Chair - School of Education

Term of Appointment: 9 months, mid-Sept through mid-June; summer mid-June through August 31

Job Summary

The School of Education, at Eastern Washington University, is currently seeking an experienced and knowledgeable leader to fill a multifaceted role as our Chair/Director. This position may be filled at the Associate or Full Professor level, at the time of appointment, and includes a nine-month academic year appointment with a required summer appointment. The preferred start date for this position is July 1, 2027.

The School of Education is approved by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). The School of Education offers undergraduate programs offering numerous routes to endorsement. The graduate programs include Master's of Education (MEd) programs leading to endorsement. The MEd programs are an accelerated, online curriculum and offered through collaboration with Risepoint.

The School of Education is a part of the College of Professional Programs which offers opportunities for creative interdisciplinary teaching and research with disciplines such as psychology, social work, business, and accounting. The School of Education works closely with all of the Colleges across campus in order to collaborate on content area endorsements in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Director responsibilities include leadership, personnel management, PESB accreditation oversight, and program administration.

Faculty responsibilities include teaching, scholarship, and service consistent with tenure-line expectations.

Workload distribution will be established annually in consultation with the Dean.

Eastern Washington University seeks a leader who can advance educator preparation, strengthen regional partnerships, and contribute to student success while maintaining an active and productive faculty profile.

Additional areas of responsibility include:

• Supporting faculty development in teaching, scholarship and service;
• Supporting field education with a strong knowledge of public school education;
• Developing collaborative relationships with other academic units in the college and university;
• Representing the School to the college, university, and community;
• Building a varied funding base;
• Enhancing relationships with educational and professional organizations; and
• Maintaining a strong professional presence for the School with the ability to lead continuous improvement efforts and encourage evidence-based innovation.
• Fostering shared governance, professional trust, and cross-program/partner collaboration.
• Prioritizing student success, community impact, and institutional mission.
• Managing data collection, management, analysis, and reporting for both PESB and EWU with the ability to guide curriculum strategy, program review, and accreditation alignment using student outcomes, assessment data, and program metrics to drive improvement.
• Analyzing institutional challenges, reflect on leadership impact, and adjust decision-making strategies to ensure alignment with the university mission.

EWU is committed to supporting and promoting a workforce that is welcoming to all and encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

The salary for this position is $90,698 (Associate) or $116,276 (Full). In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers fringe benefits such as tuition waiver for employees, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page.

Applications are open and accepted until recruitment is closed. Screening of applications will begin October 5, 2026. Position will remain open until further notice. A three-day notice will be provided prior to closure of recruitment. All materials will be held in strictest confidence; references will not be contacted until candidates have been notified.

Eastern Washington University provides an inclusive, equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence.

About Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the region's polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWU's 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington's second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor's and master's degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a '26 -'27 College of Distinction (CoD), the second consecutive year it has received the national recognition.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement

At Eastern Washington University, we are proud to recognize the land of the Spokane Tribe and other tribes that shared the land for fishing and trading. The Spokane Tribe, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe, and the Nez Perce Tribe are integral to the cultural heritage and traditional ethnological knowledge of the land.

Native American heritage is woven into the fabric of our institution, enriching our community through tribal culture, historical teachings, and tribal language, and is embraced daily by students, staff, faculty, and the Eastern Washington community.

At EWU, we are committed to reflecting on and acknowledging the historical injustices of genocide and the forced removal of tribal peoples and all our relatives. EWU recognizes and honors tribal sovereignty and government to government relationships with tribes.

From here forward, EWU will remain committed to supporting, honoring, and recognizing the Native American community and the dynamic contributions that are shared with our university.

Equal Opportunity Statement

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.

Conditions of Employment

The required start date for this position is July 1, 2027.

This position, during the course of university employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.

All new employees must comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

After starting employment, employees will complete the required training via Canvas. The Office of Employee Belonging, Development, and Leadership will reach out to you concerning Workplace Belonging training and asynchronous New Employee Orientation.

Note: Interviews might be conducted via Zoom (camera must be enabled). If so, candidates must be able to demonstrate competence using Zoom and other technologies.

