Teacher Preparation Specialist

Department: Col of Ed and Human Development

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is an innovative, inclusive, cutting-edge college that successfully prepares professionals to promote learning and development across the lifespan while contributing meaningfully to research in human and organizational performance, as well as the learning and developmental sciences. The college, with nearly 130 full-time faculty and 300 part-time faculty, includes nine academic divisions with 27 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels across three schools (School of Education; School of Kinesiology; School of Sport, Recreation and Tourism Management). In addition, faculty engage in an extensive portfolio of research and are fully engaged in the community.

Within CEHD, the Office of Teacher Preparation (OTP) works across all programs to support the teaching, assessment, and service mission of the college. OTP provides a broad range of services, including but not limited to: regional school division outreach, partnership development, placement of CEHD students for clinical practice experiences, licensure application support for educator preparation students, Virginia Department of Education licensure requirement compliance and regulations, university supervisor hiring, and management of data systems related to clinical experience and licensure.

About the Position:

The Teacher Preparation Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for the Office of Teacher Preparation (OTP), acting as an expert on teacher preparation activities. In this role, the Specialist provides comprehensive support and guidance to students, staff, and faculty regarding licensure pathways and requirements, including content area reviews. Additionally, the Specialist assists the Clinical Practice Coordinator (CPC) and Licensure Coordinator (LC) by providing essential processing support during peak times, ensuring efficient handling of licensure-related tasks and maintaining smooth operations within OTP. This position is key to facilitating student success and compliance with licensure standards.

Responsibilities:

• Acts as the initial point of contact for prospective and current students interested in GMU state-approved licensure programs and/or seeking additional endorsements, including provisionally licensed teachers seeking full licensure and students transferring from NOVA;
• Offers comprehensive advising support through face-to-face, virtual meetings, phone, and email communications to guide students in identifying appropriate licensure pathways;
• Maintains and updates materials (handouts, website information, documentation) to support pre-education students and ensure they have access to current information about licensure requirements;
• Collaborates with school division and academic advisors to provide pre-education support and guidance, such as advising Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s students;
• Responds to emails and messages in a timely manner;
• Establishes and maintains productive relationships with CEHD programs and personnel to support teacher preparation efforts;
• Partners with the CEHD’s Office of Admissions and Student and Academic Affairs to address prospective and current student inquiries and concerns;
• Coordinates student support efforts with colleagues across various university offices, including but not limited to the Office of the Provost, Office of the Registrar, College of Science, School of Integrative Studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as with community college partners;
• Facilitates information sessions in collaboration with academic program coordinators and attend recruiting events in partnership with CEHD’s Office of Admissions;
• Collaborates with the Clinical Practice Coordinator (CPC) and Licensure Coordinator (LC) to provide additional processing support during peak periods;
• Responds to requests for information from the Dean, Associate Deans, Directors, Academic Program Coordinators, school division licensure specialists, and officials from the Virginia Department of Education; and
• Undertakes special projects as needed to support the Office of Teacher Preparation's mission and ensure smooth operations. This may include handling inquiries, gathering data, or contributing to the development of new initiatives related to licensure and teacher preparation. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience serving and supporting diverse student populations;
• Experience with or demonstrated knowledge in academic advising and student success coaching;
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, time management, and coordination skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication capabilities;
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a flexible and professional manner; and
• Proactive problem solving, attention to detail, and ability to learn new tasks quickly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field; and
• Previous experience in K-12 classrooms; previous experience as academic advisor/counselor preferred.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Teacher Preparation Specialist at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review. 

Posting Open Date: December 2, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  January 10, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes