Director of Educational Field Experiences and Assistant Teaching Professor

The University of Southern Mississippi • Hattiesburg, MS

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Educational Field Experiences and Assistant Teaching Professor provides leadership and oversight of educational field experiences, including student teaching and other clinical experiences, and supports high-quality clinical preparation across Southern Miss educator preparation programs. The Director collaborates with academic programs, P–12 partners, clinical educators, and educator preparation colleagues to support effective clinical preparation. The Director leads office operations, supervises office staff, and coordinates processes serving teacher candidates and educational partners. The position also contributes to data-informed planning, institutional reporting, and continuous improvement associated with CAEP Standard 2. This full-time, twelve-month, non-tenure-track faculty position requires teaching one course per semester and service to the School of Education.

Requirements

• A master’s degree or higher in elementary education, special education, secondary education, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, or another relevant field.
• Five years of successful P–12 classroom teaching or other directly relevant educational experience.
• Demonstrated organizational and forward-planning skills, including experience managing overlapping work cycles, recurring milestones, deadlines, accurate records, and reliable processes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience explaining complex processes and working with tact and diplomacy across internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a collaborative, service-oriented workplace culture grounded in professionalism, communication, and shared accountability.
• Experience monitoring and interpreting data and using digital information systems to support planning, reporting, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of accreditation or institutional effectiveness processes or demonstrated ability to learn applicable standards.

Nice To Haves

• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree or higher in elementary education.
• At least 10 years of P–12 professional experience, including classroom teaching and either teacher-leadership or school-administration experience.
• Prior experience teaching or supervising undergraduate teacher education students.
• Familiarity with CAEP is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs the day-to-day operations for educational field experiences, establishes priorities, coordinates office processes, supervises office staff, and supports effective service to teacher candidates, academic programs, and educational partners.
• Teaches one course per semester for the School of Education and contributes service that supports School of Education programs and priorities. The selected candidate may negotiate a reduced teaching load in the first semester.
• Provides undergraduate methods classes with information and guidance about the student-teaching semester, registration process, and professional expectations.
• Provides oversight for licensure candidates completing clinical, practicum, and student-teaching placements. Leads established response processes when concerns arise in partner-school settings, including decisions regarding candidate removal, in collaboration with the candidate, University Supervisor or faculty member, mentor teacher, and school administrators.
• Maintains accurate information related to clinical, practicum, and student-teaching placements and prepares reports and communications that support planning, decision-making, and institutional requirements.
• Coordinates, as part of the educator preparation team, work related to CAEP Standard 2, including documentation and continuous improvement involving clinical educators and clinical experiences.
• Plans and coordinates professional development seminars for teacher candidates each semester.
• Selects, supervises, and evaluates University Supervisors for the School of Education. Coordinates professional development and ongoing communication for University Supervisors, using current data and guidance from the Mississippi Department of Education, USM’s Professional Education Council, and the School of Education to strengthen student teaching.
• Oversees training and support for mentor teachers.
• Selects and engages members of the Educational Field Experiences Advisory Board, which meets twice each school year. Shares information about USM and Mississippi Department of Education requirements and solicits feedback to strengthen partnerships and support continuous improvement in teacher preparation programs.
• Attends School of Education faculty meetings, participates in the School of Education Curriculum Committee and other school committees, and keeps faculty informed about Educational Field Experiences policies, processes, and initiatives.
• Directs annual selection processes for student-teaching-abroad opportunities, student-teaching-related scholarships, and awards recognizing teacher candidates, mentor teachers, and administrators. Conducts interviews, coordinates selection, and communicates results to appropriate school and college leadership.
• Performs other duties relevant to the job as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level