Physical Demands

Contact Human Resources at jobs@ewu.edu to obtain a copy of the Essential Functions Analysis, which will describe conditions of employment, such as physical demands.

Protective Equipment

University, local, regional and state mandates for public and personal protection should be followed as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in education or a closely related discipline
  • Associate Professor: A doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the appointment, and six (6) or more years of successful professional experience
  • Full Professor: A doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the appointment, and ten (10) years of successful professional experience
• A minimum of three (3) years K-12 teaching experience
• Experience leading an education program in a higher education setting, which could include multiple programs within a larger education unit
• Record of exemplary teaching experience across the undergraduate and graduate education curriculum
• Record of academic productivity
• Record of institutional and community service
• Demonstrated leadership experience in promoting cultural awareness and inclusivity
• A demonstrated commitment to promoting social justice through teaching, research, and community service
• Demonstrated high degree of interest, ability and/or experience promoting cultural competency
• Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach that is supportive of the needs including universal access of our students, faculty, staff and the public.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading educator preparation programs
• Demonstrated success with accreditation (PESB or equivalent)
• Experience managing complex academic units
• Demonstrated success in faculty recruitment and retention
• Experience building partnerships with PK-12 systems and community organizations

Note: The above job description is a general outline of the duties and responsibilities typically associated with this position. Specific tasks and responsibilities may vary based on the needs of the department and institution.

Special Instructions to Applicants

It is strongly recommended that you print a copy of these instructions and the position posting before you begin to complete the online application, as the instructions will not be viewable once you begin the application process.

Submit your application materials through our online applications portal located here: https://jobs.hr.ewu.edu. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

Position is open until further notice; screening will be immediately. All materials will be held in the strictest confidence; references will not be contacted until candidates have been notified.

Required documentation includes all of the items listed below.

• Attach a detailed cover letter in which you explain how you meet each of the required qualifications [and preferred qualifications, if applicable]. It is preferred that you provide the information in a bulleted list or as a table within your cover letter.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Evidence: Attach evidence of effective teaching to include teaching evaluations if available for the most recent two years. Student evaluations should not include the original evaluation materials, but should be limited to 3rd party summaries.
• List of Professional References: Please include a list of at least three references including names, title, organization name, phone numbers, email addresses, and their connection to you.
• Complete the online application form and respond to the online questions, if applicable.
• Mission Statement Response - EWU's mission is to provide an inclusive equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence. We are committed to serving first-generation, Pell-eligible students. How would you contribute to this mission?
• Additional Optional Links: if you have additional documents that serve as evidence of how you meet the qualifications, you may upload those items to the optional links labeled Other Document #1 and Other Document #2.

Please do not upload resumes/CVs that include photos of yourself.

Proposed Job Duties & Responsibilities

100% of Time:

The Chair/Director provides leadership in fiscal management and resource development, planning and program management, faculty and staff development, and personnel management. The Chair/Director works closely with faculty within the unit of Education, secondary program partners across campus, and reports to the Dean of the College. Areas of responsibility include:

• Assigning faculty workloads;
• Evaluating faculty and staff performance;
• Developing course schedules;
• Coordinating regular faculty meetings;
• Supporting staff development;
• Supporting faculty development in teaching, scholarship and service;
• Participating in college chairs/directors meetings;
• Developing collaborative relationships with other academic units in the college and university;
• Representing the School to the college, university, and community;
• Building a diverse funding base;
• Demonstrate transparency with all operations and budgeting for the unit;
• Providing leadership in strategic planning and achievement of School goals and objectives;
• Enhancing relationships with professional organizations, and
• Maintaining a state and national presence for the School of Education.

The Chair/Director works collaboratively with other members of the School's administrative team including the Undergraduate Director, Graduate Director, CTE Director, Transition to Teaching Director, and MIT Director.

Additionally, all faculty are expected to engage in effective teaching and assessment of student learning.

To apply, visit https://jobs.ewu.edu/jobs/chair-school-of-education-f99983-cheney-washington-united-states.