECIFICS

An Education Program Specialist is being sought to provide education services to emerging and aspiring teachers within Career and Technical Education (CTE).
The Education Program Specialist provides teacher education for novice Career and Technical Education (a.k.a. vocational education) instructors making career transitions from performing their technical, industrial, or medical occupations in the workplace to teaching their occupations in Pennsylvania secondary schools.
Funded by the PA Department of Education (PDE) through Penn State’s Professional Personnel Development Center (PPDC) for CTE, the program this position is a part of provides professional experience and salary to individuals seeking to become CTE leaders and teacher educators.

The primary focus of the Education Program Specialist’s role will be on student teaching supervision at various locations across Pennsylvania, along with the associated relationship building and operational tasks. This involves, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities :

• Regularly travel to Pennsylvania career and technology centers, high schools, and state correctional institutions and meet with university students enrolled in a five-course student teaching experience.
• Observe and critique the students’ classroom performance and guide them through certification requirements on behalf of the instructor-of-record.
• Complete a required state assessment form used to verify the student’s eligibility for state certification of professional educators.
• Develop a strong working relationship with the teachers and administrators in each of the assigned schools.
• Complete and submit all reports (program data, travel expenses, and others) in a timely manner.
• Attend the monthly PPDC and CBTE (Competency Based Teacher Education) meetings as scheduled.
• Maintain office hours at Penn State’s University Park campus for a minimum of one day per week.

Other Key Responsibilities :

• Professional Development Services : Work with colleagues to plan and conduct non-credit professional development for CTE teachers.
• Instructional Support : Mentor and coach students through Integrated Curriculum Implementation and Student Teaching in Workforce Education lessons (prepared by the instructor-of-record); review and assess student assignments; provide feedback to students and recommendations to instructors on course content and instructional activities.
• Continuing Education : Actively seek resources to expand one’s content and pedagogical knowledge, through participation in professional development and/or successful completion of at least three credit hours of academic coursework per academic year.

The Education Program Specialist will also perform other relevant duties that contribute to PDE’s objectives for the PPDC (such as dissemination of PDE initiatives or teacher recruitment) as assigned by the PPDC Director, Associate Director, and Competency Based Teacher Education Coordinator.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will:

• Be knowledgeable about pedagogy and legal policies required to operate Career and Technical Education programs approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania teacher certification requirements.
• Have earned “Career and Technical Education Instructional II” (called Vocational Instructional II before 2025) certification and experience as a CTE instructor. Acceptable equivalents would be Instructional II certification in Agricultural Education, Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Education, or Technology Education. Out-of-state equivalents will also be accepted.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are a must, along with the ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None

PENN STATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, AGE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY OR PROTECTED VETERAN STATUS. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO USE OUR ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS DUE TO AN IMPAIRMENT OR DISABILITY, PLEASE CONTACT 814-865-1473.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IS SUPPORTIVE OF FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS WHEN ALIGNED WITH THE ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE UNIT AND THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION. QUESTIONS RELATED TO FLEXIBLE WORK SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE HIRING MANAGER DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCESThis position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

The primary focus of the Education Program Specialist’s role will be on student teaching supervision at various locations across Pennsylvania, along with the associated relationship building and operational tasks. This involves, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities :

• Regularly travel to Pennsylvania career and technology centers, high schools, and state correctional institutions and meet with university students enrolled in a five-course student teaching experience.
• Observe and critique the students’ classroom performance and guide them through certification requirements on behalf of the instructor-of-record.
• Complete a required state assessment form used to verify the student’s eligibility for state certification of professional educators.
• Develop a strong working relationship with the teachers and administrators in each of the assigned schools.
• Complete and submit all reports (program data, travel expenses, and others) in a timely manner.
• Attend the monthly PPDC and CBTE (Competency Based Teacher Education) meetings as scheduled.
• Maintain office hours at Penn State’s University Park campus for a minimum of one day per week

Other Key Responsibilities :

• Professional Development Services : Work with colleagues to plan and conduct non-credit professional development for CTE teachers.
• Instructional Support : Mentor and coach students through Integrated Curriculum Implementation and Student Teaching in Workforce Education lessons (prepared by the instructor-of-record); review and assess student assignments; provide feedback to students and recommendations to instructors on course content and instructional activities.
• Continuing Education : Actively seek resources to expand one’s content and pedagogical knowledge, through participation in professional development and/or successful completion of at least three credit hours of academic coursework per academic year