Description

The School of Learning and Teaching at the University of Maine invites applications for an academic year, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Special Education, with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2024. We seek an expert in areas related to, but not limited to, intensive interventions to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for young children and students with disabilities (birth – grade 12); including intellectual disabilities, reading disabilities, math disabilities, emotional and/or behavior disabilities with demonstrated conceptual, methodological, and applied knowledge and skills to join a dynamic faculty at the University of Maine System’s flagship and only R1 university. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This position will report to the School Director and be affiliated with faculty in the special education program. Faculty members share responsibility for programmatic and instructional decisions within and across program options. The position carries a typical 2:2 teaching load for tenure-track faculty.  The successful candidate will be able to contribute to graduate curriculum development and revision, program evaluation, and community service, and ensure that the program is aligned with CAEP and Council for Exceptional Children’s advanced preparation standards. More specifically, the position requires (1) teaching graduate courses in special education; (2) designing and teaching undergraduate and graduate in-person and online courses; (3) mentoring graduate students; (4) supervising graduate student projects and research; (5) engaging in scholarship based on an articulated and cohesive research agenda; (6) providing service and leadership on campus and at local, state, and national levels; (7) assisting with the development of a Ph.D. program in Special Education. The successful candidate will also have the necessary skills and knowledge derived from scientifically-based practices in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities.

The College of Education and Human Development (COEHD) recognizes that the cultural, social, religious, linguistic, philosophical, and theoretical diversity of faculty, staff, and students is important to maintaining excellent academic and research programs and building healthy communities. COEHD faculty are dedicated to high-quality teaching, research, and service at the college, university, state, and national levels. The School of Learning and Teaching offers degree programs for undergraduates and graduates, including fully CAEP-accredited programs for Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Master of Arts in Teaching.

Special Education M.Ed. programs include certification options in high-incidence disabilities (K-8 or 7-12), low-incidence disabilities (K-12), and early intervention (birth to age 5). Non-certification programs include an individualized M.Ed. in special education, an individualized Education Specialist (Ed. S), and five graduate certificates (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, High Leverage Practices to Promote Inclusion, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Special Education Leadership, and most recently Multilingual Special Education). 

Requirements

Required: 

• Ph.D. in special education or a closely related field completed by date of hire.
• Expertise and ability to teach both in-person and online special education courses at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.
• Potential for scholarly productivity, including a programmatic research agenda in special education.
• Specialization and research in the areas related to, but not limited to, intensive interventions to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for young children and students with disabilities (birth – grade 12), including intellectual disabilities, reading disabilities, math disabilities, emotional and/or behavior disabilities with demonstrated conceptual, methodological, and applied knowledge and skills. 
• Suitable experience and academic preparation for teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. 
• Ability to collaborate to support program advising and student mentoring. 
• Special education teaching experience in K-12 schools.

Preferred: 

• Evidence of successful graduate teaching experience in one or more of the following areas: intensive intervention to improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities such as intellectual disabilities, reading disability, math disability, emotional or behavioral disorders, intellectual disability, and/or autism spectrum disorder.
• Expertise in assistive technology and accessible educational materials.
• Experience in teaching through distance education modalities.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices to support culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities.
• Potential for securing external funding to support research.
• Successful work with families, schools, state educational agencies, and other community groups serving students with disabilities.