Assistant /Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction

THE OPPORTUNITY

The National College of Education (NCE) of National-Louis University is pleased to announce its search for an Assistant /Associate Professor in Curriculum and Instruction with Advanced Professional Specializations and solicits nominations and expressions of interest. The National College of Education is one of the largest graduate colleges of education in the country with dynamic programs serving diverse learners. NCE is CAEP-accredited. We are seeking a colleague with an earned doctorate in education or a related field, active appreciation and understanding of adult learners, a plan for active scholarship and research, active commitment to diversity, and readiness to be actively involved in partner schools. 

The candidate should demonstrate potential for: 

• teaching in a program that involves working successfully with classroom teachers from diverse settings in online settings; 

• collaborating with colleagues in a widely dispersed but interdependent departmental setting; 

• implementing a research agenda; 

• establishing relationships with K-12 schools, and 

• participating in college and university governance. 

Other desirable expertise and/or experience include: 

• practitioner research; 

• K-12 classroom teaching; 

• college-level teaching; 

• use of technology to enhance student learning; urban/multicultural education; 

• grant writing; 

• assessment to measure program efficacy; and

• online teaching and learning. 

The college also includes a growing international outreach effort and a focus on education in urban environments.

THE FOCUS OF YOUR WORK

• The successful candidate will model excellence in teaching with a strong foundation in multiple curricular areas. Successful candidates will also demonstrate experience and skill in online teaching with adult learners. Classes have weekly online work, through the university’s learning management system, D2L, and will also have scheduled face-to-face or synchronous video sessions. 

• Each term, you will teach online classes that utilize technology and data to improve instructional practices.

• You will work with a dedicated team of faculty and staff on how to personalize the learning experience for your graduate students who are working teachers. In addition to teaching content, you will also encourage a growth mindset, increase non-cognitive skill development, and nurture academic confidence in these in-practice educators.

WHO WE ARE

NLU’s National College of Education (NCE) understands that serving PreK-12 students as teachers and school leaders is a calling, a commitment, and a career. Our unique style of partnership with students at all levels—from new teacher preparation to advanced professional programs to doctoral degrees—guides all we do as we create today’s teachers and tomorrow’s leaders.

Our programs are designed with the needs of our students in mind. Graduates frequently cite the National College of Education’s top quality professors, convenient locations, flexible course offerings and affordability. Most of all, the commitment to “real world” progressive education is unparalleled. NCE graduates make a difference. Our educators are found in 40% of Illinois public schools and 75% of Chicago Public Schools, collectively impacting the lives of 60,000 students each year.

At NCE, our commitment to learning includes ourselves. We have recently created four new programs and evolved an additional 21 programs to more appropriately address the needs of today’s educators.

WHO YOU ARE

You are: A Change Leader.
You are an accomplished PreK-12 educator with a passion for developing students and teachers to their fullest potential. You are an experienced leader who has successfully guided schools and/or district through change. You are a constructive partner who leads the work that needs to be done and advocates for high quality education. You are a veteran educator attracted to university teaching as a new career step and a new level of positive influence on American education. You are deeply motivated by a desire to work in a learning community that is preparing the next generation of life-changing leaders.

You will: Model and Support Research.
You believe in the power of practitioner researchers. You will draw upon current research to inform your instruction. You will use your research agenda to model research methodologies for our candidates. You will support our candidates as they become research practitioners.  

You are ready to: Make an Impact.
Each and every day, this program changes lives. You want to be a part of NCE’s societally impactful leadership as an educator preparation institution.  You are someone who will always look for creative ways for students to earn success. We know this work is challenging, but we are in it together and you are inspired by the opportunity to work collaboratively with other educational leaders to optimize our impact together.

• Teach and facilitate student learning in assigned graduate courses

• Postsecondary teaching experience related to the preparation of early career and advanced educators (preferred)

• Contribute to curriculum development and program improvement by collaborating with faculty in program and unit-level evaluation, to develop program reports, assessment protocols, and cross-disciplinary curriculum work

• Ensure response to student inquiries, issues, and needs in an appropriate and timely manner

• Engage in an active program of scholarship related to specific areas of expertise

• Research and seek grant funding to advance the use of instructional technology and digital learning practices to improve student outcomes

• Engage in the learning-community life of National Louis University through engagement in meetings, committees, professional development, and collaborative projects with faculty and staff

• Fulfill other faculty duties in research & scholarship, service, professional development, and engagement domains as determined by the college administrators.

• An earned doctorate in a related Education discipline 

• Postsecondary teaching experience related to the preparation of early career and advanced educators (preferred)

• Proven experience in PreK-12 educational settings through teaching and/or leadership roles

• Demonstrated experience in applying digital learning tools, techniques and theory to the creation and implementation of successful teaching and learning (preferred)

• An intention to participate in research and scholarship, including securing grant funding to support one’s research agenda

• IL professional educator’s license and specialized endorsements (preferred) 

• Demonstrated experience and fluency in teaching online using a learning management system

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time faculty benefits can be found here.

NLU Faculty salaries are based on rank within each college.  The ranges for each rank for the National College of Education are listed below:

2024 NCE 10-Month Faculty Salary Ranges

Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.  Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, current/previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.