Part-time Instructor

University of Pittsburgh School of Education 

Part-time Faculty Position with a focus on Nemeth/Abacus

Position: Part-time instructor

Appointment: Part-time instructor for Fall 2021 

Description: The Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leading in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh seeks a part-time instructor to teach IL 2547 (Nemeth Code and Abacus). We seek an individual dedicated to advancing equity and justice through excellence in teaching and committed to practice and engagement with communities.

The candidate would 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 education 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 that is committed to the interconnections of equity and justice among departments, centers, and institutes in the School of Education and with the many partners at the university, and in 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 . 

This course will equip students with the basic skills to read and write Unified English Braille (UEB) with Nemeth Code for braille mathematics and to execute basic operations on the abacus. Emphasis will be placed not only on students learning the skills for Nemeth Code and the abacus, but also on the methodology for teaching these skills to students who are blind or visually impaired. General discussion will also focus upon other teaching considerations and strategies for math and science instruction of students who use braille.

The position reports to the Chair of the department. Hiring is on a single-semester basis dependent on school needs. Part-time instructors must facilitate an environment where active learning is encouraged and where students and instructor collaboratively learn and develop knowledge of course materials.  Professional responsibilities of a part-time instructor include, but are not limited to, the following: teaching a course(s), preparing appropriate course materials, and maintaining a professional educational environment. The syllabus must include all policies and aspects of the course(s). Part-time instructors are required to maintain one scheduled office hour per week per course.

Curriculum responsibilities include assisting with designing, developing, writing, and revising course curricula and syllabi, assisting with ensuring intellectual integrity of curriculum and syllabi, and ensuring that all courses taught follow standard syllabus format. 

The pay for teaching a 3-credit course is $3,900.00 ($1,300.00/credit).  Part-time faculty will have access to our Canvas Learning Management System, Zoom, University email, faculty resources on the Pitt portal, and the university libraries.

Qualifications: 

Required: 

1. Earned master’s degree (depending on the level of the course) in education or a closely related field; 

2. Demonstrated commitment to equity and justice;  

3. Potential for or proven excellence in university-level teaching;

4. Prior or current certification as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments;

5. Knowledge of Nemeth code within UEB, and abacus teaching techniques

Salary and Rank: 

Application Process: Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.  To apply for the position, please submit an application and curriculum vitae. Submit materials online at https://www.join.pitt.edu/ . 

For questions about the position or School of Education, email Frances Mary D'Andrea, program coordinator, Vision Studies, [email protected]. 

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. Members of historically underrepresented groups, including women, are encouraged to apply. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled