Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Teacher Education with expertise/specialization in special education

University of Rhode Island • Kingston, RI

73d

About The Position

The University of Rhode Island's Feinstein College of Education seeks applicants for a tenure-track assistant professor in early childhood teacher education with a focus on early childhood special education. This is a full-time, nine-month appointment beginning in Fall 2026. The search committee is particularly interested in candidates who, through their teaching, scholarship, and/or service, will enhance the College's commitment to equitable educational practices and academic excellence. The University of Rhode Island is an R1 research-intensive university with a commitment to high-quality teaching and community partnerships. The Feinstein College of Education is a community of educational scholars, leaders, and practitioners with a shared commitment to enhancing equity and inclusion within and outside of schools, bridging research and practice, and serving diverse and underserved populations. The successful candidate will participate as a core faculty member in the early childhood and special education teacher education programs as well as COEDU graduate programs. The selected candidate will be expected to engage in scholarly research, publication, and presentation at professional conferences; secure internal and/or external grant funding; teach undergraduate and graduate courses; mentor doctoral students; participate in department and university committees; and develop and maintain collaborative and professional partnerships with local schools and districts. It is a desire that this candidate will be able to work collaboratively across disciplines to advance both the College of Education and local district partners' needs to develop greater teacher preparation that addresses the lack of Prek-3 teachers with knowledge and expertise in special education.

Requirements

• Ph.D/Ed.D. in Education, Special Education, or closely related field (or expected completion of degree requirements prior to start of the Fall 2026 semester).
• Record of scholarly activity commensurate with level of experience.
• Experience as a PK-3 teacher in a school setting.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in written communication skills.
• Commitment to and/or experience in equity, social justice, and inclusion in education.
• Experience working with diverse groups/populations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing, maintaining, and/or engaging in collaborative and professional partnerships with local schools and districts in the area of early childhood development and special education.
• College or university teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Experience collaborating with families and communities to promote the learning and development of young children.
• Experience teaching in pre-K to grade 3 in a public school environment with specific expertise/experience in special education or inclusive settings.
• Demonstrated ability in culturally responsive teaching to meet the needs of linguistically, culturally, racially, and/or economically diverse students.
• Demonstrated potential for developing, securing, and managing externally funded projects.
• Experience teaching online and hybrid environments.
• Record of professional involvement in organizations such as National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and/or Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining an appropriate agenda of research and funding
• Teaching early childhood and special education courses including, but not limited to early childhood development
• Early intervention
• Supervising teacher candidates in residency placements
• Advising undergraduate and graduate students
• Mentor doctoral students
• Engaging in sustainable partnerships with local schools and districts to build knowledge and improve practices that serve a diverse population of students.
• Duties may also include teaching courses and advising in additional programs in the College.
• Perform other duties as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees