Professor of Practice in Educational Leadership

University of North Dakota•Grand Forks, ND

About The Position

The Department of Teaching, Leadership, and Professional Practice in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of North Dakota invites applications for a part-time Professor of Practice in Educational Leadership, focused on rural teaching and leadership. The position supports the Rural Master of Science in Teaching & Leadership (MSTL) Tuition Scholarship Cohort, a grant-funded cohort of approximately 30 rural North Dakota educators earning the MSTL degree from Spring 2027 through Fall 2028. The appointee will be the cohort’s primary instructional, coaching, and field-connection resource, bridging UND’s Educational Leadership programs with the rural districts, schools, and classrooms where participants work. This is a two-year special appointment beginning January 2027 and ending at the conclusion of Fall semester 2028, contingent on available grant funding. The position is 50% FTE, 20 hours per week, with a salary of $37,500 annually. It is exempt and fully benefited. The position is based onsite at UND’s Grand Forks campus; the greater Grand Forks area is preferred, though remote work will be considered. In-person attendance is required for some cohort milestone activities on campus, with travel to participant districts expected as feasible. The Professor of Practice will teach graduate courses, coach and advise cohort participants through program completion, guide their professional projects, build partnerships with rural districts and education organizations, and contribute to program and university service. The successful applicant will bring demonstrated effectiveness as an educational leadership practitioner in North Dakota, with expertise in school or district leadership, school-community partnerships, instructional leadership, and developing teacher and school leaders. A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in education is required.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or Educational Administration.
At least ten years of documented professional experience in a North Dakota school leadership and/or district leadership role.
Demonstrated experience coaching and mentoring practicing educators.
Successful completion of a criminal history records check.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to teach, inspire, and mentor graduate students.
Effective interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and K-12 partners.
Competence using technology and ability to adopt new tools for course delivery and student coaching.
Willingness and ability to attend cohort milestone events on the UND campus and travel to campus and participant districts as feasible, consistent with a part-time appointment and the appointee’s location in North Dakota.
Commitment to addressing diversity, inclusion, and equity in education.
Verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire; the position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

Earned doctorate (EdD or PhD) in Educational Leadership or Educational Administration.
Service as a principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, or central office leader in a rural and/or small North Dakota school district.
Experience teaching graduate education courses and/or online courses.
Established relationships across North Dakota’s rural education landscape, including districts, regional education associations, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, and state professional associations.

Responsibilities

Teach up to two graduate courses per semester for the Burgum rural cohort and the Educational Leadership program, using online asynchronous and synchronous formats.
Adapt course delivery, pacing, and assessment to the needs of full-time rural practitioners, including multi-role educators, multi-grade classrooms, resource-constrained settings, and geographically dispersed participants.
Design and facilitate synchronous cohort sessions that build a statewide network among rural cohort members.
Maintain skills in rural school and district leadership practice and integrate them into instruction.
Serve as coach of record for all Burgum cohort participants from cohort launch through degree completion.
Conduct regular individual coaching conversations with participants, including on-site district visits where feasible.
Provide academic advising, including program-of-study planning, specialization guidance, and progression monitoring.
Monitor participant progress and retention, identify participants at risk of stopping out, and coordinate timely support.
Support participants in identifying, pursuing, and securing teacher leadership, school-based, or district-based leadership roles in North Dakota.
Guide each participant in identifying an authentic, high-value professional project rooted in a challenge or opportunity in the participant’s home district.
Mentor participants through professional project design and presentation, supporting practical field value and appropriate scholarly rigor.
Connect participants with district leaders, regional education associations, exemplary rural programs, and state-level partners to support project work.
Cultivate and sustain relationships with participating rural North Dakota districts, superintendents, principals, and regional education associations.
Collaborate with district leaders to align cohort learning experiences with district needs and participant career aspirations.
Provide cohort participation, progress, and retention information as requested.
Support cohort recruitment, admissions review, onboarding, milestone events, and graduation.
Participate in Educational Leadership program, department, college, and university service appropriate to a Professor of Practice appointment, and in relevant professional associations.
Represent UND and the MSTL program at North Dakota education conferences, regional meetings, and district events.