Overview
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University (NIU) is pleased to announce a tenure-track position in Curriculum and Instruction. The department is seeking qualified applicants for the position in Curriculum and Instruction with the rank of assistant professor. Candidates should possess experience and a research focus in one or more of the following areas: science education, STEM, or science educator related positions (e.g. science/STEM education coordinators at research centers, museums or other related informal education agencies) at the Elementary/ Middle Level. Additionally, qualified candidates should demonstrate an ability to establish partnerships and research collaboratively with internal and external partners, including different college and university units, research centers, and community organizations. Given the increasing emergent multilingual population in northern Illinois, we are particularly interested in applicants with multilingual teaching backgrounds.
Successful applicants with be expected to publish scholarly works and seek external grants in the fields of elementary reading; participate in developing innovative undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs and professional development: participate in school-university partnerships; advise doctoral students, and direct theses and dissertations. Finally, engaging students through off-campus and online teaching are expected in the position which will offer another venue for the successful candidate to build connections beyond the traditional campus-culture.
Summer teaching is available based on program need and available resources.
About the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Northern Illinois University
Serving the greater metropolitan area of Chicago and northern Illinois, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction prepares socially responsible practitioner scholars to work and learn within multicultural and multilingual contexts. The department is committed to responsive teaching, learning, and curriculum leadership. The department engages with multiple stakeholders in identifying and implementing solutions to increase academic equity and inclusion. The department of Curriculum and Instruction is committed to doing the work that equity, social justice, and anti-racism demand. Faculty lead innovative programs such as Social Justice summer camp and Educate Global experiences for students, to which this individual would have the opportunity to participate.
The department of Curriculum and Instruction enrolls approximately 500 undergraduate students in degree programs in Elementary Education and Middle Level Teaching and Learning. The department also enrolls approximately 275 graduate students in master’s degree programs in Curriculum and Instruction and Literacy Education (focus in ESL/Bilingual or Reading); the MAT in Elementary Education; and the Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (specializations in curriculum leadership; literacy education; or science, social studies, and environmental education integration). The department also houses the Academic Literacy and Learning Program and the Jerry L. Johns Literacy Clinic and offers multiple endorsements and certificates of graduate study.
We invite you to join a dynamic department committed to social justice that focuses on promoting excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and outreach and service.
Position Summary
The Assistant Professor will work, teach, and contribute across multiple programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. In addition, the responsibilities of this position may lead to transdisciplinary opportunities for teaching and other collaboration with social justice-oriented courses in curriculum and instruction.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in science/STEM education and
- Develop and teach in multiple formats and locations, i.e., on-campus, off-campus environments, face-to-face and online (synchronous and asynchronous)
- Maintain a strong record of scholarly publications and presentations
- Serve on and/or direct doctoral dissertations
- Assist in report writing and accreditation reporting
- Serve as needed on program, departmental, college or university committees
- Develop innovative undergraduate and graduate teacher education and professional development
- Participate in and cultivate school-university partnerships
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in science/STEM education, curriculum and instruction with a science/STEM focus, or related area (ABD candidates considered with an established defense date)
- Knowledge of theory, research, and best practice associated within one or more of the following areas: elementary/middle level science/STEM learning, transdisciplinary connections to science/STEM content and practice, curriculum leadership in the field of science/STEM education,
- At least three years of grades 1-9 teaching experience
- Experience in working with students from diverse backgrounds
- Demonstration of ongoing commitment to equity and social justice
- Evidence of evolving scholarly record as evidenced by publications and presentations
Additional Requirements
N/A
Preferred Qualifications
- University teaching experience
- Experience with the use of new technologies in instruction and assessment
- Experience working with school-university partnerships
- Expertise in culturally linguistic diverse education
- Active scholarly agenda that includes external grant submissions
