POSITION OVERVIEW: The Northwest Missouri State University School of Education seeks an engaging, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic educator to serve as faculty member and colleague in a rural-based educator preparation program with a rich, University-wide tradition of high-quality educator preparation. The faculty member will serve as an Instructor or Assistant Professor (dependent on qualifications and experience) and must possess strong teaching, advising, research, leadership, presentation, collaboration, and communication skills. The selected candidate must model life-long learning and continuous improvement as an educator, and be grounded in the most current research, curriculum, pedagogy, and practice; this requires evidence of strong and successful teaching experience with deep content knowledge.

The faculty member will join a vibrant, productive team which possesses unyielding commitment to a campus-based, undergraduate educator preparation program supported by the on-campus Horace Mann Laboratory School and Leet Center Preschool and Infant-Toddler Center and stellar online, graduate education. The selected candidate must demonstrate thorough knowledge of educator preparation and curricular redesign, as well as online learning and course and program development. They will join a faculty with a burgeoning suite of entirely online graduate programs which are nationally focused and experiencing rapid growth. The ideal candidate can thus effectively teach in face-to-face, blended, and online environments while balancing these performance expectations: excellent teaching, robust creative and scholarly achievement, skilled, dedicated advising to undergraduate and graduate students; and service to the students, school, university, and the profession. The ideal candidate will be innovative, possess strong listening and collaboration skills, exhibit kindness, possess diligence, and care deeply about educator preparation, quality, and organizational viability.

PRIMARY DUTY: The Instructor/Assistant Professor will teach, conduct research, and contribute service. They will collaborate and assist in the facilitation and co-evaluation of teacher candidates in clinical field experiences. The instructor must hold, and promote, high expectations for students and self, work well with colleagues at Northwest and in the discipline, communicating effectively with stakeholders including school partners, and diagnostic health professionals. The faculty member must work closely with other university faculty in education and across multiple content areas and several on-campus departments to ensure program quality, while providing high quality feedback, instruction, and assessment practices steeped in current research and effective teaching practices. The faculty member will ensure superior clinical experiences are provided to teacher candidates and work well with school partners and PK-12 teachers to develop mutually co-beneficial, strategic partnerships to grow teacher candidate practicum opportunities. The instructor must demonstrate an appreciation and promotion of diversity as a commitment to the School of Education and Northwest Missouri State University.

AREAS OF NEED: The School of Education is seeking a reflective educator with a strong background in general Early Childhood Education and Educator Preparation.

• Early Childhood Education (priority-must have appropriate credentialing and degree attainment)
• Special Education

In addition, experience in Elementary Education/Curriculum and Instruction is valued

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provide engaging, research-based instruction to undergraduate and graduate students.
2. Teach 12-13 undergraduate or graduate credit hours per trimester in an area of need (PK-12 Education and Graduate Early Childhood Education courses in a variety of formats including online, face-to-face, and/or hybrid/blended, as well as teaching at different sites. Summer teaching (at additional pay) is expected.
3. Provide timely, constructive feedback to undergraduate and graduate students to help them monitor their progress and support learning.
4. Supervise students in clinical field experiences and practicums at various sites.
5. Participate in highly collaborative, professional learning activities with colleagues.
6. Build relationships with school and community members to promote enhanced involvement in educator preparation and support ongoing (and develop new) partnerships.
7. Exhibit skill in development and expansion of mutually co-beneficial PK-12-university partnerships to assist both entities.
8. Actively participate in department, college, and university initiatives to ensure quality programs and state and AAQEP national accreditation and overall excellence in the teacher education program.
9. Advise, recruit and retention of students at the undergraduate and graduate level.
10. Collaborate within School, and with department, college, university faculty and staff, educators in PK-12 environments, and area agencies.
11. Pursue scholarly work at the local, regional, and national levels.
12. Attend and participate in bi-annual School of Education Advisory Council Meetings.
13. Supervise, coach, mentor, and support teacher candidates in clinical practicum experiences while partnering with Leet Center Laboratory School faculty on program development and research.
14. Exhibit strong skills in educational technology (Zoom, Canvas, email, and others), scholarly research, and collaboration.
15. Support university and school initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
16. Assist with university and program accreditation (HLC, AAQEP, Missouri DESE, and/or other).
17. Perform other duties and tasks as required of all faculty in the School of Education.

REQUIREMENTS:

        Education: Assistant Professor: Earned doctorate or ABD-status in Education: Early Childhood Education. At least eighteen graduate hours of graduate-level Early Childhood; Instructor: Masters/Specialist Degree with commitment to pursue an Educational doctorate or Ph.D. in Education in area of School of Education need (Early Childhood Education) may be considered; At least 18 successfully completed graduate-level Early Childhood coursework will be required by start date. (Appointment will be at instructor level, with instructor level-pay, until fall term directly following when doctorate is complete).

        Experience: Successful experience in Early Childhood/Elementary/ PK-12 education settings

        Skills: Evidence of university-level teaching skill; effective communication ability; collaboration skills and the ability to work well with others toward common goals; strong organizational skills; attentiveness to detail; kindness.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Collaborative team-based academic environment in a teacher education program at a regional, comprehensive University.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: Willing to be able to acquire/maintain required travel credentials and participate in international study away (Reggio Emilia, Italy) with faculty and teacher candidates.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Will supervise teacher candidates and practicum students

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Canvas Learning Management System, Zoom, Interactive SMART Board, iPads, laptop computers, document cameras, email, and emerging technologies.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to complete essential classroom functions and lift 20 pounds.

COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 8,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location at the Northland Innovation Center and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905, Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency.

The University is a national model for student success and career placement. In addition, 98 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and nearly 100 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation, according to the most recent data.

Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. Designated the Missouri Arboretum, the Northwest campus was named one of the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.”

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu.

SALARY: Competitive market based and commensurate with qualifications

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The search committee will begin the review of applications immediately and the position will remain open until successfully filled

DATE AVAILABLE: August 8, 2023             

APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of application describing PK-12 and University-level teaching experience and suitability for the position, current résumé or CV, copies of all post-secondary transcripts, evidence of effective college teaching, and a list of three current references who will speak to qualifications and experiences.

TO APPLY: You will need to submit the application materials as files (Word/PDF) listed above through Northwest’s Human Resources portal NEOGOV at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/nwmissouri/default.cfm

INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO SEARCH CO-CHAIRS:   

Dr. Sandy Seipel, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education

Phone: 660-562-1889

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Becky Moore, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education

Phone: 660-562-1239
Email: [email protected]