Special Education Teacher Pathways Project Coordinator

Classification:   MNSCU Academic Professional 3

Appointment:  Full-time, 2-year limited

Salary Range:    $51,427–$75,419 annual

Salary placement depends on education and experience.

We are a proud equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and we seek applicants with deep connections to the cultural communities to which our students belong. We encourage applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

ABOUT THE POSITION AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT NORMANDALE

The mission of the Education Department is to support students who plan careers as teachers or paraprofessionals. We provide coursework that orients students to opportunities in education and certification requirements and support transfer to four-year college and university education programs. Normandale Community College is striving to achieve Equity 2025, closing all equity gaps for students of color by 2025, and the individual selected for this position will play an important role in identifying barriers to success for students of color and proposing effective solutions to eliminate those barriers.

In support of this mission, the Special Education Teacher Pathways Project Coordinator will manage all aspects of a grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP). This two-year grant, which runs through June 2025, supports projects to strengthen the pathways to teaching and paraprofessional careers in special education, with a particular focus on recruiting, retaining, and ensuring graduation/transfer for BIPOC students. The successful candidate will oversee project implementation and will be the primary point of contact for K–12 and four-year partners. They will present information on careers in education to middle and high school students as well as paraprofessionals and connect interested individuals with the college’s Student Services staff. In addition, in close coordination with the Education program lead, they will pilot a cohort-based program with a goal of furthering the preparation of a diverse group of students for careers in education. They will also ensure that the effectiveness of all program activities are measured and reported.

It is expected that this position will work on campus in Bloomington, MN, at least part-time. Remote work is also a possibility, so a home internet connection is required.

Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and recruit a diverse cohort of students to Normandale’s elementary and special education pathways.
• Sustain a cohort-based program to support, retain, and graduate/transfer a diverse group of students to the NCC special education pathway; strengthen and expand transfer pathways to four-year degree-granting institutions.
• Serve as the first point of contact for cohort members, directly advising students and ensuring they have the supports they need.
• Coordinate with the Education program lead to plan student programming.
• Ensure data are collected and analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of project activities and report these analyses to stakeholders.
• Manage all aspects of the MACP grant, including communications, disbursements, and reporting.

Note: To be qualified for this position, you must meet all of the following minimum qualifications. Ensure that your resume and cover letter contain descriptions of your work experience sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, special education, educational counseling, education management OR a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge
• Three years’ experience in program coordination in an educational setting, including project and/or grant management
• Familiarity with concurrent enrollment (CE), post-secondary education options (PSEO) programs, and/or career and technical education
• Familiarity with the barriers encountered by underrepresented students in accessing education and strategies for mitigating them
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to make appropriate decisions on own initiative
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, both planned and unexpected, while maintaining composure
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Strong commitment to student retention and success
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, when speaking one-on-one, and when giving presentations

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Experience in K–12 education, especially in special education
• Experience in higher education
• Experience leading complex, multi-year projects with numerous milestones and metrics
• Familiarity with or ability to rapidly learn the college’s policies, programs, curriculum, and various student services
• Ability to listen actively, understanding the feelings and needs of others, to provide appropriate information and alternatives and high quality of service
• Ability to build relationships within and across teams and within and outside the organization
• Ability to analyze processes and workflows and reengineer them to improve user experience
• Ability to analyze data to inform decision making and to report on data to various audiences

WHY NORMANDALE

Normandale is the largest community college in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, serving almost 15,000 students from diverse backgrounds, 42% of whom are students of color and nearly 25% are first-generation. We offer opportunities for individuals to grow and learn and advance all the while working for an organization that is committed to providing an inclusive and equitable space for students to learn. 

GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE

As an agency of the State of Minnesota, Normandale offers a comprehensive benefits package including low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability; generous vacation and sick leave as well as 11 paid holidays each year; employer-paid life insurance; pre-tax flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; and tax-deferred compensation. Additional benefits include tuition waivers available for employees and certain dependents, once qualifying criteria are met.

For information on benefits, visit SEGIP’s website SEGIP. This position is also part of Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE). The collective bargaining agreement outlines many additional benefits provided.

For more information on retirement benefits, please view the retirement brochure through MMB.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The college is committed to honoring human differences. We expect and foster tolerance of different values and ideas. We are committed to the principle that all individuals are to be treated with equality and dignity.

We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance, please contact Human Resources at 952.358.8269 or jobs@normandale.edu. Please indicate what assistance is needed.

This vacancy is posted online from March 20, 2023 to April 3, 2023

HOW TO APPLY

• Please submit your online application and supporting information to:   https://normandale.peopleadmin.com/postings
• Upload (attach) a cover letter that addresses how your qualifications align with the requirements of this position
• Upload (attach) current resume

If you have general questions about this posting, contact Damaris Abuta in Human Resources at jobs@normandale.edu.

The College regrets that it is unable to offer H-1B sponsorship at this time. The successful candidate, under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations, must be available to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins.

An offer for this position may be contingent upon the completion of a background check.