Dual Language Bilingual Education Lead/Educational Specialist D

Educational Vision of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Our educational vision describes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's aspiration for elementary and secondary public education and adult basic education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This vision is anchored in our commitment to high-quality teaching and learning in the Commonwealth. We will continue to work with districts, schools, and educators to promote teaching and learning that is antiracist, inclusive, multilingual, and multicultural; that values and affirms each and every student and their families; and that creates equitable opportunities and experiences for all students, particularly those who have been historically underserved. For more information on our vision, clickhere.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Our most important asset is our staff. DESE continuously strives for a workplace that values a community of diverse talent where everyone works together to improve education for all students. We believe in diverse talent. A strong, innovative, and effective team has members with diverse experiences. We believe in and work toward equity for all protected classes. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Section 2: Statement of Duties & Responsibilities:

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) provides support to districts to ensure that multilingual learners have equitable access to a high-quality education and feel a sense of belonging in school communities that value and honor their linguistic and cultural identities. OLA fosters a vision of multilingualism by providing instructional support and monitoring compliance for English Learner Education programs, including bilingual and dual language education programs, facilitating the Seal of Biliteracy, and promoting World Language education.

OLA seeks a leader with expertise in bilingual education and a deep commitment to equity for multilingual learners who can facilitate change management in support of culturally and linguistically responsive instructional leadership. The Dual Language Bilingual Education Lead will play a crucial role in promoting shared understanding and collective responsibility for supporting the needs of multilingual learners, both within the Department and across schools and districts in Massachusetts. They will be responsible for strengthening tools, resources, policies, and practices to support high-quality, equitable, and asset-based dual language bilingual education programs across the state in order to realize the vision of the LOOK Act. They will provide direct technical assistance to schools and districts that are establishing and expanding dual language bilingual education programs, provide professional learning and networking opportunities for bilingual educators and leaders, and collaborate with other DESE offices to center the needs of multilingual learners in the selection and implementation of culturally responsive implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and ensure that agency-wide policies and initiatives address the needs of multilingual learners. The Dual Language Bilingual Education Lead must demonstrate a deep commitment to multilingual education and the attainment of equitable and ambitious goals in service of Massachusetts students and educators. Their previous experience should convey an unwavering belief in the ability of all children to learn at high levels, particularly English Learners.

At DESE, we incorporate equity considerations in everything we do, from simple daily tasks to complex long-term projects. This requires a mindset that ensures that our individual and collective actions lead to positive systemic change. As the Dual Language Bilingual Education Lead, you will utilize our Racial Equity Decision Making Tool to guide decision-making to explicitly and intentionally center equity, particularly racial equity, minimize unintended adverse consequences, and eradicate bias in policies and practices.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Facilitate the implementation of the LOOK Act by creating a collaborative vision for increasing the number of multilingual learners served in asset-based bilingual programs, and supporting the creation, oversight, and implementation of high-quality dual language programs based on current research.

• Lead and/or support district compliance reviews for districts to ensure that programs and policies are meeting statutory and civil rights requirements for English learners and providing high-quality, culturally and linguistically sustaining educational experiences.

• Create or oversee the creation of programmatic tools and resources to support the design and implementation of high-quality asset-based dual language programs, statewide.

• Co-plan and co-facilitate the Multilingual Education Leaders' Network to bring together district and school leaders of bilingual and dual language programs, share best practices, gather feedback and foster a professional community of learning.

• Act as the OLA office liaison for the Statewide System of Support team, Office of Strategic Transformation and other internal DESE offices in support of an inclusive vision and shared responsibility for meeting the needs of multilingual learners.

• Provide partnership and technical assistance to EL/ML Directors and other leaders in districts across the state.

• Lead the work to define and support the implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) in languages other than English for bilingual education contexts and provide partnership and technical assistance to districts to select and implement HQIM with multilingual learners.

• Evaluate, refine, and evolve the OLA competitive grant programs in order to more effectively meet the needs of districts who are using grant funding to seed, develop, and grow dual language and other alternative ELE programs. Provide support and technical assistance to districts who receive these grants.

• Develop tools and resources, aligned to the MA Blueprint for EL Success, Dual Language and Bilingual Education Guidance, Next Generation ESL Toolkit, and current research/best practice in multilingual education, to help DESE staff and school/district leaders more effectively observe and provide aligned feedback in support of high-quality instruction for multilingual learners. Support teams' calibration in using these tools.

• Contribute to the development and facilitation of high-quality professional learning and provide technical assistance to educators in order to improve educational outcomes for multilingual learners.

• Serve as a key member of OLA's Communication Team, supporting district capacity through publication and dissemination of monthly network notices and the OLA newsletter (Nuestro Puente).

• Consistently center racial equity and cultural and linguistically sustaining practices in all aspects of the work above.

• Candidates hired for this position will be required to travel to schools and districts across Massachusetts and must reside within driving distance of the districts they will be serving during regular business hours.

This position could be located in Everett, Massachusetts or Springfield, Massachusetts;

Staff are currently operating within a hybrid model, telecommuting up to three days per week.

* Questions regarding this posting or the application process should be referred to

Maureen O'Brien @ maureen.t.o'brien@mass.gov.

Section 3: Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

Highly qualified candidates may meet most but not all of the following preferred knowledge and skills:

• At least three years of experience as bilingual teacher, coach or administrator in a PK-12 setting with evidence of success in outcomes for students;

• Familiarity with statutory requirements and guidance around English learner education in Massachusetts, including familiarity with the LOOK Act;

• Proactive and solutions-driven; brings new ideas to improve our collective work and seeks opportunities to improve, receive feedback, and extend impact;

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to use strategic thinking to advance equity and improve outcomes for historically marginalized communities;

• Experience in analyzing data at the student, school, and district-level to monitor progress, evaluate program implementation, and support continuous improvement;

• Ability to shift adult beliefs and practice by providing clear, direct, constructive and actionable feedback that strengthens leaders' ability to implement culturally and linguistically sustaining practices and advances equity and racial equity;

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills that foster collaborative relationships;

• Efficient and organized; able to create high-quality products independently and to coordinate various projects simultaneously;

• Collaborative and team-oriented, with experience working with diverse teams to advance collective goals;

• Adaptability and flexibility in navigating dynamic work environments and complex, interconnected systems.

Don't meet every preferred skill above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQIA2S+ people, and people of color - are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single requirement. DESE is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every preferred skill above, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements:

Applicants must have a Master's degree and at least five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, educational experience in a specific or related content area, educational program/or service;
Based on assignment, candidates must possess at least one year of supervisory, program coordination or managerial experience;

a Doctorate degree in a specific or related educational content area may be substituted for two years of the required experience; one year of education equals 30 semester hours; education towards a degree in a specific or related educational content area will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Special Requirements: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's License or the equivalent from another state may be required.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.