Assistant Professor of K-12 Special Education

Posting Details

Position Information

Recruitment Number

5415

Working Title

Assistant Professor of K-12 Special Education

Position Type

Faculty/Instructional

Appointment Percentage

100

Division/College

School of Education, Professional and Continuing Education

Position Summary

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Department of Educational Studies invites qualified teacher educators with expertise in K-12 special education to apply for a full-time tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor rank, to begin Fall 2022. The successful candidate will be a member of a diverse department that serves early childhood education, elementary/middle education, special education (K-12) and teaching English to speakers of other languages ( TESOL, K-12) programs.

We seek an educator and scholar who actively connects theory and practice in the classroom and advances the field of teacher education through a focus on innovative inclusive special education practices. Individuals should be knowledgeable of universal design for learning and be able to demonstrate their use of these and other effective inclusive practices (e.g., self-regulated learning and social and emotional learning). Preference will be given to applicants with ongoing assessment and instructional design experiences at multiple K-12 grade levels and those with evidence of successful university-level teaching and supervision and educational leadership. The ideal candidate is an exemplary educator who brings a demonstrated passion for pursuing educational equity and social justice to their work as a teacher educator. Candidates should present evidence of a research agenda related to special education or related fields. The School of Education is committed to preparing globally responsive teachers who are grounded in a strong academic curriculum that is linked to world events, geography, world cultures, and diverse perspectives.

Teaching responsibilities serve early childhood majors, elementary/middle education majors, and elementary/middle education – special education dual certification majors through courses inCollaborative Partnerships and Transitions for Students with Disabilities,Advanced Literacy and Math Practices for K-12 Students with Persistent Academic Challenges, and Designing Sustainable Inclusive Classrooms,as well as other courses, depending on the expertise of the candidate and the needs of the department.

Description of College / Department / Program / Division / Unit

The Department of Educational Studies ( DES ), housed in the School of Education, is committed to advancing teaching and learning while preparing teacher leaders for a global society. DES strives to prepare teachers who ground curriculum in the lives of students; embrace multicultural perspectives and uphold inclusive teaching practices; value academically rigorous curricula; and demonstrate culturally sensitive dispositions. DES offers teacher education majors in Early Childhood Education (birth-grade 3), Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9), Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & Special Education (grades K-12), Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & TESOL (grades K-12), Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & French Education (grades K-12) and Elementary/Middle Education (grades K-9) & Spanish Education (grades K-12). The dual certification majors are offered in collaboration with the Global Cultures & Languages Department in the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities.

The School of Education focuses its programming on ensuring that all teacher candidates demonstrate knowledge, skills and dispositions consistent with exemplary professional practice. Through partnerships with our regional school districts and outstanding veteran educators, the School of Education provides teacher candidates with high quality experiences in schools as a means to advance the teaching profession. Finally, the School of Education, and University of Wisconsin- La Crosse are committed to inclusive excellence, and values diversity in both its faculty and student populations.

UW-La Crosse’s School of Education is committed to principles of equity, inclusion, and social justice. We seek to advance UW-La Crosse’s strategic planning goal, “Achieving Excellence through Diversity and Equity” by increasing the retention of diverse students, faculty, and staff; teaching with identity inclusive and responsive pedagogies; and ensuring that everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual identity, citizenship, first language, religion, ability and other identities—is included and welcomed on campus.

