Assistant Professor of Special Education

Date Posted: October 22, 2011

Job Status: Full-time

Primary Location: Biddeford

Job Description

The University of New England invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in the Department of Education, starting August 2012, with teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate and graduate level.

We seek a person who will lead our online graduate Inclusion Education program while also embedding the undergraduate course with the principle that all individuals have the ability to learn and succeed. A compassion for all learners should be evident, plus the perspective that special education is not something accomplished apart from regular education. Breaking the myth that special education is totally separate from regular education teaching is important, as well as modeling the message that teachers and administrators must embrace ALL children in their learning. In short, we believe “schools must adapt to the needs of children, rather than children adapting to the needs of the school.”

Responsibilities

This position is the primary one focused on special education and inclusion for the Department of Education. The three course load in the fall and again in the spring would include one general course in exceptionality that supports the regular education on campus teacher certification programs. The two additional courses per semester would fall within the inclusion concentration that is a 15-credit program within the online master’s degree. This position also has the responsibility of overseeing this inclusion concentration even though not all courses would be taught by the faculty member.

Since this position oversees the inclusion concentration a short description of the coursework might be helpful. This unique concentration explores methods and strategies for teaching all students in inclusion settings, with a special course on the range and use of assistive technologies. In addition, formal and informal procedures for assessing special needs students are reviewed, with a focus always on utilizing the results to inform and plan instruction. Finally, this concentration seeks to develop the ability to apply special education law to a teacher’s or principal’s setting, ending with a practicum to integrate the graduate student’s inclusive education learning. This program does not lead to a special education teaching certificate but does allow teachers and administrators to have more background in inclusion practices and concerns.

Inclusion Education Courses (15 Credits)
EDU 720 Special Education Law for the Classroom (3 Credits)
EDU 721 Using Technology within Inclusion Education (3 Credits)
EDU 722 Special Education Assessment in Inclusion Settings (3 Credits)
EDU 723 Teaching and Learning in Inclusion Settings (3 Credits)
EDU 724 Practicum in Inclusion Settings (3 Credits)

Qualifications

Qualifications include a graduate degree with studies in special education and a clear research prospectus. Applicants should have a minimum of three years of K-12 teaching experience in special education and preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching on-line or with hybrid courses.

Additional Information

Review of applicants will begin November 2011.

We welcome inquiries into this unique and exciting position. 

If more information is desired either about the position or the university, please contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Susan Hillman at shillman@une.edu or call 207-602-2228.

* Background check may be required.

Application Procedure

To apply, please submit the following materials to contact listed below:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application
• List of References
• Statement of Research Interests
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Contact

Human Resources Office
University of New England
11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005-9599
careers@une.edu