Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program Specialist (Education Specialist IV)

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values: 
•  We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students. 
•  We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
•  We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
•  We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

Position Overview

The Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Program Specialist serves within the Highly Mobile and At‑Risk (HMAR) Programs Unit in the Division of Student Supports, Office of Special Populations and Student Supports at the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The Program Specialist supports statewide implementation of the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act by assisting the TEHCY State Coordinator with program operations, grant administration, and development of statewide systems and resources to improve educational access and outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

Under the direction of the TEHCY State Coordinator, the Program Specialist supports statewide efforts to respond to technical assistance requests from School Systems, education service centers (ESCs), and stakeholders.

The TEHCY Program Specialist also assists with the development, maintenance, and dissemination of high‑quality guidance, tools, and professional development resources aligned to federal and state requirements. The position requires strong attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment, and a commitment to TEA’s standards for quality, accuracy, and customer service. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, self‑motivated team member dedicated to supporting equitable outcomes for students in special populations.

Flexible work location in Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.  

Essential Functions 
Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Technical Assistance Coordination and Response Support: Support statewide efforts to respond to technical assistance requests from School Systems, education service centers (ESCs), and stakeholders by assisting with coordination, documentation, follow‑up, and development of consistent, accurate responses aligned to TEHCY guidance. Assist with the development, maintenance, and dissemination of high‑quality program guidance, tools, and professional development resources aligned with the McKinney‑Vento Act and state requirements to support effective local implementation.

2. Program and Grant Operations Support: Support the TEHCY State Coordinator with statewide program operations and administration of McKinney‑Vento subgrants, including assisting with grant monitoring activities, reviewing documentation, tracking deliverables, and supporting compliance with federal and state requirements.

3. Data Collection and Reporting Support: Assist with TEHCY‑related data collection, validation, organization, and reporting to support program oversight, monitoring, and continuous improvement, including maintaining accurate records and contributing to internal and external reporting needs.

4. Collaboration and Administrative Support: Collaborate with internal TEA staff, ESCs, and external partners to support statewide TEHCY initiatives, meetings, and communications, while completing assigned administrative and project‑based tasks that contribute to program efficiency and equitable student outcomes.
 

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university         
• Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in in education, administration, school leadership, or programs serving homeless children and youth, at-risk youth, or other highly mobile student populations. Experience providing technical assistance to programs supporting homeless children or at-risk youth
• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience
 

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military 
• Commitment to educational equity and high expectations for all Texas students
• Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing priorities
• Strong technical writing and resource development skills
• Experience supporting or delivering professional development and training is preferred
• Proficiency with common technology tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Suite, Teams, PowerPoint, Adobe PDF)
• Ability to develop clear, engaging materials for adult learners
• Strong customer service skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with varied audiences
• Experience supporting processes and systems for program implementation is preferred
• Experience with grant development, implementation, or monitoring is preferred
• Knowledge of School Systems supporting students experiencing homelessness or at‑risk students
• Ability to use technology to support program operations and communication
• Experience using data to inform program decisions and improve implementation is preferred
• Ability to design surveys and support monitoring or compliance reviews

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Employment at TEA page.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.