04/06/2004

BILINGUAL EDUCATION ADVISOR 1 20670

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional educational work in providing statewide advisory services in the development, improvement, and expansion of bilingual education and English as a Second language (ESL) programs.

An employee in this class provides advisory and consultative services to local school districts, intermediate units, and teacher preparation staff in improving bilingual education and ESL programs in the schools of the Commonwealth. Work involves diagnosing educational problems at the local level, recommending solutions, and providing assistance in improving bilingual and ESL educational programs. Employees develop and conduct training sessions, workshops, and conferences to disseminate information on successful practices, new curriculum materials and techniques, and results from experimental projects in bilingual education. Work involves assisting schools with curriculum planning and participating in the development or modification of curriculum materials. Employees work with curriculum and research specialists, governmental and private agencies to devise and evaluate new approaches and innovative programs in bilingual and ESL education. Work is performed with considerable independence and reviewed by a supervisor through periodic conferences and an evaluation of results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Participates in the development of new approaches in bilingual education and in pilot testing of these approaches to evaluate the effectiveness in improving bilingual and ESL educational programs.

Identifies specific problems that exist within individual school bilingual and ESL education programs and provides recommendations to improve the programs.

Develops and presents in-service workshop training to local school staff on practices, techniques, and resources that can be used to solve problems with the school’s bilingual and ESL education programs.

Develops and participates in conference programs and workshops to promote developments, materials, and trends in bilingual and ESL education.

Assists local school teachers and administrators in developing or modifying curriculum materials and courses of study to better meet the needs and objectives of the school and community.

Participates in the review of bilingual and ESL education programs to develop curriculum guides, outlines for courses of study, bibliographies, audio-visual aids, and study guides.

Assists school staff in developing and implementing pilot programs in bilingual and ESL education.

Assists in evaluating the effectiveness of the methods, approaches, and/or materials used to determine whether the programs should be encouraged in other schools.

Disseminates information on new practices, methods, materials and pilot programs through articles in professional journals, departmental publications, and/or other media.

Provides advice to local school staff on the criteria and procedures for obtaining federal or special funds for improving bilingual and ESL education programs or to finance projects in schools.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the current methods and trends in bilingual and ESL education at the elementary and secondary school levels.

Knowledge of the roles and objectives of bilingual and ESL education in a child’s educational development process.

Knowledge of the different teaching methods and techniques in bilingual and ESL education programs and of the strengths and weaknesses of these different teaching methods and techniques.

Knowledge of curriculum planning and curriculum development in bilingual and ESL education.

Knowledge of research and evaluation techniques as applied to bilingual and ESL education.

Knowledge of current literature, materials, equipment, research, and new developments in bilingual and ESL education areas.

Knowledge of the physical, mental, and emotional growth and development of students at the elementary and secondary school levels as these pertain to bilingual education.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with educators, school administrators, parents, students, and others interested in bilingual and ESL education.

Ability to encourage and promote the use of different teaching methods, curriculum materials, and developments and techniques in the different areas of bilingual and ESL education in local school and teacher preparation programs.

Ability to organize, develop, and conduct in-service training for teachers, school administrators, and others involved in bilingual and ESL education to familiarize them with bilingual and ESL education practices, methods, materials, goals and objectives.

Ability to develop curriculum materials to implement new developments and practices in bilingual and ESL education appropriate for use in individual school districts as well as for statewide application.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with educators, school administrators, parents, students, and others interested in bilingual and ESL education.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Four years of professional experience in the field of bilingual and ESL education, including at least one year of experience in the development and implementation of bilingual and/or ESL education curricula or programs;

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An equivalent combination of experience and training.