Department: Urban Education

Salary: 

Description:

The Department of Urban Education at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Bilingual Education. The candidate will join a department that offers undergraduate and master's degree programs with a focus on preparing and developing educators to provide equitable educational experiences for linguistically diverse student populations. We seek applicants who are committed to cultivating leaders who are committed to working with all students, who can create transformational change in K-12 schools and other educational contexts through our teacher preparation program. We seek teachers who bring critical approaches to teaching within school communities, including students, families, and teachers. The department is committed to improving the achievement of all students with whom we work and seek teachers who share that mission. Academic responsibilities include teaching and developing undergraduate and/or graduate courses; assisting in the development of undergraduate and graduate programs; providing departmental, college, university, and professional service; and maintaining a research agenda.

This position requires a doctorate in Bilingual Education or a strongly related field with an academic specialization (including 18 semester hours or more) in Bilingual Education from an accredited institution. Doctoral candidates nearing completion are also encouraged to apply (ABD considered). Qualified candidates must have at least three (3) years of K-12 full-time teaching experience, preferably in public schools.

The current teaching load for this position is 4/3 with a 3/3 load in the first year on the tenure track. Teaching in multiple modalities, day and evening, at any of UHD’s three (3) campuses, and a commitment to excellence in teaching, including the ability to model exemplary methods for working with diverse populations of learners is required. The ideal candidate has the ability to use instructional technology for teaching and learning, and willingness to collaborate with university colleagues, as well as school district, and community partners through service activities. The position requires that the candidate establish a successful program of research and engage in research and service activities that support the department, college, university and the profession.

The University of Houston – Downtown and the Department of Urban Education values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to hiring faculty who share these values. UHD is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as well as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) with a high proportion of first-generation college students."

The ideal candidate is an experienced Bilingual and/or Dual Immersion (Spanish) K-12 educator and scholar who brings an equity-minded theoretical framework, a commitment to culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogies geared towards the academic success of Emergent Bilinguals (EBs). This candidate will be eager to work collaboratively with colleagues across our department and university, provide leadership that fosters exceptional bilingual praxis across our community, and engage in a scholarly research agenda. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and/or graduate foundational and methods courses in our Spanish Bilingual Certification program (EC-6th Bilingual) and supervise clinical teachers.

Responsibilities:

• Teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in biliteracy-related subjects, across multiple formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online.
• Supervises clinical teachers in a variety of instructional environments.
• Maintains an active research agenda that includes publishing, presenting at national/regional conferences, and writing grants.
• Serves on committees at the department, college, and university levels, such as Rank and Tenure.
• Leads and supports efforts related to certification, accreditation, program evaluations, and securing grant funding. Build strong collegial relationships and actively recruit for departmental programs.
• The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and/or graduate-level coursework and supervise clinical teachers.

Qualifications:

• Earned Doctorate in Bilingual Education or Dual Language Instruction or a strongly related field with an academic specialization (including 18 semester hours or more). ABD conferral date must be no later than May 31, 2025.
• Experience teaching in Bilingual or Dual Language (Spanish) classrooms in a K-12 setting preferably in accredited public schools for at least 3 years as a teacher of record in bilingual/dual education.
• Active bilingual teaching certification in accredited public schools K-12 preferred.
• Record of scholarship in Multilingual/ Bilingual/ Dual Language Education. Emerging records of scholarship in one or more areas of emphasis in education will be considered.
• Advanced Proficiency in Spanish and English necessary to teach methods courses with fidelity in both languages.
• Professional expertise and demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching, including teaching methods courses and clinical practice supervision.
• Record of positive relationships with school district personnel, students, and families.
• Experience working with exceptional students.
• Experience in and commitment to ongoing, outcomes-based, program assessment of teaching and learning.
• Knowledge of regional/national certification processes and preparation routes.
• Experience in online or blended teaching and course development.
• Record of grant and contract acquisition.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates must submit:

• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Letter of Interest detailing the candidate’s teaching philosophy, research plans, and how the candidate’s experience aligns with UHD’s stated values, position requirements, and preferred qualifications
• All transcripts (both undergraduate and graduate)
• Three (3) professional references (on the last page of your CV/resume): Include name, title, professional relationship to you, phone number, and email address for each. One reference must be a current or past supervisor.

Inquiries can be addressed to the search chair Dr. Elizabeth Stackhouse (stackhousee@uhd.edu)

For more information about the Department of Urban Education at UHD, please visit our website www.uhd.edu/urbaned