The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve. 

We invest in our employees both at work and beyond. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, employees receive access to an Employee Assistance Program with wellness resources, two hours of paid wellness time each month, and eight hours of paid volunteer time each calendar year to support causes that matter to them.  We have a team-oriented atmosphere, focus on work-life balance, and offer a flexible work schedule for this position. This YouTube video shares the benefits of working at DPI.

The Educator Development Section within the Division of Academics is seeking applicants for a Recruitment and Retention Coordinator position to address school staffing challenges and to help promote the value of special educators and leaders. This position involves coaching, supports continuous improvement processes, and provides professional learning. The incumbent works with partners within school districts, parent advocacy groups, professional organizations, and institutes of higher education. Please apply if you enjoy staying current on research-based strategies to improve student outcomes, increasing recruitment and retention of special education staff, and making a difference for new teachers and leaders.

The incumbent will provide statewide leadership in the development and implementation of the five-year grant entitled “Special Education Teacher Apprenticeship and Induction Retention System in Wisconsin (STAIRS-WI): Building and Sustaining the Special Education Workforce Through Registered Apprenticeship and Induction.” Help strengthen Wisconsin’s special education workforce by leading statewide efforts to recruit, prepare, support, and retain special educators. You’ll lead a five-year grant, build partnerships, provide training and support, and use data to improve programs and address staffing needs. You’ll also work with schools, colleges, agencies, and other partners to strengthen educator pathways and support lasting improvements.

• Lead statewide efforts to recruit, prepare, support, and retain special educators.
• Build partnerships and provide practical training, guidance, and support to schools and educator preparation programs.
• Use data and feedback to identify workforce needs, improve programs, and measure progress.

This position is in the Education Consultant classification. Depending on qualifications, the salary will be between $37.00-$49.50 per hour (approximately $76,960 - $102,960 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 13, range 02. A one-year probationary period will be required.

Check out the excellent benefits this position offers on the Employee Trust Fund’s information page. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Remote Work: This position allows for up to 90% remote work within the State of Wisconsin, with the expectation that the employee maintains secure, high-speed internet access. Remote work from neighboring states may be approved only in very rare and limited circumstances. Please note that remote work arrangements may be rescinded at any time based on business needs, and employees may occasionally be required to report to a Wisconsin work location on short notice.

Travel: This position includes travel to attend one annual out-of-state federal grant conference. In-state travel is required about once per month.

Headquarters: The position is headquartered at 201 W. Washington Ave. in Madison, WI, and employees are required to report there on their first day of employment. In addition, the employee may need to report to their headquarter location as operational needs require. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee’s headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Pre-hire requirements: A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire. A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Legal authorization: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Please address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications.

A minimally qualified applicant must have all the below:

• Experience leading implementation of a large grant (i.e., a grant with multiple activities, goals, deadlines, contracts, partnerships, and progress measurements) including budget management
• Experience providing professional learning and coaching to special education teachers in a classroom setting or to special education leadership at a district level 
• Experience implementing or recommending evidence-based practices for improving outcomes for students with disabilities

Well-qualified applicants will also have some or all of the following:

• Experience researching, developing, or implementing strategies for addressing recruitment and retention of special education staff
• Experience implementing system change using continuous improvement framework (e.g., using an implementation science framework to develop communication and structures for sustainability)
• Experience using project management technology 
• Experience implementing a data/evaluation system to measure project goals and outcomes 
• Experience engaging/collaborating with at least two partners with diverse perspectives and experiences, including partnering with marginalized communities (e.g., people of color, communities of lower socio-economic status, disability advocacy groups, etc.)
• Holds Director of Special Education licensure

For this position, please submit an updated resume and letter of qualifications. Review our Application Tips page on the DPI website for additional guidance.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place. 

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability.  If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.  Once you have applied, please send an email indicating your interest in being considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program to the HR staff listed in the​​ job posting.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter Maria Butters at Maria.Butters@dpi.wi.gov.

The deadline for this announcement is 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The original deadline was October 8, and it was extended by 1 week.