Assistant Superintendent of Native Education and Tribal Relations
Job Description
EXEMPT
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Assistant Superintendent of Native Education and Tribal Relations
$169,552 annually
Closes July 19,2026
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks to fill the Assistant Superintendent of Native Education and Tribal Relations position. This full-time permanent position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial to near full-time telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days. During your initial training period you will be required to be in the office 5 days per week. After you’ve completed your initial training, you may have the option to transition to limited telework and an in-person schedule of two (2) days per week thereafter. While we’re happy to offer this balance of in-office connections and telework flexibility, this isn’t a fully remote position. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.
About OSPI and our initiatives
OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K–12 education in Washington state. Working with the state's 295 public school districts and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.
At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:
- We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
- We have a tuition assistance policy and support employees seeking tuition waiver through participating higher education organizations.
- We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
- We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee. The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.
Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.
Mission: Transform K-12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.
Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child
Equity
Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:
- Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.
- Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.
Position Overview
This position oversees, supervisors, and leads a team of individuals at the state level, and works with their team to ensure educators and others receive ongoing technical assistance, training, and information to school districts, and tribal communities to ensure that school districts and tribal communities remain current with Native American curriculum and that Native American students have equal access to all educational program and opportunities. Additional responsibilities include oversight and implementation of federal and state policies, budget oversight, and compliance as it relates to Native Education in Washington state. This position serves as an OSPI liaison on behalf of the State Superintendent to the Tribes, Tribal Compact Schools, Tribal communities, and the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. In addition, the position will lead a streamlined effort to advance the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning focused on advancing math and English achievement, particularly for Native students and other underserved groups. Provides evidence-based instructional strategies, supports data-driven decision-making, and promotes culturally responsive practices in partnership with Tribes and Tribal communities. Oversee a centralized resource hub, targeted professional development, and continuous evaluation of programs to scale effective practices and reduce achievement gaps.
Within OSPI, this position works closely with all divisions, including Data Analysis and Support; Teaching, Learning, and School Improvement; Pathway Preparation and Title Programs; Special Education Services; and Student Engagement and Special Programs. These collaborative efforts support best practices for continuous improvement, including providing coordinated support to strengthen education systems through data inquiry, building educator capacity, and a relentless focus on Native American student access and equitable services. This position reports directly to the Chief Education Officer.
Key Responsibilities
As defined under RCW 28A.300.105, this position is required to:
- Provide leadership, technical assistance, and advocacy to meet the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
- Provide assistance to school districts in meeting the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
- Facilitate the development and implementation of curricula and instructional materials in native languages, culture and history, and the concept of tribal sovereignty pursuant to RCW 28A.320.170.
- Provide assistance to districts in the acquisition of funding to develop curricula and instructional materials in conjunction with native language practitioners and tribal elders.
- Coordinate technical assistance for public schools that serve American Indian and Alaska Native students.
- Seek funds to develop, in conjunction with the Washington state native American education advisory committee, and implement the following support services for the purposes of both increasing the number of American Indian and Alaska Native teachers and principals and providing continued professional development for educational assistants, teachers, and principals serving American Indian and Alaska Native students:
- Recruitment and retention
- Academic transition programs
- Academic financial support
- Teacher preparation
- Teacher induction
- Professional development
- Facilitate the inclusion of native language programs in school districts' curricula.
- Work with all relevant agencies and committees to highlight the need for accurate, useful data that is appropriately disaggregated to provide a more accurate picture regarding American Indian and Alaska Native students.
- Prepare reports for OSPI for use in informing the governor, the legislature, and the governor's office of Indian affairs on an annual basis regarding the state of Indian education and the implementation of all state laws regarding Indian education, specifically noting system successes and accomplishments, deficiencies, and needs.
As defined under RCW 28A.300.130, this position also:
- Prioritizes a focused, cost-effective approach that advances math and English achievement, particularly for Native students, by providing evidence-based instructional strategies, supporting the use of state and local data to monitor student progress, and promoting culturally responsive practices developed in partnership with Tribes and Tribal communities. To the extent allowable by resources, the office will also serve as a streamlined clearinghouse of proven literacy and numeracy interventions, offer targeted professional development and consultation to high-need districts, and strengthen family engagement through improved communication and outreach. Efforts should emphasize scalable practices that reduce achievement gaps, regularly evaluate what works, and share effective district innovations that remove barriers and improve outcomes for underserved students.
Internal Responsibilities:
- Ensure the team is connected to the larger OSPI agency vision via continuous multi-step process that includes translating the broader vision into a specific relatable sub-vision for the Office of Native Education and maintaining open, measurable, and collaborative relationships and communication with other OSPI teams.
- The position will provide effective leadership and management to the Office of Native Education staff. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Managing and directing the work of the staff, providing them with the tools and training necessary to perform their jobs, monitoring progress, addressing performance concerns, and celebrating excellent work.
