Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice, Special Education Teaching & Leadership

School of Education

Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice, Special Education Teaching & Leadership

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leading

Position: Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice in Special Education Teaching & Leadership (appointment-stream)

Appointment: 12-month, full-time, appointment-stream; starting August 1, 2024 

The Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leading in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh seeks a visiting assistant professor of practice (non-tenure stream) in Special Education Teaching and Leadership. We seek an individual dedicated to advancing equity and justice through excellence in teaching and committed to practice and engagement with communities.

The candidate will teach in a vibrant community in the School of Education, at a time of great excitement, synergy, momentum, and action, particularly in relation to our explicit commitment to educational equity and justice. Our commitment to educational equity and justice is visible in an integrated set of cultural drivers for how we interact with each other and in how we facilitate the development of innovative programs, policies, and practices that advance educational, social, and human rights for all.  As a School, we are committed to determining sustainable ways to disrupt and transform long-standing patterns of inequity and injustice in education. We value collaborative work that is not constrained by rigid boundaries but crosses disciplinary boundaries in ways that advance equity and justice and engage other departments, centers, and institutes in the School of Education, and partners within the university and with various regional, national, and K-12/global communities. The School’s mission/vision can be found at the following link: https://www.education.pitt.edu/about/equity-and-justice .

Responsibilities:

This person would be responsible for: 

1.     Course development and teaching of 27 credits of undergraduate and graduate Special Education courses in

a.      Preservice teaching certificate 

b.     Supervisor of Special Education and

c.      Education Leadership certificate programs.

2.     Teach courses in a variety of delivery modes.

a.      In person

b. Hybrid–executive model

c.      Online

3.     Increase and maintain reciprocal relationships between in-service Special Education teachers and leadership of our partner schools during summer and school year field experiences.

4.     Enactment of the school’s mission/vision including teaching with attention to equity and justice.

5.     Ensure compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements related to instructional certification and program review.

6.     Assist with the program improvement process via curriculum review, partner school feedback and student feedback. 

Qualifications:

Required:

Preferred:

Salary and Rank: Competitive salary will be commensurate with qualifications at the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice (non-tenure-stream).

For questions regarding the position, please contact the search committee co-chairs via email: Dr. Sheila Conway ([email protected] )  and Dr. Tessa McCarthy ([email protected] ).

Review of applications will begin March 18, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, upload your letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of at least three references.  In your application letter, please speak to how your work addresses equity and justice.

Note: Final candidates will be required to secure:

•        Three letters of recommendation.

•        Writing sample (e.g., a published piece of work)

•        Evidence of certification or years of teaching experience in the Special Education K-12 domain.

•        Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., course evaluations, peer observations of teaching, sample syllabi)

•        Teaching/ advising philosophy statement.

For questions about the submission process, email Megan Brennan at [email protected] . 

Please provide names/contact information of at least 3 references.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.