[Jobs] OSPI Alternate assessment specialist job announcement

[Noel Nightingale]

>From www.dop.wa.gov


State of Washington
Job Opportunity

  
Recruitment #: 060828OSPI
Job Opening Type: Exempt / Executive Management
Working Time: Full-Time
Appointment Type: Permanent
Posting Date: 08/28/2006
Closing Date: 09/22/2006

Alternate Assessment Specialist (WAAS)

$65,000 - $75,000 annually, DOQ

Location
Olympia, Washington

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
(OSPI) is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to join the OSPI team
as Alternate
Assessment Specialist. This critical and innovative full-time position
is based in Olympia, Washington. Interested candidates are encouraged to
visit the
OSPI website (
www.k12.wa.us)
to gain insight into the agency’s mission and strategic plan.

OSPI Mission and Vision

In collaboration with educators, students, families, local communities,
business, labor, and government partners, the Office of Superintendent
of Public
Instruction leads, supports, and oversees K-12 education, ensuring the
success of all learners. The Washington state education system prepares
each student
to live, learn and work as productive citizens in the 21st century. OSPI
strives to create an inclusive work environment, encourages cultural and
ethnic
diversity, and is committed to equal opportunity employment.

Position Objective

This position is housed in the Assessment and Research division at OSPI.
This position provides leadership in the implementation of sound
large-scale assessment
procedures for special population students in the state and collaborates
with the Assessment, Special Education, and other applicable agency
divisions
to ensure that appropriate assessment options, including alternate
assessments and necessary testing accommodations, are provided for all
students in special
population programs. This position is responsible for overall
performance of the alternate assessment program and the integration of
said program into
the state assessment system. Additionally, this position will provide
expert information, consultation, and technical assistance regarding
alternate assessment
to local school districts, educational service districts, OSPI staff,
professional associations, colleges and universities, and other state
and federal
agencies as directed by the Superintendent.

Nature and Scope

The Alternate Assessment Specialist will report to the Assistant
Superintendent for Assessment and Research. The position will require
consistent application
of high-level technical judgment and skills affecting every school
district in the state. The position will:
List of 4 items
• Assist in managing development of important and complex materials for
state alternate assessments related to extensions to Washington’s
Essential Academic
Learning Requirements (EALRs).
• Have knowledge of Washington’s new comprehensive student and school
assessment system and its connections with the federal ESEA regulations.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills in working with state and
school district professionals, parents, representatives from business
and community,
and the media.
• Consult with and provide technical assistance to the Superintendent
and staff, plus other field personnel on all aspects of the alternate
assessment focused
on building capacity to improve student learning.
list end

Principal Responsibilities

The Alternate Assessment Specialist will oversee all aspects of the
Washington Alternate Assessment System (WAAS). To accomplish the stated
objectives,
the position will:
List of 9 items
• Collaborate with contractors to ensure development, administration,
training, range-finding, scoring, and reporting of WAAS program meets
federal requirements.
• Provide guidance regarding special populations and the disaggregating
of student level WASL data.
• Determine methodologies to ensure validity of the state assessment
program is maintained as relates to testing accommodations for special
population students.
• Participate in regular meetings linked to the various special
population programs serviced by the agency to guide policies and
initiatives that impact
the WAAS.
• Provide technical assistance to schools and districts to ensure
personnel are trained on current testing accommodation practices and
alternate assessment
procedures.
• Establish guidelines and rubrics for scoring and reporting of results
associated with WAAS.
• Work with OSPI assessment staff to provide requisite program data and
information to agency decision-makers.
• Make presentations and provide testimony, as needed, to stakeholders
and legislators on the WAAS and other special population testing
practices.
• Work with agency communications staff to ensure appropriate
information receives timely and appropriate dissemination to educators,
administrators, and
the general public.
list end

The full scope of responsibilities are subject to modification as
further direction is defined by new legislation and agency policy
initiatives.

Desirable Qualifications:

List of 5 items
• Bachelors in Education and 5 years experience in programs supporting
special population students a must; a Masters in Education with a focus
on special
population programs a plus.
• Knowledge of educational measurement and assessment of special
population students.
• Experience in writing, developing, analyzing, and formulating reports.
• Demonstrated skill managing complex project-oriented work and
maintaining strict timelines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
list end

Compensation

Annual compensation for the position is between $65,000 and $75,000
depending upon qualifications. Washington State has a generous benefit
package including
health, dental and life insurance, retirement, and an optional deferred
compensation program. Position is still being evaluated for hire under
the Washington
Management Service classification or as an exempt position.

