Education Specialist - Eau Claire

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve.

Our employees enjoy an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We have a team-oriented atmosphere, focus on work-life balance, and offer flexible work schedules for most positions. Click this video to learn more about the benefits of working at DPI.

The Wisconsin Educational Opportunities Program (WEOP) within the Office of the State Superintendent is seeking applicants for an Education Specialist in Eau Claire, WI.

Team members enjoy a flexible working environment with a fun and diverse range of engaging tasks. These roles have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of minority and low-income students and parents. Education Specialists provide educational workshops and career advising to middle and high school students, chaperone field trips in the tri-state area to college campuses, plan STEM focused activities, and provide educational enrichment opportunities, while networking with a variety of school staff and community partners. This is an opportunity for you to sharpen your leadership, mentor, and coaching skills!

This position provides direct services to WEOP program participants, participating in one or more of the following state or federal programs: State: Early Identification Program (EIP); Precollege Scholarship Programs (PSP); State Talent Search Program (STS); and Talent Incentive Program (TIP). Federal: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP); Talent Search (FTS) and Upward Bound Program (FUB).

The Education Specialist will provide direct services to program participants. The Education Specialist will assist underrepresented, minority, and/or first-generation youth and adults in the pursuit of higher education and career preparation. These services may include the provision of some or all of the following services: academic, financial aid, and/or college/career advisement; presentations; organizing and chaperoning field trips to college campuses, worksites, and/or cultural enrichment centers; collaborating with local colleges, school staff, and community organizations to increase college and career access opportunities for students; and overseeing day-to-day operations of student tutoring/mentoring programs.

The Education Specialist will be responsible for general program-related activities and will compile, organize, and disseminate relevant information to students, parents, school districts, state agencies, and community resources; develop a network of resources; and attend various related outside functions such as meetings, workshops, and conferences. This position requires the monitoring, management, and compilation of records and data via several databases and MS Office.

The Education Specialist may assist in grant writing and reporting and will collaborate with educational programs serving minority, first-generation, and/or underrepresented student populations. Education Specialists will develop/conduct workshops and other presentations on college and career readiness. The position will require staying current on Federal and State legislation affecting WEOP programs. Finally, the Education Specialist will serve on advisory board and collaborate with other educational programs that serve minority and disadvantaged youth and adults pursuing higher education.

Depending on qualifications, the salary will be between $20.24 - $26.00 per hour (approximately $42,099 - $54,080 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 13, range 04. A one-year probationary period will be required.

This position offers excellent benefits. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

This position has the option to work 40% remote with a requirement that the employee is expected to have access to secure high speed internet. Remote work flexibility will be discussed in more detail during the interview process.

This position is headquartered at 402 Graham Avenue in Eau Claire. The employee may need to report to their headquarter location as operational needs require. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee’s headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Employees are required to the main office (125 S. Webster Street in Madison, WI) on their first day of employment.

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire. A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Please address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications.

A minimally qualified applicant must have experience with all the below:

• Managing a caseload
• Recruiting students for programs
• Working with students from diverse backgrounds (e.g., students in a large urban school, underrepresented students, ethnic/racial minority students, etc.)

Well-qualified applicants will also have experience:

• Experience with TRIO and/or GEAR UP programs
• Developing or presenting trainings, presentations, or workshops on education topics (e.g., time management skills, ACT preparation, college application process, etc.)
• Counseling underrepresented or minority students or parents on college and career readiness or on financial aid processes or on college application processes
• Grant writing or reporting
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (i.e., fluent in speaking, reading, and understanding speech in both languages)

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process. Sign into your account or click “Register Now” to create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Helpful Tips:

• Current state employees must apply through the STAR “Careers” tile. Do not create an external applicant account.
• There will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked “Submit”.
• The system will automatically log you off after 30 minutes of inactivity, so click “Save as a Draft” often.
• Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general WiscJobs user information and technical assistance.
• Candidates may need to check their spam or junk email folders for correspondence about this position.

Each time you apply for a state job; you should update and tailor your resume and letter of qualifications. You should clearly describe your education, training, and experience related to the items listed in the “Qualifications” section of the job announcement. These qualifications should be addressed in your resume and expanded upon in your letter of qualifications. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for.

Your resume should include the following:

• Your educational background including any course work that relates to the position in which you are applying.
• Your employment history, including experiences and/or duties and a summary of accomplishments and skills learned or used.
• Any training or experience, including volunteer work or internships, you have related specifically to the “Qualifications” section of the assessment.
• Spell out any acronyms and/or abbreviations the first time used.

Your letter of qualifications should include:

• Additional information regarding your past work experience, including volunteer work and internships, or coursework you have taken.
• Highlights of your most relevant skills and experiences as they related to the specific job you are applying for.
• Specific examples that clearly demonstrates your level of expertise.

What not to include in your resume or letter of qualifications:

Your application materials should not include any information that is not job-related, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, disability, or genetic information. Further, do not include any self-identifying information such as photos, social security numbers, political affiliation, citizen status or conviction records. This document is not a letter of recommendation that someone else wrote about you.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place.

If you are a veteran with a 30% or greater service-related disability and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, please send a letter of qualifications, resume, DD-214 and documentation of your service-connected disability rating (dated within 12 months) to the contact listed below.

The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:
Amanda Edl

Human Resources Specialist-Senior

Department of Public Instruction

Phone: (608) 266-2813

Email: Amanda.Edl@dpi.wi.gov

The deadline for this announcement is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday April 09, 2024.