Lead Strategic Integration Liaison (Initiative Integration)

Primary Purpose:

The Lead Strategic Integration Liaison supports and guides ESC Strategic Integration Liaisons (SILs) through onboarding, training, coaching, and mentoring to build their capacity to lead effective district-level implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) or meaningful access frameworks. This role involves conducting diagnostic reviews, analyzing data, and providing training, advising, and coaching to SILs across the state, while serving as a key liaison between statewide SILs, Region 16 ESC, and the Texas Education Agency. The primary goal is to improve student outcomes for students receiving special education services by ensuring timely, targeted support for LEAs and driving sustainable, system-level change.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification

Master's degree required upon hire

Texas teaching certification required upon hire

Skills

Successful classroom teaching experience required

Successful leadership experience in various education settings required

MTSS Foundations Trainer Certification preferred

Proven experience leading and coaching adults, and experience in working successfully on a team

Project management experience required

Must possess high expectations for the achievement of all students, including students with or suspected as having disabilities

Successful experience in, and affinity toward, collaboration and learning from multiple sources

Experience providing successful professional development required

Must possess strong abilities in communicating with diverse groups of stakeholders

Highly professional written and verbal communication required

Working Conditions:

Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals

Posture: Must be physically able to tolerate prolonged sitting, frequent standing; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting, and standing

Motion: Must be physically able to tolerate frequent standing and walking, repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching, occasional driving

Lifting: Must be physically able to tolerate regular light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); may require occasional heavy lifting and carrying (45 pounds or more)

Environment: Must be physically able to work inside; tolerate frequent districtwide travel and occasional statewide travel; regular exposure to noise

Mental Demands: Must be able to work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress; work prolonged or irregular hours on occasion

Regular Attendance is an essential function

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Program Requirements

22. Lead SILs will prioritize their time, including but not limited to, 1 week a month for facilitating PLCs, 3 days a week for PLC preparation, 1 day a week minimum for office hours, coaching, and observations, 2 days a month for “off-cycle” onboarding, 1 day a month for “make-up” certification, and 1 hour a week minimum for TEA/Lead SIL collaboration so they can receive training, monitor, facilitate, and ensure support for SILs is provided.

Engage in and/or lead monthly collaboration, coaching, and mentorship with all SILs.

Engage in routine collaboration and engagement with TEA including TOT training and other support as needed.

Support the alignment, develop, and implementation of tools to promote TEA and ESC cross-functional initiatives as they pertain to the SIL Process and Fidelity of Implementation (FOI).

Track the implementation and completion of SIL certification

Performance Measures/Essential Functions

Essential Function #1: Strategic Integration and Alignment: Lead SILs will develop processes and tools that allow for SIL resource management and effortless alignment with various cross-agency and ESC initiatives.

Support the alignment and develop tools to promote TEA and ESC cross-functional initiatives as they pertain to the SIL project (Effective District Framework, Effective Schools Framework, Texas Instructional Leadership, etc.).

Serve as a subject matter expert on implementing SIL process and MTSS or meaningful access systems.

Curate statewide and ESC resources to align support tied to Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and meaningful access that will assist LEAs with robust and comprehensive implementation supports.

Develop, maintain, and monitor SIL digital repositories to house agendas, training, and other resources and tools so that they are easily accessible to statewide SILs.

Essential Function #2: Professional Development: Lead SILs continuously engage in their own growth and learning, while also providing high quality professional development and training to the statewide SILs.

Participate in ongoing professional development to increase skills aligned with strong leadership, communication, and content knowledge to support continuous improvement and a growth mindset.

Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, or consultations with various stakeholders.

Design and deliver high quality professional development to SILs.

Embed Design Thinking, 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) processes, and executive systems coaching into professional development.

Provide strong content knowledge and facilitation skills in the delivery of Trainer of Trainers professional development sessions.

Develop and deliver individualized trainings to meet the identified targeted needs of SILs and LEAs based on feedback, needs, and data analysis.

Essential Function #3: Lead SILs will collaborate regularly with TEA and ESC personnel and provide routine coaching to SILs.

Plan and design ongoing virtual and in person SIL professional development in partnership with TEA and ESC personnel.

Provide ongoing virtual coaching using evidenced-based practices to SILs across Texas.

Provide ongoing input and participate in feedback loops and collaborative activities that connect Texas state policy and practice.

Provide communication and reporting to TEA as required per the grant.

Develop and oversee internal and external communication strategies to facilitate collaboration between TEA, ESCs, and SILs.

Essential Function #4: Goal Setting and Progress Tracking: Lead SILs will collect and report data and monitor the fidelity of implementation of SIL materials and processes

Track and maintain the certification and onboarding process of SILs.

Collect, track, and report data to TEA as required by the grant regarding LEA and SIL related products and project components.

Use Qualtrics to maintain a data dashboard and update data by TEA determined deadlines.

Support and monitor fidelity of implementation (FOI) using a SIL implementation FOI rubric.

Conduct statewide data analysis, report progress, and present performance data to various stakeholders as requested and approved by TEA.

Other Key Responsibilities

Attends all required MTSS Foundation Certification training to maintain relevance in the MTSS model through the TIER Network.

Works primarily with ESC stakeholders to increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation for analyzing data relevant to the district's systems, initiative integration, and structures.

Serves as an executive coach, guiding SILs through the SIL process and supporting district action planning to drive meaningful, system-level change.

Promotes alignment and integration across Texas Education Agency (TEA) initiatives by fostering collaboration and calibration of key understandings between departments.

Supports ongoing efforts to advance integration work across systems, ensuring consistency, sustainability, and improved outcomes for all students.

Communicates professionally in coordination with TEA grant and project leaders.

Ensures availability for Region 16 teams in order to foster awareness and the importance of initiative integration.

Prioritizes, protects, and attends all required ESC SIL week activities; participates in feedback loops and collaborative activities to provide clear, timely, and effective communication between the Region 16 internal teams, SIL project team, and the TEA.

Participates in a community of practice with other state and regional representatives.

Proactively seeks information and resources needed for regional growth in identified areas of need.

Assists in the management of metrics and deliverables for grants and/or contracts provided to the ESC and reports those to the Region 16 Tiered Services Coordinator and/or appropriate ESC personnel.

Establishes standards for achieving goals related to the priority projects and requirements.

Attends required meetings, conferences, and committees; conducts presentations related to state and federal special education requirements.

Maintains a functioning cell phone and is accessible through this phone as deemed appropriate by the director. A functioning cell phone means that it is charged, activated, messages checked, and mailbox emptied regularly.

Reports for work ready to perform responsibilities.

Performs duties that directly and/or indirectly impact student performance in Region 16.

Maintains a professional level of confidentiality regarding all ESC matters.

Supports the mission, goals, and objectives of the ESC strategic plan.

Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the ESC safety program.

Performs professional responsibilities as required by ESC policies, processes, and procedures.

Manages time, calendar, and job responsibilities to meet deadlines.

Meets proficiency levels of required technology skills as outlined by the supervisor.

Incorporates appropriate technology in daily work and exhibits continual growth in technologies as outlined by supervisor.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None