Program Associate II for English Learner and Migrant Education Services

About WestEd 

As a community of over 800 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.
 
Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Please review our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. 

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although a remote option may have been listed as one of the location options for this position, the default location for all WestEd positions is in one of WestEd’s offices. However, candidates may submit a request to work from home.

All WestEd staff are required to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Proof of full vaccination is required before beginning employment. If you want to be considered for a medical or religious exemption, you will have an opportunity to provide appropriate documentation.

Content Area Profile

English Learner and Migrant Education Services (ELMES) at WestEd, which includes the Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) initiative, is looking for a team of equity-focused educators committed to improving the quality of educational opportunities for all students, with a particular focus on English and Multilingual Learners. ELMES provides professional learning, strategic systems support, curriculum, and standards development, and conducts research to enhance the quality of education for English Learners, Multilingual Learners, and Migratory Students. Our team partners with state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) to build educator capacity to implement necessary educational shifts. These positions will expand our ability to continue to develop and deliver services that change outcomes for traditionally underserved students.

Who We Are

We are a highly motivated team with a deep, sociocultural foundation and an equity focus. We believe equity cannot be achieved without an upmost commitment to ensuring a quality education for all students. We are committed to building educator capacity at all levels of the system to ensure quality curriculum, design and facilitate quality teaching, and develop coherent systems, we can create the necessary conditions to implement powerful learning experiences that lead to long-term impact for students. Our team values experience and consists of former teachers, site, district, and state administrators, researchers, and scholars. We rely on our diverse teammates to navigate the dynamic and ever-changing contexts our school, LEA, and SEA partners face while staying true to our theoretical foundations. We are passionate and hard-working and we value professional growth, intellectual rigor, and a collaborative culture.

The Opportunity

Please note that we are seeking candidates with experience in K-5 education, with deep knowledge and experience with Dual Language Programs as well as deep content knowledge in one of the following: Science, Math, ESL, ELA, or Social Studies.

Program Associate positions are an opportunity for experienced practitioners, administrators, researchers, and scholars across the country to join a committed team and contribute to a diverse portfolio of services that builds educator expertise to ensure quality learning opportunities for all students, with a focus on English and Multilingual Learners. The people in these positions will bring a combination of competencies and experience working in and with school districts, state education agencies, and/or other education service organizations. They will work with teachers and educational leaders in designing and facilitating professional learning, systemic improvement planning, accompanying teachers in the classroom to support them as they engage in quality pedagogical practices, developing curricular materials which balance, contributing to proposal writing and technical publications, and supporting successful project management and business development. Applicants should be self-starters who thrive in fast-paced working conditions, enjoy problematizing complex situations and seeking solutions, are intellectually curious, independently able to successfully manage a variety of project work, communicate clearly, continually pursue opportunities to learn and grow, seek feedback, build strong relationships, and advocate for others.

As a part of the English Learner and Migrant Education Services team, Program Associates will support existing projects and lead specific components in a variety of work. Based on their expertise, Program Associates will do the following:

Curriculum Development (up to 50%)

• Develop curricular materials, pedagogical tools and processes for elementary or secondary instruction aligned to the QTEL approach.
• Design professional learning activities that will enable educators to utilize curriculum materials.

Professional Learning (up to 50%)

• Develop and facilitate Quality Teaching for English Learners professional learning sessions for elementary and/or middle and high school teachers, professional developers, educational leaders, and teacher educators with a focus on the rigorous development of conceptual, analytical, and language practices for English and Multilingual Learners.
• Create materials and activities that advance educator knowledge, reflection, and practice.
• Coach teachers and leaders, providing feedback, and assisting them as they understand, plan, and implement pedagogical practices that enhance the quality of education for English and Multilingual Learners.

Strategic Systems Support (up to 50%)

• Conduct program reviews and support the development of collaborative systemic improvement planning efforts for English Learners.
• Advise school districts, county offices, and state education agencies on the best and most effective practices and policies to enhance educational opportunities for English and Multilingual Learners.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of systemic improvement efforts at the SEA and LEA levels, and work collaboratively with colleagues to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Business Development (up to 20%)

• Participate in business development opportunities by developing client relationships, identifying and pursuing funding sources, and conceptualizing and writing competitive proposals for a variety of SEA, LEA, federal, and philanthropic funders.
• Contribute to the development of a variety of publications to improve education systems, programs, and instruction and disseminate knowledge.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking to hire multiple candidates with a complementary range of experiences and knowledge that will enhance and strengthen our existing team.

• 5+ years of experience teaching in classrooms to culturally and linguistically diverse students in U.S. schools, with particular experience in the following:
  • K-5 education
  • deep knowledge and experience with Dual Language Programs
  • deep content knowledge in one of the following: Science, Math, ESL, ELA, or Social Studies
• advanced degree in elementary or secondary education or a related field
• demonstrated commitment to equity and excellence in the education of English and Multilingual Learners
• deep knowledge of sociocultural theoretical stances underlying research and practice in the education of English and Multilingual Learners
• extensive experience designing and facilitating professional learning to enhance content and pedagogical knowledge of teachers, with a focus on the simultaneous development of students’ conceptual, analytical, and linguistic practices.
• experience in curriculum development
• experience making presentations to districts, school boards, teacher leaders
• experience as a technical assistance provider in the design and implementation of exemplary programs for English and Multilingual Learners
• knowledge of sociocultural theory and its implementation in the education of language minoritized students
• ability to travel extensively (50% or more)
• knowledge and experience with a language other than English that represents significant numbers of English Learners in the U.S. Bilingual ability strongly preferred
• familiar with systems change methods, including continuous improvement, design thinking, and stakeholder engagement
• proven ability to effectively work and collaborate across differences, including ethnicity, gender, and culture, and willingness to engage in honest conversations about racism and systemic oppression
• comfort with ambiguity and adaptation, and commitment to ongoing learning, innovation, and meaning making
• knowledge of and/or Quality Teaching for English Learners Professional Development Certification preferred

Must authorized to work (visa sponsorship not available).

Joining the Team

We look forward to inviting new hires to start their position by attending a week-long, in-person QTEL Summer Institute in San Francisco in mid-July 2022. This opportunity will allow all new staff to be apprenticed into the QTEL approach and our team, while engaging in deep professional learning as a participant/observer.

Salary

Salary for this role is competitive and at WestEd grade Level G. WestEd offers a very generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as Life, AD&D and Disability insurance.  We also offer various retirement plan options and Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, childcare, and commuter expenses. WestEd offers generous paid holidays and paid time off (PTO), among other benefits. 

Perks and Benefits

In addition to WestEd’s comprehensive benefits, our team values flexibility and offers flexible work hours. WestEd aims to provide you with a safe and comfortable work environment and offers ergonomic evaluations to make your work environment the best for you! Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of ways to build community, including Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), affinity groups (e.g., WestEd Parents), and professional learning communities (PLCs) for Data Intelligence, Insights, Innovation, and Women in Tech, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)