Job Posting Title
Director of Early Learning InitiativesAgency
275 OFFICE OF EDUC. QUALITY & ACCOUNTABILITYSupervisory Organization
Office of Educational Quality and AccountabilityJob Posting End Date
Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank.
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.
Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)
Full/Part-Time
Full timeJob Type
RegularCompensation
Compensation rate: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00Job Description
The Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA) supports high-quality education for all students in Oklahoma. OEQA uses data, research, analytics, and policy alignment to provide accessible, actionable information that supports sound decision-making, strengthens educational outcomes, and promotes the effective use of public resources.
OEQA is seeking a strategic leader with expertise in educator preparation, early learning policy, and instructional best practices. The ideal candidate understands how teacher preparation, certification, and professional learning systems influence student outcomes and can align these systems with research-based practices in early literacy and numeracy. This individual will play a key role in strengthening educator preparation and ensuring alignment with state policy priorities.
The Director of Early Learning Initiatives provides leadership for aligning educator preparation, certification pathways, and professional learning expectations with state policy and research-based practices in early literacy and mathematics. This position focuses on upstream system design and policy alignment rather than program implementation.
The ideal candidate will have experience with educator preparation programs, policy analysis, and cross-agency collaboration, along with a strong understanding of early learning instruction and intervention.
Essential Functions:
Educator Preparation and Policy Alignment
- Ensure educator preparation programs align with state requirements for early literacy and mathematics instruction.
- Support incorporation of research-based instructional practices into program approval and accreditation standards.
- Ensure teacher candidates are prepared in evidence-based strategies for instruction, intervention, and assessment.
Certification and Pathway Alignment
- Support alignment of certification requirements, including alternative and emergency pathways, with state expectations for literacy and mathematics instruction.
- Ensure required training components reflect statutory and research-based expectations.
Collaboration with Higher Education
- Work with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and educator preparation providers to align coursework and training expectations.
- Support integration of required competencies in early literacy and mathematics into teacher preparation programs.
Professional Learning Alignment
- Provide guidance on professional development expectations related to early literacy and mathematics instruction.
- Collaborate with partner agencies to align educator preparation with in-service professional learning systems.
Policy Analysis and Strategic Advising
- Analyze legislation and policy related to early learning and educator preparation.
- Translate statutory requirements into actionable guidance for OEQA programs and stakeholders.
- Advise OEQA leadership on policy implications and system alignment.
Research and Best Practice Integration
- Monitor national research and best practices in early literacy and mathematics instruction.
- Ensure OEQA standards and guidance reflect current evidence-based practices.
Collaboration and Communication
- Serve as OEQA liaison to partner agencies on educator preparation and training alignment.
- Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure consistency in expectations across preparation, certification, and professional learning systems.
- Present information clearly to leadership and stakeholders.
- Master’s degree required in special education, early childhood, elementary, reading or literacy education, public policy, or related field.
- At least 7 years of experience in educator preparation, education policy, or program administration.
- Experience with teacher preparation programs, accreditation, or certification systems.
- Strong understanding of early literacy and/or mathematics instruction.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across agencies or organizations.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Experience with educator preparation program approval or accreditation.
- Knowledge of science of reading and research-based mathematics instruction.
- Experience with policy development or legislative processes.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects effectively.
This role strengthens OEQA’s statutory responsibilities by ensuring educator preparation and certification systems are aligned with state policy and research-based practices in early literacy and numeracy. The position supports improved student outcomes by strengthening the quality and consistency of teacher preparation rather than overseeing district-level program implementation.
Equal Opportunity Employment
The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.
Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.
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