Assistant  Director
Educational Issues

Notice of Open Position  May 15, 2013
Job Title: Assistant  Director
Unit: AFTSU
Job Number: AOF-39-16-0513-N
Supervisor: Assistant to the President for Educational Issues
Department: Educational Issues
Salary: $97,080.04
 
Special Note: The assistant director will be part of the Educational Issues Department but the work agenda is developed jointly by the assistant to the president for educational issues and the director of higher education.

Position Summary: The assistant director will work under the general direction of the assistant to the president, in coordination with the director of higher education and in cooperation with other AFT staff, national organizations, and state and local affiliates to advance the agenda of AFT’s Teacher Preparation Task Force and the action steps laid out in its Raising the Bar report.  The assistant director will also work on teacher preparation more generally as it relates to other AFT priorities such as professional development for teachers, teacher evaluation and the Common Core State Standards.
  
Position Responsibilities:

• Analyze, develop, and advance public policy related to teacher preparation, assessment, and entry into the profession.
• Represent AFT in ongoing work with key organizations in teacher preparation, licensure, and certification, with particular emphasis on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NCATE/CAEP, Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Education Association and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
• Advance specific Raising the Bar recommendations through leveraging existing and new partnerships, focusing field attention on the need for a universal, rigorous entry assessment, and through resource development.
• Serve as liaison to other organizations advancing the profession of teaching such as National and State Teachers of the Year.
• Work with community and civil rights groups to promote a more diverse teaching workforce in both the preK-12 workplace as well as in teacher preparation programs.
• Regularly monitor and provide briefings on the relevant work of these and other national organizations and partners.
• Collect, review, and analyze data on states, membership organizations, teacher preparation institutions, and prospective and new teachers as they relate to AFT teacher preparation policy.
• Represent the AFT and make related presentations to affiliates, professional meetings, and other groups.
• Work with higher education and educational issues departmental colleagues to ensure collaboration across efforts in policy and research, professional development, affiliate support, and external partnerships.
• Work with AFT legislation and research to ensure support for legislation at either the federal or state level that aligns with AFT priorities.
• Produce and assist in the development of related documents and materials for affiliates and partner organizations and for publication in print, on-line, and through social media. 
• Other duties as assigned.
  
Primary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Classroom teaching experience and experience with the teacher preparation process, either in a college or K-12 setting.
• Expertise and experience in teacher preparation policy development, analysis and implementation.  
• Advanced degree in education or a related field.
• Excellent interpersonal and political skills.
• Superior skills in writing and oral presentation.
• Demonstrated credibility and effective working relationships with educators and unions in K-12 and higher education, elected officials, or constituency organizations.
• Ability to develop and leverage local and national partnerships.  
• Ability to work independently.     
• Travel required.
  
Secondary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Familiarity and work with unions in K-12 and higher education.

Application requirements: Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to the director of human resources or via e-mail to adminjobs@aft.org. Please reference posting #AOF-39-16-0513-N.