The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) strives to positively impact the lives of American Indians by supporting their higher education and career objectives. College Fund team members believe education is the answer and collectively we raise funds, provide scholarships, and holistically support students in achieving their goals. Programming, research, and enhancing the capacities of tribal colleges and universities are also integral elements of our mission.

The Program Officer leads the administration and implementation of the College Fund’s Native Teacher Education Program. The position works with tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) and other partners to expand pathways for Native students and paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers and to support Native educators serving tribal nation communities.

The role coordinates strategies across awareness and recruitment, direct student support, degree completion, Praxis and state licensure preparation, classroom employment, and early-career retention. Program activities include TCU teacher education capacity building; upper-level course enhancement in Indigenous knowledge, cultural competency, content knowledge, Native language, and licensure preparation; coaching and mentorship; Native Teacher Fellowships; secondary mathematics partnerships; the Native Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pathway; and the “Become a Native Teacher” campaign.

This position works with TCU administrators, teacher education faculty, staff, and students; Native teacher fellows; teacher education coaches and mentors; tribal nation schools and superintendents; the Native teacher advisory group; and other partners. The role collaborates closely with Programs, Research and Evaluation, Student Success Services, Communications, and Resource Development to achieve grant outcomes, strengthen Indigenous teacher education pathways, and communicate program impact.


Job Objectives and Responsibilities
This position works directly with tribal colleges and universities’ Teacher Education programs to co-vision successful programming that increases the number of Native and rural teachers in classrooms, preferably on or near Indian reservations served by the TCUs. The Program Officer, Teacher Education, builds TCU-based capacity that focuses on all aspects of teacher education through graduation and certification including recruitment, retention, curriculum development, faculty development and support and student supports.

This position networks with partners and organizations engaged with teacher education and early childhood education including the American Indian Higher Education Consortium . In addition to teacher education programming, this position collaborates with College Fund teams and departments to strengthen TCU capacity and build excellent teacher education initiatives. This position involves extensive interaction with TCU partners including site visits as appropriate as well as joining TCUs at regional and national conferences pertinent to teacher education.

Lead program implementation and performance.
Manage work plans, budgets, agreements, partner guidance, risks, and reporting. Track progress toward program goals for teacher graduation, licensure, classroom employment, TCU course enhancement, , and Community of Practice engagement.

Coordinate direct student and early-career teacher support.
Manage eligibility, documentation, funding, and confidential participant records, including student name, year in program, type and amount of support, and term provided. Work with TCUs to strengthen early identification, developmental education support, capstone experiences, Praxis preparation and testing, student-teaching readiness, degree completion, and licensure.

Strengthen TCU teacher education and licensure pathways.
Provide technical assistance on teacher education degree pathways and course enhancement with an emphasis on state licensure preparation. Provide a secondary emphasis on cultural and content knowledge in teacher education curriculum.

Build partnerships that strengthen recruitment and retention.
Facilitate the Indigenous Education Community of Practice, virtual learning, site visits, and in-person convenings on classroom management, developmental education, capstone design, licensure preparation, Indigenous pedagogy, and Native language integration.

Advance awareness, recruitment, evaluation, and program learning.
Collaborate with TCU partners, the Native teacher advisors and communications to develop and implement campaigns that encourage and support increased participation by community members and students with teacher education.

Manage program operations and cross-functional collaboration.
Administer grantee, vendor, consultant, mentor, and fellow agreements; review invoices and expenditures; monitor budgets; coordinate travel and convening logistics; and prepare program updates for leadership, the Board, and funders.

Collaborate intra and inter departmentamentally to align and support the College Fund’s program capacity work within the College Fund, TCUs and other partners such as student support, evaluation, communications, fundraising, and partner engagement.



Job Requirements

Preferred Qualifications :

Work Environment

Physical Requirements

Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including frequent keyboarding and screen use, with or without reasonable accommodation

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