What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assessment Director (Req # 54593) position at Vermont Agency of Education?
The State Assessment Director provides visionary leadership of Vermont's assessment program to ensure state assessments meaningfully inform instruction, measure district & school accountability, support continuous improvement, accelerate student learning, and meet Vermont's federal and state reporting requirements. This role involves ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, providing technical assistance to districts, analyzing data to inform instruction and school improvement, and maintaining secure testing protocols. The position supervises assessment program leaders, manages the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and represents the state in national assessment forums. The Director will also play a leadership role in redesigning Vermont's State Report Card and the ESSA State Plan to ensure timely and relevant data as the state works to reenvision its accountability system to be more transparent and supportive of continuous improvement planning.
The Director is a senior leader, part of the Secretary of Education's Extended Cabinet and reports directly to the Chief Strategy & Accountability Officer.Major Responsibilities Statewide Assessment System Leadership & Management Direct and manage Vermont's statewide assessment system, including: o Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP)o Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)o WIDA ACCESS for ELLso National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Oversee assessment design, development, implementation, and policy updates Manage statewide assessment contracts, procurement processes, and vendor relationships Provide daily operational oversight during testing windows and ongoing monitoring throughout the year Ensure assessment administration, scoring, reporting, and data processes operate effectively and on scheduleData Analysis and Reporting Collect, analyze, and report student performance data, school and district accountability report cards, and demographic reports Collaborate with the Curriculum & Instruction Division to design reporting to support an evaluation of instructional programming and student achievementSupervision and Staff Leadership Directly supervise assessment program leads (NAEP, VTCAP, Alternate Assessment, and English Language Proficiency) Build team capacity and maintain a high-performing, collaborative work environmentTechnical Advisory Committee (TAC) Management Establish and manage the State Assessment Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to strengthen the technical foundation of the state's assessment program Develop and maintain TAC charter, membership, and annual work plan in alignment with the Agency's strategic plan and proposed ESSA Plan amendments Plan and facilitate TAC meetings and organize broader public engagement on the revisions under consideration to enhance the technical rigor and accessibility of resultsTechnical Assistance and Communications Plan and conduct technical training related to assessment protocols and reporting of assessment data and interpretation of student achievement Lead development and review of assessment policies and guidance documents. Ensure accuracy and consistency of public-facing communications Respond to inquiries from educators, families, leadership, and stakeholders regarding assessment policies and practicesAssessment Transformation and Strategic Alignment Lead enhancements to Vermont's statewide assessment and reporting system to provide more timely, transparent and actionable information for educators, families, policymakers, and the public. Collaborate with internal divisions, external partners, and technical experts to evaluate and implement innovations that strengthen the relevance and accessibility of Vermont's assessment system.Federal Liaison Serve as primary liaison with federal assessment staff and national organizations. Ensure Vermont remains informed and aligned with evolving assessment practices.
The Director is a senior leader, part of the Secretary of Education's Extended Cabinet and reports directly to the Chief Strategy & Accountability Officer.Major Responsibilities Statewide Assessment System Leadership & Management Direct and manage Vermont's statewide assessment system, including: o Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP)o Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)o WIDA ACCESS for ELLso National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Oversee assessment design, development, implementation, and policy updates Manage statewide assessment contracts, procurement processes, and vendor relationships Provide daily operational oversight during testing windows and ongoing monitoring throughout the year Ensure assessment administration, scoring, reporting, and data processes operate effectively and on scheduleData Analysis and Reporting Collect, analyze, and report student performance data, school and district accountability report cards, and demographic reports Collaborate with the Curriculum & Instruction Division to design reporting to support an evaluation of instructional programming and student achievementSupervision and Staff Leadership Directly supervise assessment program leads (NAEP, VTCAP, Alternate Assessment, and English Language Proficiency) Build team capacity and maintain a high-performing, collaborative work environmentTechnical Advisory Committee (TAC) Management Establish and manage the State Assessment Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to strengthen the technical foundation of the state's assessment program Develop and maintain TAC charter, membership, and annual work plan in alignment with the Agency's strategic plan and proposed ESSA Plan amendments Plan and facilitate TAC meetings and organize broader public engagement on the revisions under consideration to enhance the technical rigor and accessibility of resultsTechnical Assistance and Communications Plan and conduct technical training related to assessment protocols and reporting of assessment data and interpretation of student achievement Lead development and review of assessment policies and guidance documents. Ensure accuracy and consistency of public-facing communications Respond to inquiries from educators, families, leadership, and stakeholders regarding assessment policies and practicesAssessment Transformation and Strategic Alignment Lead enhancements to Vermont's statewide assessment and reporting system to provide more timely, transparent and actionable information for educators, families, policymakers, and the public. Collaborate with internal divisions, external partners, and technical experts to evaluate and implement innovations that strengthen the relevance and accessibility of Vermont's assessment system.Federal Liaison Serve as primary liaison with federal assessment staff and national organizations. Ensure Vermont remains informed and aligned with evolving assessment practices.