Required Qualifications

Only candidates who will have completed or are near completion of a doctorate degree by the position start date will be considered. Candidates must have an earned doctorate by May, 2023. Review of applications will begin on January 24, 2022, and continue until the position is filled.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in special education, curriculum and instruction, or a related field (by May 2023)
• Minimum of 3 years teaching experience in U.S. K-12 schools.
• Experience designing and implementing effective inclusive and collaborative K-12 classroom environments using universal design for learning and other inclusive pedagogical approaches (e.g., self-regulated learning, social and emotional learning).
• Experience or expertise in K12 special education
• Evidence of an emerging research agenda
• Evidence of commitment to social justice, educational equity, multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion as it relates to teaching, research, and/or service

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of ongoing assessment and instructional design experiences with diverse learners in inclusive settings across various developmental levels.
• Experience with co-teaching/collaboration
• Reading Specialist License
• Evidence of successful university-level teaching in teacher education courses.
• Experience with supervision of pre-service teachers in inclusive educational settings.
• Experience supporting students with the Educator Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) or other teacher performance assessments

Physical Demands

N/A

Working conditions and environment

• Classroom setting.
• High contact with students and or other campus stakeholders.

Miscellaneous Information

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BENEFITS
Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university.
Highlights include:

• excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
• paid holidays and sick days.
• sick leave may be converted at retirement to pay for health insurance post-work at UWL .
• after 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.
• benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation.

Learn more at:https://www.uwlax.edu/globalassets/offices-services/human-resources/benefits-info/2022-quick-guide-faasli.pdf

Benefit eligibility is determined at point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.

INFORMATION ABOUT UW-LA CROSSE AND THE REGION
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW–La Crosse) provides a challenging, dynamic, and diverse learning environment in which the entire university community is fully engaged in supporting student success. Grounded in the liberal arts, UW-La Crosse fosters curiosity and life-long learning through collaboration, innovation, and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Acknowledging and respecting the contributions of all, UW-La Crosse is a regional academic and cultural center that prepares students to take their place in a constantly changing world community.

UW-La Crosse’s diversity and inclusion efforts are guided by our adherence to Inclusive Excellence. We define Inclusive Excellence as “… our active, intentional and ongoing commitment to bridge differences with understanding and respect so all can thrive." The goals of Inclusive Excellence are to increase the retention of diverse faculty, staff and students while encouraging a campus climate that is inviting and welcoming to all. UW-La Crosse strives to promote acceptance of all facets of diversity from racial/ethnic diversity to diversity of thought and experience. UW-La Crosse ranks 6th nationally among the Top LGBTQ -Friendly Colleges for 2018-19 by AffordableCollegesOnline.org ( ACO ).

For more than a decade UW-La Crosse has been named one of Kiplinger’s 100 Best Values in Public Universities and has appeared prominently on theU.S. News & World Reportlist of “America’s Best Colleges” for more than 15 years, and is ranked #4 on its list of the Best Regional Public Universities in the Midwest.

With a student population of roughly 10,500, the university offers 91 undergraduate programs, 21 graduate programs, and 2 doctoral programs through the following three colleges, the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, the College of Business Administration, and the College of Science and Health, as well as the School of Education. There are over 600 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, 75 percent of whom hold terminal degrees. UW-La Crosse boasts a retention rate (freshmen returning as sophomores) of 84 percent, graduation rate (degree within six years) of 70 percent, and is among only 12 institutions cited nationally by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its success in linking campus culture and university leadership to outstanding graduation rates.

UW-La Crosse’s strategic plan Sustaining Excellence continues to move our community forward through its four pillars: increasing community engagement, achieving excellence through equity and diversity, investing in our people, and advancing transformational education. More information about the ongoing work of Sustaining Excellence is available atwww.uwlax.edu/info/strategic-plan .

The UW-La Crosse campus is located in southwestern Wisconsin, nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse and positioned as part of a larger metro area with a population close to 140,000. The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between. Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of small town living with larger city benefits. Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored nineteenth century downtown business district, and a number of galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports and recreation. More information about the La Crosse metro area can be found here:Choose La Crosse .

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Employment will require a criminal background check. A pending criminal charge or conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, UW-La Crosse does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction records.

Learn more about UW-La Crosse here:https://www.uwlax.edu/human-resources/services/talent-acquisition-and-employment/finalist-welcome/

Duties/Responsibilities

These are the job duties required for the position.

