Teaching Spec/Lecturer Elementary Education

Position Overview

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota seeks to fill two Teaching Specialist/Lecturer positions in Elementary Education. The successful candidate will be a field-shaping thought leader whose expertise in social justice-oriented teacher education centers student success, interdisciplinary approaches, and innovative teaching methods, especially related to reading foundations. Candidates should have experience in elementary literacy.

Both positions focus on teaching, administrative course anchoring, and collaboration with the Office of Teacher Education as well as state licensure accreditation institutions such as PELSB around elementary literacy courses in the undergraduate Elementary Education Foundations major and Elementary M.Ed/initial licensure program.

This position is based on campus. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your manager.

These are 9-month, full-time appointments with target start dates of August 2025.

Job Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Teaching (60%)
Teach 18 credits per academic year:

• Courses may include, CI 5413 Foundations of Reading (4 credits), CI 5414 Field Experience: Working with Developing Readers (2 credits) , CI 5425 Reading in the Elementary Grades (3 credits) and CI 5426 Language Arts Instruction in the Elementary Grades (3 credits).
• Course development, revisions or other preparation required to teach these courses
• Course grading and assessment

Administration (35%)
Anchoring a Content Standards and/or Field Experience Licensure Course includes, but is not limited to:

• Serve as course liaison to Office of Teacher Education to ensure that the courses meet state licensure requirements and accreditation standards required by PELSB
• Work with the Office of Teacher Education Clinical Partnerships Coordinator to reach out to school leaders and classroom teachers to seek/develop/maintain partnerships
• Find placements for field experience students based on relevant factors such as proximity, minors/majors (early childhood students have to be placed in K-3 classrooms), and program requirements (i.e., elementary education students must have experience lower elementary and upper elementary placements)
• Coordinate and lead field placement orientation; support students with background checks
• Conduct triad meetings with school leaders, cooperating teachers, supervisors, and students for placement concerns and/or changes. Confer with students, supervisors, teachers, and school leaders when needed
• Create and maintain a comprehensive field placement data spreadsheet for the Office of Teacher Education
• Hire, mentor, and supervise qualified instructors and/or supervisors for elementary literacy courses
• Design the parent Canvas site for all sections of courses anchored; review and provide feedback to instructors of sections
• Create and distribute CEUs to all host teachers
• Communicate with department academic advisors and conduct progress review meetings, as needed
• Field experience course anchors will communicate and coordinate with The Center for Community Engagement Scholars program around service learning
• Administer process for Best Friends Award (as part of CI 5413): send out application, review applications, and award students with local bookstore gift cards to support their classroom libraries
  
  

Service to the department (5%)

• Participate in department service activities, including internal committees or task forces. When applicable and within capacity, service to college, university, and community service or other outreach activities, and/or collaborating with external constituencies as well as in the activities of relevant state and national professional organizations may be approved
• Potential to review and administer scholarships and awards to students
  

Required Qualifications

• Masters Degree in related field for Teaching Specialist; Ph.D. for Lecturer
• Teacher of record in elementary (K-6) classrooms for at least three years, including at least one year as a reading instructor, interventionist or K-2 teacher with experience working with developing readers
• Demonstrated competency of course content, including at least 18 credits of graduate coursework focused on reading foundations and pedagogy
• Evidence of attention to diverse identities in teaching or professional experience, and the commitment to support the University's work in diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Knowledge of and commitment to the broad, interdisciplinary scholarly field of Elementary Education (K-8)

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in education, elementary literacy or related field
• Experience working in multilingual settings and with multilingual students
• Experience teaching equity and justice-oriented courses for elementary teacher candidates at the undergraduate and graduate levels
  

Department Overview
The Department is committed to promote social justice and dismantle racial, socioeconomic, gender and language injustices in education; actively work to eliminate barriers and obstacles created by institutional discrimination; and to develop future teachers, practitioners, and researchers who are equipped to identify and challenge systems and structures of racism and oppression in the field, locally and globally. This tenure-track faculty member will have an appointment in the Department's Elementary Education program area.

The Elementary Education program consists of an undergraduate Bachelor of Science Degree; a Master's of Education (MEd) Initial Licensure Program; a Master's of Arts Degree; and a PhD major. For more than a decade, Elementary Education has been the Department's largest program area in terms of total number of students across degrees (200+ Undergrads; 100+ teacher licensure students; 5-10 M.A./Ph.D. students). Across all of its programs, Elementary Education faculty and staff intentionally aim to enact-- in their research, teaching, service, outreach, and program leadership-the Department's social justice commitments.

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Pay Range: The salary range for this position is $62,000 - $75,000. Final salary offers are dependent on the candidate's experience, skills, and internal equity within the department.

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position.

This position requires that you attach the following documents as PDFs : 1) cover letter, 2) detailed CV, 3) names and contact information of three references, and 4) a statement of teaching interests. The teaching statement should include prior or proposed contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion. This position will remain open until filled.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Questions related to this position may be directed to Department Administrator, Molly Bendzick, mollyb@umn.edu.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).