Primary Purpose

To support the vision, mission, and strategic priorities of ESC Region 12. The Education Specialist for Counseling and Student Support Services serves as an instructional leader and consultant for ESC Region 12. This role is dedicated to driving academic excellence and student well-being by providing research-based professional development and expert assistance to campus counselors and district leaders. By focusing on comprehensive school counseling programs, mental health frameworks, and college/career readiness, this specialist ensures that LEAs have the tools necessary to support the whole child and improve student outcomes across the region.

Qualifications

Education/Certification

• Master’s Degree required
• Valid Texas teaching certificate
• Minimum of 3-5 years counseling experience

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of Texas graduation requirements, GPA calculation, Endorsements, and a foundational understanding of CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) components.
• Base knowledge of the Effective Advising Framework (EAF) to support district strategic planning.
• Deep knowledge of social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma-informed care, and the administrative requirements of a school counselor’s role.
• Ability to use software to develop spreadsheets, perform data analysis, and word processing
• Excellent public relations, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of participants
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; proven ability to deliver effective presentations to diverse groups.
• Highly organized self-starter able to coordinate complex projects and manage program logistics through proactive problem-solving.
• Ability to research/interpret complex policies and translate data into actionable insights using advanced software (spreadsheets and word processing).
• A collaborative team player committed to a positive workplace culture and continuous improvement through Quality Management System (QMS) initiatives.
• Dedicated to continuous personal and professional growth, including attending required professional development to remain a subject matter expert in the field.

General Responsibilities

• Deep knowledge of social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma-informed care, and the administrative requirements of a school counselor’s role.
• Provide expert technical assistance to LEAs in the accurate calculation and analysis of student GPAs and the tracking of Endorsements to ensure alignment with state graduation requirements.
• Assist districts in understanding the basic components of CCMR and the Effective Advising Framework (EAF) to maximize student post-secondary opportunities.
• Design and deliver high-quality professional development regarding the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and mental health frameworks.
• Provide expert technical assistance to LEAs in the accurate calculation and analysis of student GPAs, ensuring alignment with local policy and state graduation requirements to maximize student post-secondary opportunities.
• Ability to use software to develop spreadsheets, perform data analysis on student performance/behavioral trends, and translate results into technical reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; proven ability to deliver authoritative presentations to diverse groups, from new counselors to district executives.
• Highly organized self-starter able to coordinate complex regional meetings, Counselor Academies, and program logistics through proactive problem-solving.
• A collaborative team player committed to a positive workplace culture and continuous improvement through regional networking.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities

Security Requirements

All positions at ESC 12 are defined as security-sensitive. Security-sensitive positions are those that require employees to be entrusted with certain types of data, whether electronic or in paper form. Those data elements, as defined by the ESC 12 Data Classification and Handling Policy, may include, but are not limited to:

• Sensitive Personal Information (SPI)
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
• Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Family Educational Records (FERPA Data)
• Federal Tax Information (FTI)

All employees must adhere to all security-related policies, standards, and procedures. This includes actively safeguarding data and immediately reporting any suspected loss or theft.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

Travel

Frequent travel within the region, state, and nation, when appropriate

Tools/Equipment Used

Standard office equipment, including a personal computer and peripherals

Posture

Prolonged sitting, occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting

Motion

Repetitive hand motions, including frequent keyboarding and use of a mouse; occasional reaching

Lifting

Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)

Environment

May work prolonged or irregular hours, frequent regional travel, occasional statewide travel, and out-of-state travel

Mental Demands

Manage multiple tasks and work cooperatively with others,

Use technology expected for the position,

Maintain a calm attitude in demanding situations,

Make changes and adapt to various responsibilities on an ongoing basis,

Work with frequent interruptions, tight deadlines, and limited office space.

Benefit Information

• ESC Region 12 provides monthly monetary contributions of up to $575 for employee/family healthcare and supplemental benefits.
• An employee earns state personal, sick, and vacation leave.
• All employees contribute to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and Social Security retirement programs.