Director of the Master of Arts in Special Education: Learning Disabilities (MA: SELD) Program

The School of Education (SOE) at American University invites applications for Director of the Master of Arts in Special Education: Learning Disabilities (MA: SELD) program. The appointment is a 9-month, full-time term faculty position, with a summer administrative stipend, and will commence on July 15, 2020.

The MA: SELD program is committed to preparing teachers to work with students with high incidence disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dyscalculia, nonverbal learning disabilities) as well as related disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity, speech and language, emotional-behavioral). Program graduates are equipped with diagnostic and prescriptive intervention techniques that they apply to teaching students with disabilities in placement settings ranging from inclusive general education to self-contained special education classroom settings. The program prepares Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, in alignment with the District of Columbia’s Cross-Categorical Special Education Teaching License. The MA: SELD program is currently recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children. Information about the program can be found at: https://www.american.edu/cas/education/special/index.cfm

Key responsibilities of the MA: SELD Program Director include advising MA: SELD students, overseeing the admissions process and evaluating program and student performance, providing marketing and recruitment leadership, hiring and supervising adjunct faculty, managing graduate program coordinator and program graduate assistants, coordinating faculty curricular and programmatic efforts, facilitating accreditation and assessment efforts, and developing and maintaining relationships with external partners. In addition to the Program Director responsibilities, the term faculty position holds a 6-course teaching load, with one release for program director duties. Term faculty responsibilities also include student advising and participation, as appropriate, in the SOE and university community.

American University’s SOE is in Washington DC, a city with committed and innovative urban educators and access to some of the nation’s largest and most diverse school districts. SOE, with commitments to increasing equitable educational outcomes of students in all learning environments, is a growing school with programs in teacher education, special education, international education, and educational policy and leadership. American University is a private research institution within easy reach of the many centers of government, business, research, and the arts. For more information about American University, visit www.american.edu . Additional information about SOE is available at http://www.american.edu/cas/education/American University

Applicants should hold a doctorate in special education or another relevant field. Applicants’ experience and knowledge should include emotional and behavioral disabilities, learning disabilities, dyslexia, inclusive teaching practices, Universal Design for Learning, assessment of learning disorders, behavior management, and related areas. Competitive candidates will demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to antiracist pedagogies, diversity, inclusion, and equitable outcomes for all students.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue for 4 days or until the position is filled. Include a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a list of references (including names and addresses), recent teaching evaluations (when possible) and recent publications (optional). Please submit the recent teaching evaluations and copies of recent publications under "Required Documents-Additional Documents" section .