Responsibility Statement

Responsibilities include the following:

Duties to Support Responsibility

• Delivering inclusive special education programming for teacher candidates seeking a variety of teaching licenses, primarily for those seeking the elementary/middle education (grade K-9)/Special Education (grade K-12) dual certification major.
• Teaching one or more courses for school psychology graduate students as needed
• Pursuing an active program of scholarly inquiry
• Advising and mentoring teacher education students
• Engaging in service to the department, School of Education, university, community, and profession

Percentage Of Time

100

Essential

Yes

Posting Detail Information

Posting Detail Information

Special Instructions

Interested candidates are requested to provide the following application materials:

1. A cover letter that addresses the candidate’s background and experience, addressing, in particular, each of the required qualifications;
2. Curriculum vitae, including certifications and K-12 teaching experience;
3. Contact information for three professional references.
   
   

Additional application materials may be requested from candidates that progress through later rounds in the search process.

Posting Date

12/21/2021

Close Date

Continuous Recruitment

Continuous Recruitment First Review Date

01/24/2022

Position Contact Name

Leslie Rogers, Chair of the Search and Screen Committee

Position Contact Email

hrinfo@uwlax.edu
Required Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
3. Reference Contact Information

Optional DocumentsSupplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identities of finalists must be revealed upon request. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).
   • I wish for my name to remain confidential until the university is no longer able to do so.
   • I waive my right to keep my name confidential through the application process.
2. * Are you legally eligible to work in the United States?
   • Yes
   • No
3. * Are you currently under investigation or have ever left employment during an active investigation in which you were accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment? (Required under UW System Administrative Policy 1275)
   • Yes
   • No
4. * Were you ever found to have engaged in any sexual violence or sexual harassment in a previous work assignment? (Required under UW System Administrative Policy 1275)
   • Yes
   • No
5. * Are you an alum of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
   • Yes
   • No
6. * After you retire from a Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) employer, you may return to work with a WRS employer as a rehired annuitant, provided certain requirements are met. There are no restrictions on what type of position a rehired annuitant can hold. Under the WRS, there is no limit to how much you may earn as a rehired annuitant. (Learn more: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/life-events/empcha/ra/). Are you currently collecting an annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System, (WRS)?
   • Yes
   • No
7. * Are you currently employed by or have you been employed by a UW System institution or a State of Wisconsin agency during the last seven (7) years? Please answer yes or no. If yes, provide the institution or agency name, your supervisor and contact information, including phone number and email address.
   • Yes
   • No
8. * Please provide your most recent employer, supervisor name and contact information, including phone number and email address. (Pursuant to UW System Administrative Policy 1275, UW System requires reference checks related to sexual harassment and sexual violence to be conducted at a minimum with a final candidate’s most recent employer and with all previous UW System institution and State of Wisconsin agency employers from the past seven years. UW-L will notify you prior to contacting your supervisor).
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
9. * Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship for employment at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? (UW-L and UW System institutions pay for some or all of the sponsorship costs. Some candidates may require an H1B or another form of employment sponsorship to work in the US. This question is asked so that if you are the successful candidate, Human Resources can work with your work unit to begin the process of obtaining this visa).
   • Yes, I will require sponsorship prior to employment.
   • Yes, I will require sponsorship for continued employment if hired.
   • No, I do not require sponsorship and am eligible to work in the US.
10. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
    • Chronicle of Higher Education Web Site
    • Discipline-Specific Publication/Web Site
    • HERC Web Site
    • HigherEdJobs.com Web Site
    • Job Center of Wisconsin Web Site
    • Minority Publication/Web Site
    • University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Social Media (i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter)
    • University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Web Site
    • La Crosse Tribune
    • Personal Referral
    • LinkedIn
    • Indeed
    • WinonaDailyNews.com, LaCrosseTribune.com, ChippewaHerald.com, Journaltimes.com, Kenoshanews.com, Madison.com
    • Department of Workforce Development (WISC)
    • Other