Chairperson of the Department of Special Education

Title: Chairperson of the Department of Special Education

Employee Classification: Department Chairperson

Division Name: Academic Affairs

College/Unit: College of Education

Department: Special Education

Campus Location: Normal, IL

General Summary

The College of Education at Illinois State University invites applications for Chairperson of the Department of Special Education. The College seeks a dynamic, collaborative leader to further the Department’s mission and vision while advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our policies, personnel, and undergraduate and graduate programs. The Chairperson will encourage high-quality teaching, research, and service, and advocate for resources needed to prepare special education teacher leaders for the nation’s schools. The Chairperson is responsible for long-range planning, fiscal management, personnel, faculty and staff advancement, program assessment, and curriculum review and development. The Chairperson will develop and maintain partnerships within and outside the University, as well as promote Department programs to campus, alumni, business, governmental, and other educational stakeholders. The successful candidate will advocate for the Department to be at the forefront of discussions in Illinois related to special education teacher preparation and provide active leadership for faculty and staff within a university culture of shared governance and collegiality. Preferred start date is July 1, 2022. ISU recognizes that a diverse faculty, staff, and student body enriches the educational experiences of the entire campus and greater community. Candidates who have experience working with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students, and who can contribute to the climate of inclusivity and equity are especially welcomed. Women, veterans, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and people of color are encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications
For full consideration, applicants must have:
•An earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution in the field of special education or relevant field to the Department of Special Education with academic achievements in scholarship, teaching, and service that merit appointment, with tenure, at the rank of associate or full professor.
•A minimum of three years of experience as an educator or direct service provider to individuals with a disability and demonstrated commitment to equitable public education.
•A record of successful administrative or other leadership experience at the program, department, college, or university level.
•Evidence of a demonstrated commitment to culturally-relevant and appropriate leadership that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
•A successful record of teaching, scholarship, and service in special education.

State law mandates demonstrable oral proficiency in the English language as a requirement for this position. This position is security sensitive, and employment is contingent upon passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation.

Salary, Rank, and Tenure
The position is a twelve-month tenured appointment. The salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience. A comprehensive benefits package is included.

Additional Information

The Department of Special Education
The Department of Special Education (SED) was recently ranked the #1 program offering a degree in special education in the United States. It is home to three undergraduate teacher preparation programs and three graduate programs. The Department includes a blend of accomplished faculty who are recognized for their high-quality research and publications, as well as for being well-grounded in experiences as classroom teachers. The Department includes 16 tenure line faculty and 35 non-tenure line faculty. The Department provides personal attention to students while preparing them to take their place as teacher leaders in the nation’s schools. SED faculty have successfully secured prestigious national and state-level grants to support teaching and research. SED scholarship is nationally and internationally recognized, and perhaps more significantly, contributes to the school communities with whom Illinois State collaborates. The SED undergraduate teacher preparation programs leading to licensure include learning and behavior specialist (LBS), deaf/hard of hearing (DHH), and low vision/blindness (LVB). Collectively, around 700 undergraduate students are enrolled in these programs, which offer robust and rigorous clinical experiences. The Department also offers master’s and doctoral programs. These include a Master of Science, a Master of Science in Education, a Master of Science in Low/Vision and Blindness, an Ed.D. in Education, and a Director of Special Education certificate. Together, our graduate programs serve over 120 students. Department website: https://education.illinoisstate.edu/about/departments/sed/

College of Education
Illinois State University has a historic and enduring commitment to prepare teachers and other school personnel who will be responsive to the ethical and intellectual demands of a democratic society. To teach in a democracy is self-consciously to take up the challenge of improving the ethical and intellectual quality of our societal dialogue by including in it as many educated voices as possible. The democratic ideal unites caring and knowing: the more voices we call into thoughtful dialogue, and the less fettered the mutual exchange among those voices becomes, the truer our convictions and conclusions will be. This is the foundation of a democratic society, and it is why ISU graduates aspire to teach everyone, especially those on the margins, those who have been or are in danger of being excluded. This democratic conception of education informs all aspects of teacher education at Illinois State. Graduates who are ready to meet the challenges and rewards of serving students in a democratic society embody the ethical and intellectual commitments of teaching and learning in order to realize the democratic ideal. The College of Education complements its abiding commitment to inclusive teacher preparation and the development of educational leaders with pursuit of scholarly work. A distinguished faculty, and the students they mentor, engage in work that discovers, integrates, and applies disciplinary knowledge while also advancing the University’s commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

