To promote the value of multilingualism and to support the scaling of effective dual language/bilingual programs, ELSF seeks to improve the supply of instructional materials designed for dual language/bilingual settings. ELSF also seeks to empower decision makers to demand, adopt and implement better materials for these settings.
The Dual Language/Bilingual National Advisor will be primarily responsible for designing an overall approach to high-quality materials for dual language/bilingual settings with an initial focus on Spanish and English materials and the potential to address additional languages. Through the convening of an Advisory Group and the development of a strategic approach, the National Advisor will provide guidance to content developers, SEAs/LEAs, and professional learning partners.
The National Advisor is also responsible for sharing learnings from the field with staff and collecting data for impact. As a National Advisor, this role also has the charge of coaching and providing professional learning for their internal team along with consultants. This position is a one year position contingent on funding. There is a possibility for a longer tenure if funding is secured.
Position Title: Dual Language/Bilingual National Advisor
Reports to: Chief Services Officer (CSO)
Status: Full-time, temporary
Location: Remote
Responsibilities and Tasks
The Dual Language/Bilingual National Advisor will execute on the following areas of work. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but outlines the major responsibilities of the role.
Strategy, Budget and Outcomes
Oversee and manage strategy, project outcomes, budget, and targets to advance the inclusion of learners in dual language settings, including English learners, in curriculum adoption, implementation, and professional learning.
- Deepen our understanding of market dynamics for Dual Language/Bilingual materials through the co-design of a study to be conducted by an external agency. The report will inform the overall design of the strategy and be used to guide the work of the Advisory Group. The report will develop a deeper understanding of market dynamics for Dual Language/Bilingual materials that drive development (supply side) and adoption and use (demand side).
- Consult with internal staff and ELSF advisory members to codify learning questions about the materials market as well as their use in the classroom.
- Explore development of strategy to publicly share findings from report.
- Include a review of the research on DL curriculum design, materials, pedagogy, programming and policy.
Advisory Group Development
Convene an Advisory Group consisting of 8 expert advisors with extensive experience in implementation and program models with demonstrated effectiveness.
- Convene advisors through one in-person meeting and on-going virtual engagements.
- Facilitate the development of core design principles needed for instructional materials to be used as a guiding framework for the development of DL materials tools.
- Plan specific communication activities to share the advisory group’s findings and ideas.
- Recruit and onboard additional dual language/bilingual contractors with expertise in PK-5 to work on tool development and piloting process.
- Develop tools including Benchmarks of Quality for Dual Language/Bilingual.
- Conduct pilot projects with both a content developer and an organization planning for the adoption of materials for dual language/bilingual learners and settings.
- Complete a plan for the next phase of the strategy that informs service offerings and refinement of goals around impact, funding needs, and timelines.
- Recruit and onboard additional dual language/bilingual contractors with expertise in PK-5 to work on tool development and piloting process.
- Develop tools including Benchmarks of Quality for Dual Language/Bilingual.
- Conduct pilot projects with both a content developer and an organization planning for the adoption of materials for dual language/bilingual learners and settings.
- Complete a plan for the next phase of the strategy that informs service offerings and refinement of goals around impact, funding needs, and timelines.
Leadership Collaboration
Collaborate with the ELSF executive leadership team to ensure that both Content Developer services and SEA and LEA services can be tailored to elevate and prioritize dual language/bilingual settings.
- Collaborate with CSO, Director of SEA and LEA Services, and Director of Strategic Partnerships to respond to and decide on proposals for work and estimate the cost and budget.
- Collaborate with CSO, Director of SEA and LEA Services, and Director of Strategic Partnerships to ensure that partnerships and projects are optimized for intended impact and outcomes based on organizational goals.
Mentoring, Coaching and Professional Development
Build knowledge, provide coaching, mentoring, and professional learning to staff and consultants as appropriate to their role and the current work they are participating in.
- Manage the hiring, staffing, performance management, and development of contractors and staff on dual language projects and services.
- Supervise coaches and managers around client management challenges and constraints, while serving as an escalation point for those conversations.
- Identify, prioritize, and execute on professional learning and development for staff and contractors, identifying potential gaps and needs.
Strategy, Systems and Services Improvement
Continuously improve ELSF’s strategy, services, systems, and processes, while setting targets to further the organization’s goals and impact.
- Create a continuous improvement strategy to drive the improvement of tools, processes, and services necessary for the dual language strategy.
- Develop, pilot, evaluate and refine service offerings while developing approaches that support building and delivering high-quality services.
Findings and Learnings Sharing
Share findings and learnings from the work with the dual language/bilingual strategy with the field and ELSF team.
- In collaboration with the communications team, develop content related to findings, outcomes and impact related to curriculum adoption, implementation, and professional learning.
- Provide expert input on communications for state and district service-related partnerships, projects, and content.
- Support the organization’s impact strategy by ensuring data systems and collection are in place and current.
- Work to elevate experiences from the field to ELSF’s wider audiences in order to build momentum for change.
- Create data systems to gather evidence of impact and report on results and outcomes of dual language to the executive leadership team.
Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability
- A deep theoretical grounding in research-based design for dual language/bilingual settings, equity issues, the relationship between language/bilingual learning and content development, and a deep understanding of early literacy and language development in dual language/bilingual programs.
- A deep belief that high-quality instructional materials are a lever for equitable learning outcomes.
- Able to navigate diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives of dual language/bilingual instruction.
- The ability to work in spaces of tensions and discomfort and navigate difficult conversations.
- Able to apply educational theory and research-driven approaches to create and adapt tools to solve complex problems.
- Track record of success in the implementation of dual language/bilingual programs. Demonstrated understanding of how to design programming and instruction for biliteracy.
- Demonstrated ability to develop written communication (textual, digital, and visual) to advance the mission of ELSF.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans.
- Demonstrated ability to manage remote teams.
- Interest in contributing to a national movement to transform instructional materials to be more inclusive of the needs of ELs.
- Degree in Education or other relevant field.
- Strong familiarity with college- and career-ready standards.
- Demonstrated understanding of the relationships between SEAs/LEAs and content developers (publishers of core learning materials).
- Must be bilingual and biliterate in Spanish and English.
- Must have experience in teaching students to read in Spanish.
Salary range
$96,000 - 144,000 annually. Salary is based on experience and in order to ensure equity within the organization, ELSF does not negotiate salary. Candidates can typically expect a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. In addition, ELSF offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time off. Note that this position is funding-contingent.
How to Apply
Please complete our job application. This announcement will remain posted through January 13, 2023. Aligned to our vision & mission, ELSF seeks to build a strong organizational culture, inclusive of staff that is representative of the students we ultimately seek to serve. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Hiring Statement
English Learners Success Forum is a 501(c)(3) and is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. ELSF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.
COVID-19 Policy
To center the safety and well-being of its employees, ELSF requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date. Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law.
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