Education Specialist

The mission of the Center for Research on Rural Education is to respond to the pressing concerns of small, rural, and remote schools and communities across Montana, the nation, and the world through carefully designed service and research. The CRRE is home to the ASPIRE grant project funded by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. The project represents a comprehensive effort to reduce the critical shortage of teachers in rural Montana, strengthen the teaching profession across the state, and ensure that Montana's students are taught by well-prepared and supported teachers. The ASPIRE project integrates three strategic initiatives: 1) strengthening undergraduate rural teacher preparation, 2) cultivating the skills of underprepared and emergency-licensed rural teachers through access to a network of mentors, and 3) increasing rural teachers' access to digital resources. Duties and Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Independently lead and manage CRRE program logistics associated with ASPIRE Pathways, MentorMT, Rural Resource Hub, and YAM programming. Provide primary point of contact for Montana school administrators seeking information about all CRRE grants and programs. Maintain and improve CRRE online infrastructure and communication (e.g., ASPIRE Clearinghouse webpage). Manage resource expenditures including invoicing and preparing a variety of fiscal reports through utilization of CatBooks, Banner, Chrome River, etc. for ASPIRE, YAM and the CRRE. Compile and process semi-monthly progress reports and prepare summaries for ASPIRE, YAM and the CRRE. Contribute to strategic planning, implementation, assessment, and reporting related to ASPIRE, YAM, and CRRE programs, services, and outcomes. Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills 1. Master's degree in Education or a related field.2. Teacher certification in Montana.3. At least 5 years of experience as a K-12 classroom teacher with expertise in special education and classroom management.4. Demonstrated professional communication, organizational, and management skills.5. Familiarity with MSOffice software. Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills 1. Knowledge of educational policies and systems particular to Montana.2. Knowledge of rural schools and communities and related education issues. The Successful Candidate Will Work independently with minimal supervision as well as contribute and collaborate productively as a member of a team. Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate with CRRE team and the public in person, over the phone, and by email. Represent CRRE and MSU in a professional and courteous manner. Possess demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in decision making. Possess the ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive records and information. Position Special Requirements/Additional Information Some travel within Montana may be required.This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Physical Demands Normal office environment with extensive keyboardingTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This position has supervisory duties? No