Primary Purpose:

• The purpose of the SIL is to develop the capacity of the Local Education Agency (LEA) leadership team to effectively implement a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) or inclusion program, process, and framework to promote positive student outcomes through LEA systems change.

Education/Certifications:

• Master’s Degree in an education field required
• Teaching certificate required
• Texas Mid-management/Principal and/or Superintendent certificate preferred

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement and ensure the delivery of products or services 
• Knowledge of TEA (Texas Education Agency) Statewide initiatives for special education, funding streams, legislative requirements related to products/projects, and protocols for product development
• Effective job-related skills that model the integration of technology resources and tools.
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data effectively to inform necessary change
• Demonstrated ability to align programs to support high achievement for students with disabilities
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage the implementation of complex, multi-phase plans
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal and collaboration skills with both internal and external clients

Responsibilities and Duties Common to the Strategic Integration Liaison:

• Successfully embeds Design Thinking and 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) processes to meet goals outlined in ESC Strategic Integration Liaison Grant
• Attends all required TIER Essentials Certification training to maintain relevance in the MTSS model through the TIER Special Education Leadership Network
• Implement training, coaching, and feedback provided by the Lead Strategic Integration Liaison (SIL)
• Works primarily with LEA district leaders to increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation of LEA Executive teams to analyze data relevant to the district’s systems and structures
• Leads LEAs in the needs assessment; reflects critically on end-user input, root causes, and potential solutions; creates a plan for improvement that includes training and coaching support and the vision for sustainability of progress, which includes a cadence of internal accountability
• Delivers or organizes regional professional development and support to LEAs regarding monitoring effectiveness of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
• Creates procedures and expectations, including review preparation and post-review follow-up, in coordination with Texas ESC SILs and the Texas Education Agency
• Ability to work on and enhance a team
• Utilize time wisely for effective management of position responsibilities and to ensure timelines are met
• Maintain punctuality in daily work times, appointments, and meetings
• Maintain a positive, customer friendly, and professional tone in all communication (i.e. email, written, and verbal)
• Participate as an effective team member who contributes to center-wide strategic planning goals
• Display proficient levels of technology applications and remain current in digital integration
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by Region 10 Leadership
• Prepare and organize resources, train, and collaborate with Region 10 personnel
• Exhibit initiative in identifying problems and suggesting solutions in a positive manner
• Exhibit good judgment and decision making
• Keep supervisor informed of program and district needs
• Maintain up-to-date entries in Region 10 databases and accurate records for tracking and invoicing
• Adhere to Center procedures, guidelines, and policies

 Liaison Essential Functions:

Essential Function 1- Executive Coaching and Systems Level Change: Support school systems to understand, design, and implement systems change that integrate supports and resources for students with disabilities into new and existing systems within the school.   

• Work with LEA leadership teams to increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation of LEA teams utilizing a fidelity of implementation rubric for systems change 
• Jointly facilitate meetings with LEA leadership teams using the gradual release process, which includes current state analysis, multi-year strategic planning, goal setting, and implementation planning
• Utilize data analysis and LEA input to create a plan for systems change that includes sustainability of progress to identify a problem, reflect critically on end-user input, root causes and potential solutions, and maintain a cadence of internal accountability
• Align LEA strategic goals, activities, and priorities with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and ESC ecosystem of support
• Curate statewide resources tailored to the LEA-specific needs to support the implementation of MTSS and Inclusion
• Ensure quality data collection and submission of metrics and other applicable project reporting

Essential Function 2- Collaboration: Manage, support, and/or collaborate directly with TEA, ESC, and LEA staff to develop and disseminate effective resources, products, and materials that are intentionally designed to support school systems to understand, design, and implement effective systems level change.  

• Support LEAs with Inclusion or MTSS systems-level change management by providing executive level and supporting the LEA with facilitated continuous improvement 
• Coordinate or provide LEA leadership learning opportunities through targeted professional development, implementation support, coaching related to Inclusion and MTSS, and ongoing connection and integration of Texas Strategic Leadership (TSL), Effective Schools Framework (ESF), Effective Districts Framework (EDF), High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL), any other TEA initiatives, and resources/services provided by the ESC
• Embed appropriate use of collaborative problem-solving approaches to achieve program goals (i.e. Design Thinking, 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) processes, executive systems coaching)

Essential Function 3- Professional Development: SILs continuously engage in their own growth and learning by attending and engaging in high-quality professional development.  Obtain all required certifications as a SIL, including but not limited to systems-level coaching, change management, and MTSS or Inclusion

• Prioritize, protect, and attend all required ESC SIL week activities and participate in feedback loops and collaborative activities that connect policy and practice statewide. A maximum of three (3) SIL-week days may be missed for reasons other than personal leave with advanced approval from the TEA grant program manager. These days are not required to be consecutive
• Engage in routine collaboration and coaching with the TEA and Lead SILs
• Participate in ongoing professional development to build leadership, communication skills, and content knowledge to support continuous improvement and a growth mindset 
• Participate and demonstrate content knowledge, specifically connected to statewide initiatives such as Tiered Interventions using Evidenced Based Research (TIER), Inclusion, school accountability and improvement frameworks, TIL, and other TEA-aligned projects

• Experience serving as a special education provider, educator and/or administrator capacity, with proven results for student achievement among students with disabilities or at-risk populations
• Three years of relevant school leadership experience in a school district or regional education service center, specifically MTSS/RTI/Interventions
• Experience coordinating general education and special education programs to ensure cohesive services for students with disabilities
• Strong program development and project management experience
• Quantifiable and clear experience improving student achievement across subpopulations
• Successful experience in effective written and verbal communication, collaboration, and learning from multiple sources paired with the ability to reflect strong leadership capacity
• Successful experience providing professional development
• Successful school improvement or program turnaround experience preferred

Accountability:

• The Strategic Integration Liaison shall be directly accountable to the Assistant Director of Special Populations or his/her designee