ISU is ranked as the fourth largest producer of teachers in the nation. Nearly one in six Illinois public school teachers is an ISU alum. The College of Education is organized into the Department of Special Education, the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, the School of Teaching and Learning, the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center and two laboratory schools: the Thomas Metcalf School and University High School. The College enrolls more than 3,000 students who choose from a wide array of teacher and administrator preparation programs, including Learning and Behavior, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Low Vision and Blindness, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Level Education, Reading, Bilingual and Bicultural Education, Leadership, Equity, and Inquiry, and areas of educational administration/leadership. Graduate programs are offered in Special Education, Teaching and Learning, K-12 Administration, and Higher Education Administration. The College of Education is one of only 85 in the nation that maintains Laboratory Schools. Thomas Metcalf and University High schools provide a unique educational option from pre-kindergarten through the senior year for approximately 1,000 students in the community. The schools also serve as sites for clinical experiences that are critically important to the college’s future teachers. College web site: https://education.illinoisstate.edu/

Illinois State University
Illinois State University is a public research university in Normal, Illinois, approximately 130 miles southwest of Chicago. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the United States according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. Founded as a teachers' college, the university now offers a range of programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. Illinois State is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The teacher preparation programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and certified by the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, 22 programs hold discipline-based accreditation. As of the fall of 2021, total on-campus enrollment was 20,233, with 17,674 undergraduate students and 2,559 graduate students. Slightly over half of the enrollment is female (57%), 29% of all students are from minority groups, and international students represent 69 different countries. Illinois State’s athletic teams are members of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference and are known as the "Redbirds," in reference to the state bird, the cardinal. University website: https://illinoisstate.edu/

Bloomington-Normal Community
Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a population of approximately 167,000. The community is home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Lincoln College, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Country Financial, and State Farm Insurance Corporate Headquarters. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems and educational attainment, rich theatre and cultural events offering, parks and recreation, health care, job growth, economic opportunity, and low crime. Business Insider recently named Bloomington #1 on its list of “Best Cities to Live in After the Pandemic Ends.” Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis, two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield, many of which are accessible via Amtrak rail service. The Central Illinois Regional Airport, currently serviced by four airlines, provides daily flights nationwide. For more information on our community, please visit http://www.visitbn.org/ .

Required Qualifications

1. An earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution in the field of special education or relevant field to the Department of Special Education with academic achievements in scholarship, teaching, and service that merit appointment, with tenure, at the rank of associate or full professor.
2. A minimum of three years of experience as an educator or direct service provider to individuals with a disability and demonstrated commitment to equitable public education.
3. A record of successful administrative or other leadership experience at the program, department, college, or university level.
4. Evidence of a demonstrated commitment to culturally-relevant and appropriate leadership that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
5. A successful record of teaching, scholarship, and service in special education.
6. Candidates must be able to demonstrate oral proficiency in the English language as a requirement for this position, as mandated by state law.

Proposed Starting Date

07/01/2022

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Required Applicant Documents

• Cover letter describing your related experience and interest in this position
• Current vita
• Statement of leadership and teaching philosophy
• List of three professional references (with phone numbers and email addresses).

PLEASE NOTE: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

To assure full consideration, please complete an online application for posting number 512334 at www.jobs.Illinoisstate.edu and submit all required materials by January 9th, 2022. Along with your application, submit a cover letter describing your related experience and interest in this position, current vita, statement of leadership and teaching philosophy, and list of three professional references (with phone numbers and email addresses). Initial review of applications will begin January 9th, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. Preferred start date is July 1, 2022. Questions regarding this position may be sent to Katherine Kaiser (309) 438-2543 (phone) or email kmkais1@ilstu.edu .

Contact Information for Applicants

Department
Katherine Kaiser
(309) 438-2543 (phone)
kmkais1@ilstu.edu

Human Resources
Clay Gruenwald
Cmgruen1@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.