Assistant Professor Literacy Education

Assistant Professor, Literacy Education

School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences

August 2024

POSITION:The Literacy Education program, housed in the School of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Sciences (STLES) in the College of Education and Human Sciences (EHS) at Oklahoma State University, is seeking a leading thinker and outstanding teacher educator for the position of Assistant Professor of Literacy Education. Candidates must have an earned doctorate by the start of the semester in August. We seek candidates with specialization in at least two areas of literacies education, including but not limited to reading instruction and assessment, Reading Recovery, reading or writing difficulties, children's and middle grades literature, culturally responsive literacies pedagogies, or language arts and writing pedagogies, to begin August 2024. 

Literacy Education faculty teach undergraduate reading/Literacy Education courses within the elementary education program. In addition to offering undergraduate coursework both on-campus and online programs, the program offers graduate courses in support of the Master of Science option in Reading/Literacy degree, leading to K-12 Reading/Literacy Specialist certification. Both the undergraduate and master's programs are nationally accredited. Our Doctor of Philosophy degree option in Language, Literacy, and Culture includes faculty from elementary literacy, secondary English, social studies education, and emergent bi/multilingual education. The program focuses on K-12 literacies and language arts teacher education, transformative inquiries, and identities along with emphasis on criticality in language and literacies education.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:The new faculty should demonstrate an interest in the university's land grant mission, and a desire to make a positive impact on the community through service, extension, and outreach efforts. In particular, the new faculty should become a leader in STLES, CEHS, the community, state, and beyond as related to K-12 literacies education. The faculty should build positive relationships with the K-12 school community as well as be an active participant in state/regional/national/international Literacy Education research organizations. 

This faculty member will join a group of Literacy Education faculty who are active as researchers, instructors, and grant writers, and who are significantly involved in a variety of national organizations. The Literacy Education program prepares students to be leaders in both formal and informal education settings. The faculty collaboratively administers the Randall and Carol White Reading and Math Center (RMC) with mathematics education faculty. In addition, we are an Oklahoma State University Writing Project (OSUWP) site. The RMC and OSUWP offer unique platforms for research grants and collaborations, teacher preparation, and outreach. 

Responsibilities for this faculty position include: 

         Teaching undergraduate elementary literacy and graduate K-12 literacy courses; 

         Supporting the literacy programs with recruitment, scholarship activities, professional development, and other program work; 

         Recruiting and mentoring graduate students; and

         Participating in committee service to the department, college, university, and community. 

The successful candidate will appreciate the University's land grant mission and embrace the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through high-quality and integrated teaching. Strong commitment to collaboration and collegiality are highly valued. Literacy Education faculty members work with others within the program, school, college, and community to enhance and expand existing strengths and increase the positive impact of the program on education in the state of Oklahoma, the region, and the nation. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

         An earned doctorate with an emphasis in Reading/Literacy Education, or related area by the start date for the position; 

         Minimum of three years of successful, full-time, K-8 classroom teaching experience in U.S. public schools; 

         Evidence of or potential for effective, undergraduate and graduate instruction in a broad range of literacy topics (e.g., reading instruction and assessment, language arts and writing pedagogies, children's and young adult literature, literacy coaching, reading and writing in the content areas, digital literacies); 

         Evidence of collegiality and collaboration at both the higher education levels and with public school communities;  

         Commitment to educational and social equity and inclusion; and 

         Commitment to culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

         Five years K-8 teaching experience;

         Experience teaching in a grades 4-8 classroom, with the ability to teach emergent literacies; 

         Experience teaching and working with elementary and middle-level preservice teachers; 

         Experience teaching multilingual learners; 

         Experience with literacy coaching and/or reading specialist roles; 

         Strong technology integration skills and synchronous or hybrid online course pedagogies; and/or 

         Strong knowledge of inclusive and diverse children's literature. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include comprehensive medical and retirement plans. Information on benefits can be found at https://hr.okstate.edu/benefits/index.html.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

About the School: As an academic unit of the College of Education and Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University, the School of Teaching, Learning & Educational Sciences (STLES) has a diverse and dynamic mission with 48 faculty and 6 staff members across two campuses, Stillwater and Tulsa. The school prepares educators who lead in the global community and advocate for high-quality education for all. Students experience rural, suburban and urban educational settings and a low student-to-faculty ratio. Our graduates make transformative impacts on schools, people and communities, helping children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally. Our faculty, staff, students, and graduates are dedicated professionals with a passion. 
 

         Centers:  The OSU Writing Project, the Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center, the Center for Research on STEM Teaching and Learning (CRSTL), and the School Psychology Clinic. 

         Academic Programs: STLES offers undergraduate, graduate degrees, and certificates within the main umbrella disciplines of elementary education, secondary education (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and Art), special education, school psychology, and curriculum studies; approximately 500 undergraduate and 115 graduate students were enrolled in Fall 2021. Our programs produce leaders for industry, academic, and public school education positions through undergraduate and graduate programs, internships, and experiential learning activities. 

         Research: The school's expert faculty conduct internationally- and nationally-recognized research focused on content and field-specific teacher education, curriculum development, English learners, special education, school psychology, behavior and intervention, and working with educators, K-20 students, and schools. 

         Instruction: The school's expert faculty provide high-quality instruction to promote student success. Our undergraduate programs offer service learning, internship and practicum opportunities. 

About the University: Oklahoma State University, an R1 comprehensive land-grant institution (ranked 114th by NSF in Fall 2017) committed to strengthening its diversity, equity and inclusion. Enrollment at OSU-Stillwater is approximately 23,000 students; the College of Education and Human Sciences includes 7 academic units, 172 faculty, and nearly 200 full-time staff.  Additional information regarding the College of Education and Human Sciences may be found at http://education.okstate.edu/. Oklahoma State University is committed to excellence in diversity and inclusion. We strive to maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment that appreciates and values all members of the University community. We define diversity as engagement in meaningful actions, behaviors, and conversations that reflect a commitment to recognizing, understanding, and respecting the differences among students, faculty, staff, and visitors throughout the OSU system. We do not condone acts, behavior, language, or symbols that represent or reflect intolerance or discrimination. OSU is dedicated to cultivating and enriching the competitive advantages that diversity and inclusion provides all members of the University community. We identify diversity as a quality of life issue, as well as an important economic driver for the prosperity and well-being of the state, nation, and world. 

About the Community: The University is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which is a micropolitan community of approximately 49,000 people with high-quality amenities and a comparably low cost of living. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are within a 1-hour drive, and cities such as Fayetteville, AR, Joplin, MO, and Wichita, KS are within a comfortable 2-3-hour drive time of Stillwater. In addition to excellent healthcare, education (public and private primary and secondary schools), and recreational services, the community affords a rich variety of cultural activities typical of a major university environment, including museums, music, art, and theater. 

APPLICATION INFORMATION: The process of reviewing applications will begin December 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled (contingent upon available funding).  

Search Chair: Dr. Suzii Parsons, Search and Screening Committee Chair can be reached at sue.parsons@okstate.edu  to answer any applicant questions. 

To apply, please visit http://jobs.okstate.edu and submit the following: a letter of application, curriculum vita, and the names and complete contact information (phone, email, physical mailing address) of three professional references. For assistance with your required materials, you may contact Lisa Baker, STLES Administrative Assistant, at lkbaker@okstate.edu.   

Oklahoma State University (OSU) strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, OSU conducts pre-employment background checks on final candidates. Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal (felony and misdemeanor) history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the university, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit eeo.okstate.edu.