South Central

REPORTS TO: Director – Teaching and Learning
GROUP/FLSA STATUS: Exempt (Professional), Regular, Full-time, Eight hours per day during regular business hours (M-F); 260 Days
Revised: 04/15/2024

SUMMARY:   (Brief description summarizing the overall purpose and objectives of the position.)
The Minnesota Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MnMTSS) Regional Specialist is an MDE funded service cooperative employee that serves as a member of a Statewide MnMTSS Team and provides support for regional implementation of the MnMTSS framework.

To ensure consistent and sustained MnMTSS, MDE’s vision is to leverage multiple statewide providers. MDE aims to create a unified statewide ecosystem of support and collaboration across MDE, CAREI and MSC to build the capacity within districts to manage and sustain local MnMTSS with fidelity, resulting in improved district practices, ultimately creating positive learner developmental, academic, behavioral, social-emotional experiences and outcomes.

The person hired as an MnMTSS Regional Specialist will be committed to addressing historical and persistent inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes for students of color and students with disabilities and understand MnMTSS as an equity focused framework through which these inequities can be addressed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   (Typical tasks but not all inclusive – major duties of the position.)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Statewide MnMTSS Team Responsibilities:

·        Provide technical assistance to regional school districts and charter schools in the implementation of MnMTSS using consistent statewide technical assistance strategies. This includes:

• (Data Analysis/Needs Assessment) Developing familiarity with regional needs related to continuous improvement of systems to improve outcomes for all students with particular attention to those who have been persistently underserved and marginalized.
• (Training) Collaboration with MDE and CAREI staff in developing and delivering in-person, synchronous and asynchronous professional learning content for delivery across all regions. Deliver state-approved professional learning with fidelity.
• (Coaching) Provide on-site evidence-based coaching for district and school leaders and teams in the region to implement yearly MTSS action plans.
• (Brokering of Resources) Developing familiarity with MDE and regional COMPASS supports and working with the entire COMPASS team to ensure coherence and access for all districts and charter schools and alignment across all efforts.

·        Develop and continuously improve systems coaching capacity and use of effective technical assistance strategies by:

• Attending all professional learning provided for Regional Specialists by MDE and CAREI staff to understand and be able to accurately message the structures of MnMTSS, to be trained in MDE MnMTSS Cohort Training materials and to be able to deliver consistent training to districts, and to learn updates and connections to other COMPASS content areas (literacy, math, school climate, SEL etc..) and MDE initiatives.
• Participating in coaching provided by MDE and CAREI staff to improve training delivery, improve TA strategies, learn new protocols, deepen ability to build relationships with clients, learn to use and coach any MTSS self-assessments or capacity assessments, to facilitate district leadership team goal setting and action planning for implementing system processes and practices that address their inequities.
• Participating in communities of practice with cross-regional colleagues to be able to stay consistent in the delivery of support to districts, to practice identifying districts’ needs and what may be adaptable to their local context, to build each other’s knowledge and skills in new and upcoming research.
• Participate in the coach-of-coach model, including observations, to improve capacity and skills in providing direct support to the district.

·        Collect and review statewide service data to identify what works well for whom under what circumstances. Identify areas of need and identify areas for shoring up consistency in delivery and support. Identify root causes, practice problem-solving, identify possible solutions, and develop an adjusted service delivery plan that includes gathering new data, studying, and analyzing that data, prioritization, and action planning.

·        Collaborate with regional team members to develop and execute a support plan that strengthens and furthers regional implementation. Use continuous improvement principles to understand the impact of internal practices, support provided, and to determine the next steps.

·        Consistently message and explain Mn MTSS service delivery model and support to all entities that interact with it. Clarify for districts and others Minnesota’s service delivery pathway for support and what each entity’s role is within that statewide service delivery model.

As requested by the state leadership team, actively participate in a state tier one instruction cross-functional team.
·        Collect and track individual work time, effort, focus, strategies used, etc., to support the statewide reflection on content training needs, skill-building needs, consistency in delivery across team members, etc.

Minnesota Service Cooperative Responsibilities:

·        Serve as an MnMTSS specialist on the regional COMPASS team. Collaborate with colleagues to ensure support provided across all content areas is aligned to MnMTSS.

·        Collect and analyze regional knowledge and capacity data to identify messaging, training, support, and coaching needs to build capacity for implementing practices within the MnMTSS framework.