- Provide leadership support in guidance, coaching, and mentoring.
- Conduct annual employee performance reviews and expectation-setting for classified staff.
- Recruit and hire quality employees with skills and behaviors aligned to agency mission, vision, values, and strategy.
- Work closely with and monitor trial service and probationary employees and provide interim evaluations.
- Grow staff skills and abilities through training opportunities, mentorship, and regular feedback.
- Establish a workplace that is fair, safe, professional, and free from discrimination or harassment through the consistent applicant of agency policies and procedures.
- In collaboration with the Office of Native Education staff, provide oversight of the training offered across the state.
Budget oversight:
- Ensuring budget oversight is fiscally sound and aligned to budget provisos.
- Monitor budgets monthly.
External Responsibilities:
- Work with all relevant agencies and committees to highlight the need for accurate, useful data that is appropriately disaggregated to provide a more accurate picture regarding American Indian and Alaska Native students.
- Lead the Washington State Native American Education Advisory Committee (WSNAEAC).
- Foster and maintain good working relationships with all key education partners, particularly Tribes and Tribal communities. Building and maintaining strong relationships are key elements to the success of the Office of Native Education.
- Advise and consult with school boards, school administrators, educators, and teachers on matters pertaining to the involvement of Native families and community members in the education of Native American children.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts, Education, Business Administration, or related Educational or Tribal Studies field.
OR
Four (4) years educational or leadership experience working in tribal schools and/or in or with public schools who receive federal or state funding specific to Native American and Alaska Native students.
AND
Five (5) years of educational or leadership expertise, experience and relationships with Native peoples in Washington State, (i.e., federally recognized Tribes non-federally recognized Tribes, with rural and urban Native communities and with American Indian organizations).
Able to demonstrate thorough knowledge of:
*Legislative history of the Office of Native Education (ONE).
*State and Federal treaties.
*Tribal Sovereignty.
*Laws regarding Tribal Education Compact Schools and support for these schools
*Washington State Since Time Immemorial Tribal Sovereignty Curriculum, and the ability to support districts in effective implementation.
*State and Federal requirements for districts to consult with Tribes.
Experience with working Government-to-Government and be able to demonstrate the understanding of:
*The importance of Native family/community leader engagement, particularly elders and youth, and the support of key decision makers and the local, state, tribal, and federal level.
*Collaborating and leading to effective systemic transformation; especially system change related to honoring tribal nations, tribal sovereignty, urban American Indian/Alaska Native People’s rights and anti-discrimination/racial equity, and civil rights compliance.
*Has the vision and knowledge to strengthen pathways towards increasing recruitment, hiring, and retention of Native educators.
Experienced manager/supervisor, minimum 5 years of leading programs and staff who will lead the Office of Native Education team:
* Support the Office of Native Education team through coaching and mentoring staff to achieve unit cohesion and a high degree of employee professionalism. *Successfully managing the development and implementation of state and federal contracts and grants, budgets.
*Building strong partnerships with internal OSPI and external partners.
Required travel within Washington state and may include occasional travel out of state/nationally, as needed, in an overnight capacity.
Must maintain residency in Washington State
This position requires working in the office at least 3 days a week
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:
Desired Qualifications:
Master‘s Degree of Arts, Education, Business Administration, or related Educational or Tribal Studies Field.
Understanding of the Centennial Accord and Millennium Agreement.
Protocols of Tribes and OSPI to bridge, communication, and connect; experience working and supporting community and organization-based leaders, boards of directors, councils, and committees.
Familiar with Washington State education priorities and initiatives.
Research and best practices focused on providing academic and socio-emotional supports in educating Native students.
Tribal colleges and Native community-centered, culturally grounded higher education institutional practices that serve American Indian/Alaska Native leaders and ability to support and advocate for change within higher education to increase Native student success.
The importance of tribal language revitalization, teaching, and learning, supporting the development of new tribal language teachers and the elevation of honoring tribal languages within Local Education Agencies and federal programs in public schools, specifically supporting American Indian/Alaska Native learners.
Values and acknowledges there are a number of tribes that are creating their own curriculum.
Ability to work with data to provide clear information on impacting students' success.
Ability to support legislative processes (i.e., bill analysis, technical assistance, etc.).
Compensation
The annual compensation for the position is $169,552 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on work location of successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program. Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information. This position serves at the pleasure of the Superintendent and is Civil Service Exempt. This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.
Application Process
Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word and PDF format only:
- A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement;
- A current résumé, and;
- A list of three or more professional references.
Please address any questions to:
Sal Salazar, Human ResourcesOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction
600 Washington Street Southeast
Olympia, Washington 98504-7200
360-725-6278: [email protected]
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail [email protected].
New Jobs Alert Service
OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.
OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in “Application Process.”