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This is a full-time benefits-eligible position with UTHealth Houston, hiring across the state of Texas. This is grant-funded.

The Texas Rising Star Assessor II is responsible for reliably assessing and monitoring the quality of early learning programs using Texas Rising Star assessment tools and protocols. This role collects, interprets, and enters observation and program data in alignment with all guidelines, scoring manuals, and procedural requirements, while maintaining accurate and timely records. Assessors coordinate and conduct assessment activities, support logistical planning, and may guide assessment teams to ensure consistent, high-quality implementation of protocols. Responsibilities include adhering to all assessment procedures and supporting certification activities for early learning programs across the state. Assessors must maintain Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification through ongoing professional development, weekly coding calls, and quarterly reliability checks to ensure the integrity and reliability of assessment practices statewide.

Texas Rising Star assessors complete an intensive 10-week onboarding and certification training designed to prepare them to conduct high-quality assessments with accuracy and independence. Training is fully remote and combines structured learning with independent study. During four weeks, assessors participate in the Assessment Training and Certification Program (ATCP), which requires approximately 35 hours per week of self-paced online learning and participation in small group professional learning communities (PLC), along with an additional 5 hours per week dedicated to team meetings and administrative onboarding tasks. The remaining six weeks focus on administrative processes, systems training, protocol application, and assessment shadowing experiences that allow assessors to observe and practice assessment procedures under guidance. This certification training is fast-paced, rigorous, and highly self-directed, requiring assessors to manage substantial independent learning while demonstrating rapid mastery of Texas Rising Star protocols and scoring expectations.

The ideal candidate is an independent, self-directed learner with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They bring a solid understanding of early childhood development and experience in educational settings, enabling them to interpret program practices accurately and apply assessment protocols with fidelity. This individual demonstrates excellent time and task management skills, stays organized across multiple deadlines, and maintains resilience and focus during long assessment days or extended periods of concentrated work. They collaborate effectively within assessment teams, communicate clearly with stakeholders, and uphold professionalism in both written and verbal communication. The ideal candidate is comfortable working with data, confident using technology and online platforms, and consistently follows detailed procedures with accuracy and reliability. Above all, they are adaptable, dependable, and committed to maintaining the integrity and quality of the Texas Rising Star assessment process.

These positions are considered travel jobs. Although the team tries to assign staff to complete assessments as close to home as possible, frequent day travel (long commuting) is common, and overnight travel may occur up to twice per week, typically on intermittent weeks depending on the assessor’s place of residence. Assessors are reimbursed for transportation and lodging expenses. For overnight travel, assessors also receive a per diem meal stipend.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100%25 paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

This position's primary duties include reliably assessing and monitoring ELP program quality using the Texas Rising Star assessment instrument. A Texas Rising Star Assessor II will be responsible for reviewing program data, collecting observation data, adhering to all assessment protocols, and entering data into an online platform. Assessors evaluate certification status for certified Texas Rising Star early learning programs and all early learning programs interested in becoming Texas Rising Star certified throughout the state of Texas, using the applicable Notetaking Forms and Facility and Classroom Assessment Forms. This is a community-based program that requires frequent local and statewide travel.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Collect assessment data from a Texas Rising Star Assessment Visit as described in the Texas Rising Star Guidelines and Texas Rising Star Staff Handbook. This includes utilizing the Texas Rising Star Notetaking Forms and the Texas Rising Star Assessment Record Forms. This is a community-based program that requires frequent local and statewide travel.
• Makes independent decisions to accurately interpret, score, input ELP program evidence, and input facility and classroom assessment data into CLI Engage to complete Texas Rising Star Assessment procedures as described in the Texas Rising Star Technical Scoring Manual and Texas Rising Star Engage User Guide (EUG).
• Maintains accurate and timely records including entry of facility and classroom assessment data into the Texas Rising Star Assessment Tool in CLI Engage as described in the Texas Rising Star Technical Scoring Manual and Texas Rising Star Engage User Guide (EUG).
• Attain and maintain the Texas Rising Star Assessor Certification (ATCP).
• Certified assessors must participate in weekly coding calls and must demonstrate their ongoing mastery of the criteria and their ability to reliably assess program quality through participation in quarterly reliability checks.
• Texas Rising Star Assessors are required to complete annual professional development and continuing education consistent with the Texas Rising Star annual minimum training hours required for a Texas Rising Star-certified child care center director.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Basic knowledge of standard Office Software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
• Work may involve handling biohazardous, chemical, and radiological materials, as well as operating associated equipment. Required safety training and appropriate engineering and administrative controls including the use of personal protective equipment must be followed.
• Texas Rising Star Assessor Training and Certification Program (ATCP) by Texas Workforce Commission required within 60 Days

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in early childhood education or related field required. Master's Degree in early childhood education or related field preferred. Doctorate Degree in early childhood education or related field preferred.

Minimum Experience:

3 years of relevant experience required May substitute required experience with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.