·        Based on data analysis, provide support and coaching to internal Service Cooperative staff to build capacity for implementing practices aligned to MnMTSS.

 

District and School Responsibilities

·        As a regional specialist, collect, analyze, and use data (student, program, and implementation level data) to problem-solve needs and priorities within the region.

·        Support district and school leaders in developing an effective infrastructure for implementing the MnMTSS as a continuous improvement framework.

·        Facilitate the development of linked teams in districts and schools. Coach and support teams in effective teaming structures and the use of data-based decision-making processes at all system levels.

·        Initiate and facilitate discussions with district (and school) leadership teams about the existing inequities their current system creates and maintains.

·        Collaboratively facilitate district (and school team) goal setting and action planning for implementing system processes and practices that address inequities.

·        Support district and school leadership teams in data collection and analysis to ensure data is being used effectively at all levels of the system, from district to classroom) to inform instruction that supports student growth and achievement across all Tiers.

·        Support district and school leaders to plan for continuous improvement of Tier 1/universal instruction through engagement with COMPASS supports and services, such as regional leads in content areas of literacy or math and professional development in Learning Acceleration (Atlas).

·        Support district and school leaders in planning to develop and continuously improve Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic and behavior interventions, in addition to Tier 1 instruction.

·        Through the engagement with COMPASS staff (MDE and other regional content specialists), engage district and school leaders in integrating Comprehensive Mental Health, School Climate, SEL, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, supports for Multilingual learners and Family and Community Engagement within their district wide MnMTSS implementation.

·        Familiarize teachers and administration with the research on multi-tiered systems of support.

·        Regularly communicate with school administrators, colleagues, and experts to keep well-informed of current and developing research.

·        Work collectively with peers and MN Department of Education in reflecting on personal learning and how that learning supports student achievement and growth of students.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:   (Minimum level of education and experience required.)
Bachelor’s degree in education or related field (e.g. school psychology, social work)
At least five (5) years’ experience in PreK-12 education with at least two (2) years in a school or district leadership position
Preferred Education and Experience

·       Significant (5-7 years) experience in school and/or district leadership.

·       Master’s degree in education or related field (school administration, school psychology, curriculum and instruction, special education, etc.).

·       Current school or district administrative license.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND REGISTRATIONS:   (Minimum required to perform the job.)
·        Valid Driver’s License

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:   (Minimum competencies for job performance.)
·        District experience implementing a framework for equitable MTSS within a K-12 education setting.

·        Experience coaching MTSS teams to change adult practices (versus individual contributors)

·        Demonstrated commitment to examine data to self-reflect on own actions and impact to continuously improve own practices.

·        Experience guiding teams to make data-based decisions for continuous improvement including providing guidance on universal screening, progress monitoring, and diagnostic assessments.

·        Experience building the capacity of teams to independently develop and prioritize goals and create and carry out action plans to meet improvement goals.

·        Experience in identifying, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practices in education.

·        Understanding and applying adult learning principles in professional learning.

·        Ability to function cooperatively as a member of a team collaboratively engage with a wide range of staff to develop and promote trusting partnerships.

·        Ability to reflect on and continuously improve professional practices in response to coaching.

·        Experience addressing educational inequity in previous positions. Ability to recognize and disrupt dominant narratives and the marginalization they perpetuate.

·        Experience with effective implementation practices and systems change.

·        Experience with Universal Design for Learning

·        Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

·        Creative analytical and problem-solving skills; show initiative in resolving problems.

·        Effective written and verbal communication skills

·        Ability to assume responsibility, be well organized, execute initiatives from directives and approved self-initiatives; effective and efficient at prioritizing work plans and activities- a self-starter.

·        Adaptable and flexible with competing demands and shifting priorities.

·        Proficient in the use of G-Suite applications and online learning platforms. Ability to adapt to new software and digital tools.

ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  (Physical/sensory and environmental conditions.)
This job operates in a hybrid office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. This is largely a sedentary role; however, some office organization and event set-up/tear-down is required. This would require the ability to move and lift 30 lbs., stand for extended periods of time, and carry items a short distance as necessary.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:  (Minimum essential factors of daily position.)
This is a full-time, 12-month 40-hour work week position. Must be available to work during typical school hours, but occasional evening events, travel to the Minnesota Department of Education and travel within the region is expected. Occasional travel outside of the region.  Office specifics will vary by region.

OTHER DUTIES:  (Potential other factors of daily position.)
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.