Application Process

Those interested in this position may apply by submitting a letter of
interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this
announcement, a
current resume, a complete list of five or more personal and
professional references, and the optional affirmative action information
request below. Please
send all the application materials to:

Joe Lee, Human Resource Consultant
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
600 Washington Street Southeast/Post Office Box 47200
Olympia, Washington 98504-7200
Voice/Message: (360) 725-6272; FAX: (360) 664-0567
E-mail:
JLee at ospi.wednet.edu
Internet:
http://www.k12.wa.us

Electronic application packages are encouraged and should be sent in MS
Word format only.

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

APPLICANT PROFILE DATA FORM

Completing this form will enable Washington State to assess the many
talents and skills that are available throughout the workforce. To
ensure equal employment
opportunity, we ask your voluntary cooperation in responding to the
questions below. This information will be treated as confidential, and
will be available
only to authorized personnel. Please review the Affirmative Action
Definitions below.

Name: ______________________________________________ Date: __________

1. What race or culture do you consider yourself? If you are more than
one race, please circle "Other Race."

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Aleut

Cambodian

Filipino

Hispanic

Korean

Spanish

Asian

Chinese

Guamanian

Indian

Laotian

Vietnamese

Black

Eskimo

Hawaiian

Japanese

Latino(a)

White
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Other Race (specify/indicate race or culture):
____________________________________

If you are more than one race, also circle "Multi-Racial" and indicate
your preference for Affirmative Action purposes:

Multi-Racial:
______________________________________________________________

Affirmative Action Preference

2. Are you? Male Female
3. Have you ever been on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services?
Yes (if circled, see 3a and 3b) No
3a. Dates served: from: _____ to _____
3b. Are you a disabled veteran? Yes (_____%) No
4. Do you have any physical, sensory, or mental condition that
substantially (rather than slightly) limits any of your major life
functions, such as: walking,
speaking, seeing, hearing, breathing, working, learning, caring for
oneself or performing manual tasks? Yes No

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Date of Birth: ___/ ___/___

Signature:

___________________________________

Affirmative Action Definitions
    
table end

American Indian or Alaskan Native. A person with origins in any of the
original peoples of North America and who maintains cultural
identification through
documented tribal affiliation or community recognition.

Asian/Pacific Islander. A person with origins in any of the original
peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the
Pacific Islands.
For example, China, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippine Republic, and
Samoa.

Black/African-American. A person with origins in any of the Black racial
groups of Africa.

Hispanic. A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South
American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. For
example, persons
from Brazil, Guyana, or Surinam would be classified according to their
race and would not necessarily be included in the Hispanic category.
This category
does not include persons from Portugal, who should be classified
according to race.

White/Caucasian. A person with origins in any of the original peoples of
Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.

Disabilities. For Affirmative Action purposes, people with disabilities
are persons with a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment
which substantially
limits one or more major life activities. Physical, mental, or sensory
impairment means: (a) any physiological or neurological disorders such
as mental
functions; or (b) any mental or psychological disorders such as mental
retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, or any
specific
learning disability. The impairment must be material rather than slight,
and permanent in that it is seldom fully corrected by medical
replacement, therapy,
or surgical means.

Disabled veteran. A person entitled to disability compensation under
laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for
disability rated at
30 percent or more, or a person whose discharge or release from active
duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Vietnam-era veteran. A person who served on active duty for a period of
more than 180 days, any part of which occurred between August 5, 1964,
and May 7,
1975, and was discharged or released from duty with other than a
dishonorable discharge.

Please assist our agency in its recruitment efforts by indicating how
you learned of this career opportunity.

? OSPI Recruitment Announcement

?OSPI Website

?Newspaper

? Professional Magazine/Periodical

? Employment Service Center

? Other Website (please specify)_____________________________

? Job/Career Fair – Location________________________________

? State Agency (office/location)______________________________

? Other

Thank you for responding to our survey.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a
disability who need assistance in the application or testing process, or
those
needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360)
664-1960 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (360) 664-6211. For
questions about
this recruitment call (360) 664-6260.