Open Rank Clinical Faculty - Elementary Literacy

The Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Iowa invites applications for an academic-year clinical-track faculty position at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor in the Elementary Education program. We are seeking an elementary literacy teacher educator who can demonstrate rich pedagogical knowledge of elementary learners and a commitment to critical and anti-racist approaches in education. The successful candidate will demonstrate active engagement in equity, inclusivity, and anti-racist education, which are critical practices within our department and the College of Education.  

Description 

This is a full-time academic-year (9 month) clinical track faculty position with an initial three-year appointment beginning August 16, 2023 with possibility of renewal. The clinical track at the University of Iowa has a career progression that includes promotion (assistant, associate, full professor). The College of Education provides support for clinical faculty in professional development, conference travel, and scholarship related to clinical faculty members’ areas of work. Clinical faculty are expected to teach the equivalent of 3-4 courses per semester and engage in other program-related responsibilities such as curriculum development and student advising.

In this position, responsibilities center on teaching and supporting our elementary education program, including supervising and teaching elementary literacy courses; supervising field experiences; engaging in curriculum development and revision; participating in grant activities; and establishing connections with departments across the UI campus, local schools, and communities. Faculty are required to engage in at least 4 hours per semester of collaboration with teachers in contributing to instruction in K6 classrooms. The successful candidate will be involved with local, state, and national activities that support literacy education as well as equity-centered teacher education. They will also participate in service to the program, department, college, and university.

Education Requirements

An earned doctorate by August 1, 2023 in Literacy Education or a related discipline.

Required Qualifications

Teaching experience in elementary literacy education in school settings;

Demonstrated commitment to collaborating with culturally, linguistically, racially, and socioeconomically diverse communities; and

Potential for securing external funds for professional and program development.

Desirable Qualifications

Evidence of effective teaching abilities in teacher education in higher education;

Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racist teacher education; 

Licensure (or eligibility for licensure) in Elementary Education;

Experience in building partnerships with local schools and communities; and

A record of securing external funds for research, training, and program development.

Salary

Highly competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent start-up package, benefits, and research support.

Appointment 

Academic year (9 month) clinical track appointment beginning August 16, 2023.

Applications

Candidates should submit an application letter addressing all qualifications noted above, including commitment to collaboration with diverse populations; a curriculum vitae; contact information for three references; and graduate college transcripts. To apply for this position, go to our website at https://jobs.uiowa.edu/content/faculty/ and choose requisition number 74675. Address inquiries or nominations to Mark McDermott (mark-a-mcdermott@uiowa.edu) and Erika Johnson (erika-johnson@uiowa.edu).

Screening

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

About the University and Surrounding Community

The University of Iowa (UI) is a world-renowned institution located in Iowa City, an UNESCO City of Literature that is recognized as one of the country’s most livable communities. With more than 70,000 residents, Iowa City is an attractive haven for scholars, scientists, artists, writers, and professionals of all kinds.  Highlights of living in Iowa City include outstanding schools and libraries, a lively downtown offering an array of events focused on arts, learning, and cultural development, and the unique charm of a vibrant college town connected by easy travel to larger cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Iowa City and UI are intertwined for the betterment of the university and the surrounding communities.

We are committed to recruiting and retaining innovative and diverse faculty and staff, which involves providing opportunities for employees to “Build a Career and Build a Life” in the Iowa City area. The University offers several benefits to support faculty in achieving a healthy work/life balance including domestic partner benefits, family caregiving leave, flexible spending accounts for dependent care and health care, and an automatic tenure clock extension when a minor child is added to the family. For more information about local work/life resources, including dual-career support, please see: worklife.uiowa.edu.

About the Department and Elementary Education

The Department of Teaching and Learning (T & L) at the University of Iowa includes over 35 faculty members and 900 students. The Elementary Education Program is guided by a co-leadership team that includes tenure and clinical track faculty. The program provides instruction to over 400 students each year. The program includes four literacy courses and a reading practicum. In Fall 2022, Elementary Education started a new pathway for first year students at UI to begin introductory coursework while maintaining other pathways (community college transfers, changing majors). The Teacher Education Program (TEP) implements Core Principles that ascribe to learning through inquiry, reflection, and collaboration with a commitment to humanizing approaches. These Principles center valuing students’ identities, developing learners’ skills and intellect, and engaging in equitable and justice-oriented education. They were drafted by the TEP Curriculum Council, which is comprised of tenure and clinical track faculty, based on faculty input, teacher education student data, K12 research, and several frameworks, including Humanizing Socio-Cultural Knowledge (Brown, 2013), Historically Responsive Literacy Framework (Muhammad, 2020) and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1994, 2009). The Department has an active Solidarity Committee to support and guide work on equity and anti-racist education in the Teacher Education Program.

About the College

The College of Education offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including licensure, endorsement, and certificate programs, many of which are regularly ranked among the best in the nation. Students study with our world-renowned faculty who are the leaders in their fields.  Our college is comprised of four departments: Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, Counselor Education, and Teaching and Learning.  The College houses several Centers that support work in critical areas of education, including UI REACH, the Iowa Reading Research Center, the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health, and the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. The College is guided by a Strategic Plan which includes actively engaging with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The College is works intentionally through our Anti-Racism Collaborative.

 The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.