Early Childhood Professional Learning Specialist

Salary Range: $93,138.00 - $120,491 with progression to $146,883/year

*State Salary Guidelines may apply for current State employees.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

200 W. Baltimore Street  

Baltimore, MD 21201 

This position offers technical assistance for professional learning across the state. It encourages collaboration among internal and external partners, coordinates professional learning organizations and facilitators, and manages monitoring and approval processes. The role also supports ongoing improvement through data analysis and evaluation, and creates guidance, resources, and communication tools to strengthen Maryland's early childhood workforce. The position provides day-to-day coaching, support, and operational guidance to assigned Specialists responsible for Professional Learning Systems and Professional Learning Approval activities, while ensuring work remains aligned with the Maryland State Department of Education strategic plan and priorities.

•  Provides technical assistance for statewide Professional Learning Organizations (PLO) and Professional Learning Facilitators (PLF) to ensure consistent implementation of policies, procedures, regulations, and quality standards. 
• Reviews and processes professional learning submissions; evaluates Professional Learning Facilitator records; and maintains the quality, integrity, and consistency of approval processes and CCATS administration. 
• Reviews and maintains statewide approval records, CCATS administration, compliance documentation, operational tracking processes, and renewal activities to ensure accurate, timely, and consistent administration of Maryland's Professional Learning Approval Framework.  
• Conducts monitoring, compliance, audit, and renewal activities; identifies statewide trends and opportunities for continuous improvement; and provides recommendations regarding implementation strategies, operational processes, and system enhancements. 
• Ensures professional learning content and facilitation practices align with the Maryland Professional Learning Framework, Learning Forward Standards, Early Learning Standards, curriculum frameworks, CLASS, Maryland’s Career Lattice and other applicable state priorities.  
• Provides technical assistance for the development, facilitation, and evaluation of professional learning (in-person, virtual, asynchronous, and hybrid) aligned with Maryland's Professional Learning Framework, Learning Forward Standards, High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), the science of reading, early mathematics, CLASS, and implementation of Maryland’s Career Lattice, and other State priorities.    
• Provides guidance on Professional Learning Organization and Professional Learning Facilitator approval processes by interpreting regulations, policies, and procedures and ensuring consistent implementation across Maryland.  

Experience: Four years of teaching and/or administrative experience in, or affiliated with, an education program. Experience leading workshops, coaching sessions, or professional learning for early childhood educators.   

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute two additional years of experience directly related to the position option for the required education. 
2. Candidates may substitute for the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the position option for one year of the required experience. 
3. The required fields of education and experience are unique for each option and are established by MSDE in accordance with Education Article, Section 2-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  The specific education and experience qualifications for each position are on record in the Human Resource Management Branch of the Division of Business Services.  
4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Education Program classifications or Education Program specialty codes in the Education field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

• Applicants must have 1 year of experience leading or coordinating statewide professional learning, educator development, adult learning, or a comparable statewide education initiative 

• Graduate degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, Adult Learning, Public Administration 
• Knowledge of Learning Forward Standards and evidence-based professional learning practices. 
• Experience reviewing, evaluating, and providing feedback on professional learning proposals using quality standards and rubrics. 
• Experience leading statewide change initiatives involving multiple stakeholder groups. 
• Experience providing executive-level guidance, policy interpretation, and strategic recommendations. 
• Experience with statewide data systems, Learning Management Systems (e.g., Canvas), CCATS, or comparable platforms. 
• Demonstrated ability to build statewide partnerships, facilitate high-level meetings, manage competing priorities, and successfully implement large-scale initiatives.