District Support Specialist- Central Region

About the role

This position is primarily assigned to the Central Region, which includes the following counties: Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Pickaway, Fairfield, Licking, Knox, Richland, Morrow, Marion, Union, and Logan. Regional assignments may be modified, and the position may be asked to provide support in other regions based on agency priorities, workload, staffing, or operational needs. The ideal candidate would reside in one of these counties.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned schools and districts by coordinating support teams, including State Support Teams (SSTs), Educational Service Centers (ESCs), and Department staff; facilitating progress-monitoring meetings; coordinating communication among support partners; and ensuring alignment of improvement activities across local, regional, and state systems.
• Conduct on-site and virtual visits with schools and districts to provide support, monitor implementation, review progress, identify barriers to improvement, and support continuous improvement efforts.
• Support implementation and monitoring of the 11 District Plan, other district improvement initiatives, and state-directed improvement efforts through coordination of support activities, progress reviews, implementation monitoring, data analysis, reporting, and continuous improvement processes.
• Provide coaching, consultation, technical assistance, professional learning, and guidance related to educational benefit, special education improvement, improvement planning, and implementation of evidence-based practices that improve outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities.
• Support Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), Student Group Accountability, and other identified schools and districts in meeting state and federal improvement requirements.
• Facilitate strategic planning, problem-solving, and continuous improvement processes with district leadership teams and support partners to address barriers and improve outcomes across instructional, organizational, operational, and special education systems.
• Review school and district improvement plans, including One Plans, One Needs Assessments, Service Delivery Agreements, progress reports, and other Department-required planning documents to ensure alignment with identified needs, improvement priorities, evidence-based practices, and state requirements.
• Monitor implementation of school and district improvement plans, grant activities, and Department initiatives through review of progress reports, implementation evidence, outcome data, and related documentation; provide feedback and recommendations to support continuous improvement and accountability outcomes.
• Analyze academic achievement, growth, attendance, graduation, accountability, implementation, and special education data to identify trends, monitor progress, inform decision-making, and support improvement efforts for all students, including students with disabilities.
• Prepare reports, presentations, recommendations, and other documentation to communicate progress, outcomes, and priorities to district leaders, Department staff, and other stakeholders.
• During periods when school-support activities are reduced, including summer months and other school breaks, responsibilities may shift to support Department priorities, special projects, implementation activities, planning efforts, professional learning, resource development, continuous improvement efforts, and other organizational needs.

Implementation Teams

• Participate as a member of regional implementation teams that support Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools and other identified schools and districts.
• Participate in learning walks, instructional reviews, implementation monitoring activities, and follow-up support focused on High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), evidence-based literacy practices, and instructional improvement priorities.
• Collaborate with district leaders, building administrators, State Support Team staff, Educational Service Center staff, and Department personnel to support instructional implementation reviews and improvement activities.
• Collect and analyze implementation evidence, instructional materials, observation data, student outcome data, and related documentation to identify strengths, barriers, and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to action planning, implementation monitoring, and continuous improvement efforts related to curriculum implementation, instructional coherence, professional learning, Integrated MTSS, and supports for students with disabilities.
• Prepare implementation summaries, recommendations, reports, and presentations to communicate findings and support continuous improvement planning.

Integrated MTSS & Statewide Capacity Building

• Support development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Ohio's Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports (Integrated MTSS) framework.
• Develop and deliver professional learning, resources, and implementation supports aligned with Ohio's Integrated MTSS framework.
• Collaborate with Department offices, State Support Teams, Educational Service Centers, and district partners to align initiatives, resources, and supports with Ohio's Integrated MTSS framework and Department priorities.
• Aid schools and districts in evaluating implementation of Ohio's Integrated MTSS framework to identify strengths, opportunities for improvement, and next steps for continuous improvement.
• Stay current in Integrated MTSS research, best practices, and policy developments to inform implementation supports and continuous improvement efforts.

Requirements

Unusual Working Conditions: Requires travel throughout the State of Ohio and may require overnight stays. Must possess a valid driver's license or provide reliable transportation.

Qualifications

• 6 years of experience in any combination of the following areas: Education administration, Special education, Education experience in an urban setting.

Professional Skills

• Problem Solving
• Strategic Thinking
• Verbal Communication

Agency Overview

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is a diverse team of passionate, education-focused professionals responsible for overseeing and enhancing the quality of education for each of Ohio’s 1.7 million students. The Department provides the resources and supports essential to raising student achievement and accelerating learning opportunities, advancing the connectivity between K-12 and postsecondary learning, creating programs to support and expand workforce experiences, and ensuring students have the necessary supports to be ready each day to learn. As the governing body responsible for overseeing and enhancing the quality of education within the State of Ohio, the Department of Education and Workforce is dedicated to promoting educational excellence and ensuring equal access to learning opportunities for all students. The Department is committed to collaborating with schools, districts, educators, students, families, businesses, nonprofits and all stakeholders to achieve our educational goals.