Assistant Professor in Elementary Teacher Education

The college’s faculty are widely-recognized thought leaders who use their research to transform the practice of teaching, learning, and leading. They have particular strengths in improving technology-enhanced learning and teaching; fostering community-based learning and PK-16 partnerships; and innovating leadership and workforce development, educational policy, and evaluation. About two-thirds of the faculty are grant active. They are engaged in over 225 active projects totaling $151 million, making them the most productive in terms of research activity compared with other colleges of education in North Carolina and among the Top 5% in the nation. In FY24, the college’s research expenditures exceeded $20 million.

The college has over 1,600 students studying across five graduate certificates, seven undergraduate majors, two undergraduate minors, 13 master’s degrees, three Ph.D., and two Ed.D. programs housed in three academic departments: Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education; and Teacher Education and Learning Sciences, with approximately 130 tenure-track and professional-track faculty, 110 support and professional staff, and about 160 graduate and teaching assistants. The College of Education is also home to the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, and Elevate, NC State’s inclusive postsecondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The college has over 18,000 living alumni, with over 6,000 working in public schools in every county in North Carolina. Those who are teachers rate among the highest in effectiveness on surveys of school employers in North Carolina.

NC State promotes an integrated approach to problem solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic, and technological development across North Carolina and around the world. NC State’s land grant mission of teaching, research and service is dedicated to the service of North Carolina and its people. Applicants are encouraged to review the institution’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and consider how their background, interest and experience would enable them to support the university.

The Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS) comprises over 40 full-time faculty members preparing more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students and 200 students in alternative teacher licensure programs. We prepare students to work in a range of fields across various programs that include Elementary Education (with a STEM focus), Educational Psychology, Educational Equity, Literacy and English Language Arts, Learning Design and Technology, Middle and Secondary English Language Arts, Social Studies, Multilingual Education, and Special Education. We advance education through scholarship, leadership, and advocacy. We prepare professionals who are committed to provide learning opportunities for all and who have deep content knowledge, demonstrate strong working knowledge of effective pedagogies, and realize the potential of digital technologies to enhance learning. We shape the field of education by engaging in research that addresses current challenges, and by participating in cross-disciplinary work that deals with real problems in forward-looking ways. The department exemplifies an innovative merging of teacher education and the learning sciences that results in new pathways for teaching, scholarship, leadership, and service. The preparation that our students receive is unmatched in scope, priorities, and outcomes, assuring that our graduates are able to make profound contributions to education and society.

In addition to the degree earning programs above, TELS also offers an inclusive postsecondary education program, Elevate. Elevate is a university-wide initiative designed for North Carolina residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and offers educational credentials, such as certificates.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties:

The Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS) invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Elementary Teacher Education to be affiliated with undergraduate and graduate studies in elementary teaching and learning. This is a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level, with teaching, scholarship, service, and outreach expectations.

We are seeking those who are scholars in elementary teacher education who will lead and contribute to research on approaches and programs that prepare pre-service teachers. You will engage in research primarily focused on elementary teacher preparation programs’ features and impact. This might include elements such as modality (e.g., face-to-face, hybrid, online), structure (e.g., traditional four-year programs, part-time programs for practicing teachers, competency-based education), or pathway (e.g., bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, residency, registered apprenticeship). Additionally, you will submit proposals for internal/external funding in support of the related research.

The ideal candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary teacher preparation, including the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, with a strong preference for those who teach elementary social studies education. As a faculty member, you will provide service and leadership to the Elementary Education program area, the department, college, and university. You will participate in outreach and engagement activities with elementary schools locally and across North Carolina, and collaborate with faculty within the department, college, and across the university.

Position Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of scholarly research, publication, and grant-writing activity that aligns with a tenure track position in a university with high research activity.
• Produce high quality research on pre-service teacher preparation programs, features, and impact.
• Seek external funding for research and development activities.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary education, with a strong preference for social studies pre-service teacher education graduate and undergraduate programs
• Recruit, advise, and mentor graduate students and serve on doctoral committees.
• Engage in collaborative research with other faculty and researchers within the College of Education, including the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and the Belk Center for Community College leadership, as well as across the university.
• Provide service and leadership in the elementary education program, department, college, university, and professional organizations.
• Participate in outreach and engagement for department and college initiatives with underserved communities and high need areas and engaging with stakeholders across the state of North Carolina.

If you are passionate about preparing future elementary educators and interested in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary teacher preparation, including the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, with expertise in elementary social studies education, we encourage you to apply and join our faculty.

Other Responsibilities:

N/A

Minimum Education and Experience:

Doctorate in Teacher Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Elementary Education, or a related field

Other Required Qualifications:

• Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in elementary education
• Experience in pre-service teacher preparation
• K-6 teaching experience
• Scholarship and funding record commensurate with experience
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in research, teaching, extension, and service
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students and individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences
• Demonstrated ability to support students with varied academic and professional needs

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of K-6 teaching experience
• A record of publication and presentation commensurate with experience, with preference to work related to the scholarship of teaching and learning
• Experience facilitating teacher professional development
• Success in building relationships with schools and districts

Required License(s) or Certification(s):

N.A

Valid NC Driver's License required:

No

Commercial Driver's License required:

No

Job Open Date:

09/03/2026

Anticipated Close Date:

11/02/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include the following as a part of your application packet:

1. Cover Letter
2. CV
3. Teaching Statement
4. Contact information for References

Position Number:

00112293

Position Type:

Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week):

1.0

Appointment:

9 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather:

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events:

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID:

131101 - Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS)

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

• No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
• No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
• Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
• Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city

With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.