AI Safety and Professional Learning Specialist

Primary Purpose:

To serve as the Safety, Foundation, and Capacity-Building lead for the AI program in Region 16. This role pairs high-level strategic visioning for districts with rigorous technical security, privacy vetting, and comprehensive professional development to support that AI adoption across the region is safe, ethical, legally compliant, and pedagogically sound.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification

• Master’s Degree in Education, Technology Integration, or a related field preferred
• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Technology Integration, or a related field required

Skills

• Demonstrated understanding in strategic and policy leadership, including SWOT analysis, Core Belief drafting, and AI governance frameworks.
• Deep understanding or willingness to learn the technical compliance, student data privacy laws (FERPA, COPPA), and AI vendor vetting frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC TR 24028:2020, SOC 2, TX-RAMP, ISO 27001, Bias Audits).
• Knowledge of Texas legislative mandates regarding technology, data privacy, and AI (e.g., TAC 219, HSAI, SB 12: TEC 26.009, TEC 28.004, HB 3512: TEC 11.175).
• Exceptional facilitation and communication skills for leading executive task forces, Train-the-Trainer (ToT) certification courses, and professional development sessions.
• Experience establishing and managing data privacy consortia, auditing local policies, and deploying regional tracking dashboards.
• Strong instructional capacity to translate complex technical security, risk, and compliance concepts into actionable, high-impact professional development for educators and staff.
• Grant management or fiduciary oversight experience.
• Strategic thinker with rigorous attention to the ethical, legal, and security implications of emerging technologies.

Working Conditions:

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals
• Posture: Must be physically able to tolerate prolonged sitting, frequent standing; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting, and standing
• Motion: Must be physically able to tolerate frequent standing and walking, repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching, occasional driving
• Lifting: Must be physically able to tolerate regular light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); may require occasional heavy lifting and carrying (45 pounds or more) 
• Environment: Must be physically able to work inside; tolerate frequent districtwide travel and occasional statewide travel; regular exposure to noise
• Mental Demands: Must be able to work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress; work prolonged or irregular hours on occasion
• Regular Attendance is an essential function

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Guide district executive teams through strategic planning activities to draft foundational AI beliefs, vision statements, and AI acceptable use guidelines.
2. Coach district leadership to form a local AI steering committee/task force, for the purpose of leading policy-to-practice audits & AI-related change in the district.
3. Promote and monitor regional education & compliance with AI-related laws, maintaining a dashboard to track district progress in requirements like: assigning AI Risk Officers, adoption of TAC 219 AI Code of Ethics, posting HSAI System notices, etc. 
4. Support the delivery of Region 16’s strategic AI Framework through high-level Train-the-Trainer sessions with other Texas Education Service Centers and update AI TOT materials regularly throughout the year.
5. Vet, evaluate, and audit third-party AI tools for Region 16, utilizing the AI Risk Officer’s Step-By-Step Guide, reviewing safety and compliance documentation, Heightened Scrutiny AI System status, and analyzing AI risk assessments in accordance with state and federal requirements.
6. Educate districts on state-mandated AI compliance measures through training on current legislative regulations to include duties of the AI Risk Officer and Heightened Scrutiny AI Systems (HSAI).
7. Establish, manage, and scale the AI Regional Data Privacy Consortium to ensure all Region 16 districts have seamless access to vetted Student Data Privacy Agreements (SDPAs).
8. Monitor, secure, and maintain internal, localized AI systems to guarantee operational integrity and strict adherence to data privacy & AI compliance baselines.
9. Design, deliver, and facilitate high-impact professional development, workshops, and academies for Region 16 superintendents, principals, and technology directors focused on ethical AI governance, risk mitigation, and liability.
10. Create and curate task-specific AI workflows using state-of-the-art AI tools for: instructional staff, campus administrators, and district-level administrators. Instruction focuses on how to accomplish work tasks with improved effectiveness and efficiency.
11. Serve as the regional clearinghouse for AI best practices, translating evolving legal, ethical, and technological shifts into "turnkey" professional learning resources for K-12 educators & administrators.
12. Formulate and lead internal professional development initiatives for Region 16 ESC staff across all service areas and components, ensuring a unified understanding of compliant AI adoption.
13. Collaborate cross-functionally with internal ESC program teams to audit internal workflows, helping staff identify opportunities to integrate compliant AI tools into daily operations safely.
14. Support the development & update of ESC annual AI training to include: TAC 219 requirements, data handling for PII and sensitive information, FERPA/COPPA boundaries, and district-level context needed before introducing tools or use cases to regional districts.
15. Provide ongoing coaching and consultation to internal specialists, ensuring ESC consultants' modeling technology usage in the field is aligned with the region's ethical and security standards.
16. Travels as a part of job responsibilities.
17. Maintains a functioning cell phone and is accessible through this phone as deemed appropriate by the service area director. A functioning cell phone means that it is charged, activated, messages checked, and mailbox emptied regularly.
18. Reports for work ready to perform responsibilities.
19. Performs duties that directly and/or indirectly impact student performance in Region 16.
20. Maintains a professional level of confidentiality regarding all ESC matters.
21. Supports the mission, goals, and objectives of the ESC strategic plan.
22. Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the ESC safety program.
23. Performs professional responsibilities as required by ESC policies, processes, and procedures.
24. Manages time, calendar, and job responsibilities to meet deadlines.
25. Meets proficiency levels of required technology skills as outlined by the supervisor.
26. Incorporates appropriate technology in daily work and exhibits continual growth in technologies as outlined by supervisor.
27. Performs other duties as assigned.

Salary : $366 - $438