Assistant Professor of Special Education
Position Overview
Organization: School of Education
Title: Assistant Professor of Special Education
Position Details
Position Description
The University of Washington Tacoma's School of Education announces an opening for a nine-month full-time, 100% FTE, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Special Education faculty appointment to start in the 2025-2026 academic year. This successful candidate will teach courses primarily in the K-8 and Special Education Dual-Track Program within the SOE. The expected start date is September 16, 2025.
The 9-month salary range for this position is $81,999 to $83,500 ($9,100 to $9,278 per month), commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.
About the School of Education
The School of Education community at UW Tacoma acknowledges that we learn, live, reflect, and teach on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people. As our campus is specifically situated on the traditional homeland of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, we will make intentional efforts to create inclusive and respectful partnerships that honor Indigenous cultures, histories, identities, and sociopolitical realities. To learn more about our land acknowledgement, visit: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/soe/land-acknowledgment
Established in 1992, the Education Program has evolved into a dynamic professional and scholarly community that is now at the forefront of transforming twenty-first-century organizations and schools. We attained full-fledge University of Washington school status in 2016. The School of Education’s mission is: “to prepare ethical and reflective educators and leaders who transform learning, contribute to the community, exemplify professionalism, and promote diversity.” We are internationally recognized for our commitment to equity and excellence in education. To learn more about our School, visit: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/soe
About UW Tacoma
UW Tacoma is one of three campuses of the University of Washington. Founded in 1990, UW Tacoma is an urban-serving undergraduate and graduate institution that is committed to providing an interdisciplinary and community-engaged education to a diverse student body. Our faculty include some of the brightest and most innovative scholars working across the disciplines. UW Tacoma’s commitment to equity and inclusion is central to maintaining an atmosphere wherein students, staff, faculty and residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal, and professional growth. To read more about our campus, Part of the UW Tri-Campus system, UW Tacoma is proud to serve diverse graduate and undergraduate students who give back to our surrounding communities.
To learn more about UW Tacoma, visit: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/home/about-university-washington-tacoma.
Diversity and Inclusion at UW Tacoma
The University is dedicated to hiring faculty who will enhance diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching, scholarship, and service. Scholarship linking knowledge, service, and practice is supported and encouraged, including innovations in teaching, leadership in teaching communities of practice, and student mentorship. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and areas of practice to apply.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Teach six (6) courses during the regular academic year (September-June) in areas of expertise based on the needs of the School.
- Teach education-related courses at the undergraduate and graduate level.
- Maintain a rigorous scholarly agenda related to Special Education with a strong culturally responsive, equity, and inclusion focus that directly contributes to the mission and values of UW Tacoma and the School of Education, especially in advocating for/with diverse learners with disabilities (i.e., an explicit focus on closing equity gaps and disability justice).
- Actively participate in accreditation, assessment, curriculum development, program review, and related activities to assist the School of Education with its ongoing continuous-improvement efforts.
- Service expectations to the School, campus, and relevant external bodies include:
- Advising and mentoring students.
- Serving on School-wide, campus, and University committees.
- Continued service to the field and profession is also expected.
Qualifications
- An earned Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Special Education or closely related field and demonstrated effectiveness in research/scholarship and teaching in the candidate's area of expertise.
- Either a minimum of three (3) years of full-time and successful PK-12 teaching and advocacy experience working with diverse learners with disabilities, or a PK-12 teaching credential in Special Education. The earned credential may be outside of Washington State.
Instructions
To apply, submit the following via Interfolio: http://apply.interfolio.com/156547
- A cover letter, no longer than three (3) pages, which includes the following information:
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- Your interest in this position including how you meet all of the minimum qualifications.
- Describe:
- Your specific interest in joining the School of Education and UW Tacoma as an urban-serving campus.
- How your scholarship/research, teaching, and service has supported the success of diverse learners with disabilities who are historically underrepresented and underserved in PK-12 education, especially persons from culturally, linguistically, and/or racially diverse backgrounds. The term “disabilities” include learners with learning differences, exceptionalities, and neurodiversity, as well as more traditionally recognized categories defined by the US Department of Justice & Civil Rights division.
- A separate 1-2 page teaching philosophy statement. Specifically, describe how your pedagogical approaches and teaching philosophy will contribute to the mission and values of the UW Tacoma School of Education and support our diverse student population.
- A current curriculum vitae.
- Note: Three (3) professional letters of recommendation will be required of all finalists who are invited to campus. More information will be provided to invited finalists at that time.
- Include two (2) scholarly writing samples such as a dissertation chapter, article, book chapter, or equivalent scholarly outputs as attachments.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
Privacy Notice
Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnel to learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.
Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.