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

• Masters Degree in Education Technology Integration or a related field preferred
• Bachelors 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 16s 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 Officers 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 regions 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.

Required Experience:

IC