Teaching Assistant (College) jobs in Oklahoma

Teaching Instructor or Teaching Assistant Professor – Special Education

School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences

August 2024

POSITION: The Special Education program, housed in the School of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Sciences (STLES) in the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) at Oklahoma State University, is seeking a leading thinker and outstanding teacher educator for the position of a Teaching Instructor or Teaching Assistant Professor of Special Education. Candidates for the Teaching Instructor must have a minimum of a master’s degree in special education or related area; candidates for the Teaching Assistant Professor must have an earned doctorate by the start of the semester in August. We seek candidates dedicated to quality teacher education with a specialization in mild/moderate disabilities to begin August 2024.

The Special Education program prepares educators for careers working with students with disabilities. The mission of the program is to prepare effective, knowledgeable, compassionate, reflective special education professionals. Students are encouraged to become life-long learners, effective practitioners, and knowledgeable advocates. The program offers online and hybrid coursework at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The new faculty should demonstrate a desire to make a positive impact on the community through service, extension, and outreach efforts. In particular, the new faculty should become a leader in STLES, CEHS, the community, state, and beyond as related to Special Education. The faculty should build positive relationships with the K-12 school community as well as be an active participant in state/regional/national/international Special Education organizations.

This faculty member will join a group of Special Education faculty, as well as faculty across campus who are active as researchers, instructors, and grant writers and who are involved in a variety of national organizations. We encourage collaboration across academic units and strongly encourage this faculty member to explore opportunities to engage in community engagement.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities for this faculty position include:

·        Teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses online and in person

·        Supporting the special education programs with recruitment, scholarship activities, professional development, and other program work;

·        Recruiting and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students; and 

·        Participating in committee service to the school, college, university, and community.

The successful candidate will appreciate the University’s land grant mission and embrace the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through high-quality and integrated teaching. Strong commitment to collaboration and collegiality is highly valued. Special Education faculty members work with others within the program, school, college, and community to enhance and expand existing strengths and increase the positive impact of the program on education in the state of Oklahoma, the region, and the nation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·        For Teaching Instructor: an earned master’s degree or EdS with an emphasis in Special Education, or related area;

·        For Teaching Assistant Professor: an earned doctorate with an emphasis in Special Education, or related area by the start date for the position;

·        Minimum of three years of successful, full-time, K-12 special education classroom teaching experience in U.S. public schools;

·        Evidence of or potential for effective, undergraduate and/or graduate instruction in a broad range of special education topics (e.g., academic intervention, daily living skill instruction, transition, legal issues, social/behavioral intervention, teacher education);

·        Evidence of collegiality and collaboration at both the higher education levels and with public school communities;

·        Commitment to educational and social equity and inclusion; and

·        Commitment to culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

●       PhD in Special Education

●       5 years K-12 Special Education teaching experience

●       Experience teaching and working with pre-service teachers and in-service Special Education teachers;

●       Experience in leading and designing undergraduate and/or graduate coursework in Special Education;

●       Strong technology integration skills and synchronous or hybrid online course pedagogies.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary will be commensurate with education, experience, qualifications, and contingent on available funding. Benefits include comprehensive medical and retirement plans. Information on benefits can be found at https://hr.okstate.edu/benefits/index.html.

GENERAL INFORMATION:  

 About the School:  As an academic unit of the College of Education and Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University, the School of Teaching, Learning & Educational Sciences (STLES) has a diverse and dynamic mission with 48 faculty and 6 staff members across two campuses, Stillwater and Tulsa. The school prepares educators who lead in the global community and advocate for high-quality education for all. Students experience rural, suburban and urban educational settings and a low student-to-faculty ratio. Our graduates make transformative impacts on schools, people and communities, helping children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally. Our faculty, staff, students, and graduates are dedicated professionals with a passion.

·        Centers: Center for Research on STEM Teaching and Learning (CRSTL), the OSU Writing Project, the Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center, and the School Psychology Clinic.

·        Academic Programs: STLES offers undergraduate, graduate degrees, and certificates within the main umbrella disciplines of elementary education, secondary education (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and Art), special education, school psychology, and curriculum studies; approximately 500 undergraduate and 115 graduate students were enrolled in Fall 2021. Our programs produce leaders for industry, academic, and public school education positions through undergraduate and graduate programs, internships, and experiential learning activities.

·        Research: The school’s expert faculty conduct internationally- and nationally-recognized research focused on content and field-specific teacher education, curriculum development, English learners, special education, school psychology, behavior and intervention, and working with educators, K-20 students, and schools.

·        Instruction: The school’s expert faculty provide high-quality instruction to promote student success. Our undergraduate programs offer service learning, internship and practicum opportunities.

About the University:

Oklahoma State University, an R1 comprehensive land-grant institution (ranked 114th by NSF in Fall 2017), is committed to serving students from all populations. Enrollment at OSU-Stillwater is approximately 23,000 students; the College of Education and Human Sciences includes 7 academic units, 172 faculty, and nearly 200 full-time staff.  Additional information regarding the College of Education and Human Sciences may be found at http://education.okstate.edu/. 

The University is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which is a micropolitan community of approximately 49,000 people with high-quality amenities and a comparably low cost of living. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are within a 1-hour drive, and cities such as Fayetteville, AR, Joplin, MO, and Wichita, KS are within a comfortable 2-3-hour drive time of Stillwater. In addition to excellent healthcare, education (public and private primary and secondary schools), and recreational services, the community affords a rich variety of cultural activities typical of a major university environment, including museums, music, art, and theater.

APPLICATION INFORMATION: The process of reviewing applications will begin April 23, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled (contingent upon available funding). To apply, please visit http://jobs.okstate.edu and submit the following: a letter of application, curriculum vita, and the names and complete contact information (phone, email, physical mailing address) of three professional references. For assistance with your required materials, you may contact Lisa Baker, STLES Administrative Assistant, at lkbaker@okstate.edu. 

Search Chair: Dr. Kelly Whalon, Search and Screening Committee Chair can be reached at kelly.whalon@okstate.edu to answer any applicant questions.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, OSU conducts pre-employment background checks on final candidates. Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal (felony and misdemeanor) history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the university, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit eeo.okstate.edu.