ACOM PROGRAM ADVISOR

Position Summary

The ACOM Program Advisor will function as the state's English Language Learner Program Advisor. The English Language Learner (ELL) Program Advisor guides the Integrated English Language and Civics Education-Integrated Education & Training (IELCE-IET) and supports learners in the English as a Second Language (ESL) Adult Education programs in Arkansas. The ELL Transition Specialist acts as a point of contact for Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA) cross-agency referrals. This position guides adult education providers in helping ESL learners transition to post-secondary education and career training advising and is responsible for developing, facilitating, and evaluating IELCE-IET programming. This position works with a wide range of constituents in a diverse population of staff, learners, instructors, and community partners. The Program Advisor provides technical assistance and program monitoring to adult education programs and literacy councils in an Arkansas region through annual site visits, program reviews, and desk audits. The Program Advisor monitors and approves federal and state grant budgets, amendments, expenditure reports, and adult education and literacy council program project applications. The Program Advisor ensures that adult education programs and literacy councils comply with federal and state guidelines, laws, and policies. 

Education and Professional Work Experience

Minimum Qualifications

The formal education equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in education, business administration, or a field directly related to the assigned program area; plus, four years of experience in education or directly related to the assigned program area.

Preferred Qualifications

The formal education equivalent of a bachelor's degree in English as a Second Language (ESL) or Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Adult Education, Education, Communication, Curriculum Design and Instruction, Business Administration/Management, Marketing, Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology, or related field.

Four years of teaching experience, particularly in ESL and/or Adult Education. A teacher license with an ESL endorsement is preferred.  Experience in curriculum development and assessment.

Experience reviewing, approving, managing, and overseeing state and federal grants. Experience teaching or working with special populations such as English as a Second Language students, adult learners, and at-risk students. Knowledge and use of Microsoft Office. Experience in developing and conducting workshops and trainings.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities                                                                                                

• Knowledge of federal and state laws regarding licensure in the education field.
• Knowledge of educational program development and presentation techniques.
• Knowledge of teaching principles and methods.
• Ability to interpret and apply applicable portions of federal and state regulations governing educational programs.
• Ability to research, generate, simulate, modify, and conduct educational programs.
• Ability to prepare, categorize, and document reports.
• Ability to evaluate applications and their supporting documentation.
• Ability to prepare and present information to various groups orally and in writing.

Job Responsibilities and Expected Results

1. Provides guidance, technical assistance, and program monitoring for adult education programs initiating, implementing, and operating adult English as a Second Language program.
2. Assist English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) instructors in providing contextualized, scaffolded, interactive instruction that includes cooperative learning tasks and implements College and Career Readiness standards and TABE CLAS-E/EL Civics standards.
3. Guide adult education programs in preparing lesson plans that use resources using a civics-based instructional approach and motivational and engaging vocational curricula with a focus on learning and progress.
4. Assist programs that receive Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) funding to fully implement integrated education and training programs (IETs), citizenship classes, and help provide transition and educational services to English Language Learners (ELL).
5. Develop, facilitate, and conduct annual transition activities and ESL professional development training that align with participation in IELCE/IET programs.
6. Ensure English Language Learners (ELLs) progress academically and enter post-secondary institutions and training programs across the state.
7. Coordinate the development of curriculum materials and ESL professional development training.
8. Train on TABE CLAS-E and other state-sponsored academic software to provide technical assistance to the field.
9. Provide data for grant applications required grant reporting throughout the year of IELCE/IET outcomes.
10. Provide technical assistance to adult education programs and literacy councils by interpreting federal and state regulations, answering questions, resolving problems, advising local programs, etc.
11. Participate in industry professional development and training; set individual learning and development goals and actively seek opportunities to develop teaching practice further.
12. Evaluate program effectiveness through annual on-site visits, program reviews, and desk audits to ensure program compliance review status and accountability reports of programs for compliance and performance.
13. Monitor and approve federal and state grant budgets, amendments, expenditure reports, and adult education and literacy council program project applications. 
14. Participate in submitting federal and state reports; assist in data matching and conducting the state and federal funding of programs; assist in writing policies and procedures and federal state plans.
15. Respond promptly to communications and requests from the field.
16. Serve on the Professional Development Committee and the Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy Committee.
17. Conduct workshops and presentations during local meetings and professional conferences.
18. Perform other duties as assigned.