Assistant Professor of Elementary Literacy Education
(9-month faculty; Tenure-Track)
About the Position
The University of Missouri-St. Louis invites candidates for a 9-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Elementary Literacy Education beginning in August 2025. This is an in-person, full-time, benefits-eligible tenure track in Elementary Literacy Education housed within the College of Education. Our literacy programs include undergraduate and graduate (teacher residency and apprenticeship) pathways to initial teacher certification, joint elementary and special education certifications, joint elementary and TESOL certifications, Masters of Education with an emphasis in Reading (K-12), Masters of Education with an emphasis in TESOL, Masters of Special Education, and Doctorate of Teaching and Learning processes. We seek candidates who will enhance the College of Education’s commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice through teaching, research, and service. Candidates of diverse and minority backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply for this position.
Responsibilities
- Maintain an impactful research agenda and publication record.
- Design and implement literacy teacher education curriculum that provides teacher candidates and teachers with a deep understanding of the sciences of reading and literacy within racially, culturally, linguistically, and environmentally responsive frameworks.
- Teach and advise graduate and undergraduate students in person and online.
- Write grants and participate in and/or direct externally funded projects.
- Contribute leadership and programmatic oversight in Elementary Literacy.
- Collaborate with area agencies and/or schools.
- Provide leadership to field-based and literacy clinic experiences.
- Provide service to the university, the community and professional organizations.
- Applicants must be able to start on campus by Fall 2025. This is an in-person position in St. Louis, MO.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Earned doctorate in Literacy Education (by the start date) with a strong emphasis in Elementary Literacy, particularly with racially, linguistically, culturally, and economically diverse students.
- The candidate must have a strong research agenda with evidence of scholarly contributions.
- Candidates must also have experience teaching literacy in applied settings.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist/coach in public schools and/or those who have worked in literacy clinics or who supervised teacher candidates in practicum settings.
- Applied experiences in a related field (e.g., special education, TESOL, social studies, STEM) and knowledge and practice of interdisciplinary teaching and learning.
- Evidence of teaching and contribution to student development in higher education.
- Although we are open to a variety of educational research methods and disciplinary orientations, we especially invite candidates who have scholarly commitments related to humanizing, culturally sustaining, antiracist and decolonizing education.
- Ability to enhance the College of Education’s commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice through teaching, research, and service.
Application Information
Applicants MUST apply online at www.umsl.jobs and are required to submit the following:
- A letter of interest
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement and Teaching Statement*
- Copies of unofficial transcripts
- Submit names and contact information of 3 professional references
- Two academic writing samples
*Candidates are encouraged to discuss how their experiences and expertise support the university’s values of embracing diversity, promoting intellectual pluralism, and contributing to an inclusive environment that fosters success in teaching, research, and community engagement.
A single PDF file attached as a “resume” is strongly recommended. Only completed applications submitted online will be reviewed.
Review of applications will begin on December 10 2024 and continue until the position is filled.
Interested individuals may contact the search committee chair: Dr. Rebecca Rogers
About the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Region
The College of Education develops original programs and practices; rich student-centered learning experiences; and thoughtful, informed educators, practitioners, and entrepreneurs. We promote creative solutions for educational, community, and mental health settings. We nurture diverse leaders, practitioners, and researchers to meet the critical demands of local, national, and global communities. We aim to extend the boundaries of our learning community to ensure that we and our partners learn from each other. We are dedicated to excellence and the inherent value of every learner.
The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) is an urban research university enrolling over 16,000 students. UMSL is classified as a Community Engaged University through the Carnegie Foundation. As part of a metropolitan area of almost 3 million people, UMSL has immediate availability to cultural and education institutions as one of the country’s major centers. The area includes museums, libraries, theater and opera companies, symphony orchestras, impressive parks and greenspaces, medical centers, and recreational facilities. UMSL is an Anchor Institution committed to intentionally applying university assets to strengthen the local community and the St. Louis region.
Benefit Summary: This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Values Commitment
We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.
