"Instructor or Assistant Professor of Practice in Birth-Kindergarten - 261101"

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC.

Western Carolina University’s (WCU) Department of Human Services invites applications for a 9-month, fixed-term, Instructor (for candidates with a masters degree) or Assistant Professor of Practice (for candidates with a terminal degree) position in the Birth-Kindergarten Program. Anticipated start August 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The Birth-Kindergarten Program (online) is situated in the Human Services Department in the College of Education and Allied Professions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach, supervise, and advise students in the B-K (Online) Program. The teaching load is four courses each semester (Fall and Spring; all online; 80%), with priority being internship courses, and option to teach in the summer. Additionally, faculty will share program administrative responsibilities and provide service to the department, college, and university (20%).

Duties include:

• Support the vision and mission of the BK Program
• Develop and deliver online courses within the BK Program
• Supervise Interns and coordinate with clinical educators
• Mentor and Advise Students
• 4/4 (Fall-Spring) teaching load (with additional opportunities to teach in the summer)
• Provide service to the university, profession, and community
• Maintain currency in the academic discipline through continuing education, activities within the program, and opportunities in professional organizations at the state, regional, and/or national levels
• Work cooperatively and collegially with all faculty and staff in the BK Program and across the institution
• Carry out other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, child development, or a closely related field (Degree must be from an accredited institution).
• Expertise in working with interns and young children birth-kindergarten;
• Eligibility for North Carolina licensure.
• Service to the university, community, and region requires the faculty member to live within reasonable proximity to the university.
• Previous teaching experience and a record of community/public engagement

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in early childhood education, early childhood special education, child development, or a closely related field (Degree must be from an accredited institution).
• Experience in teaching in a classroom (any grade B-K)
• Experience teaching and working with interns in preschool and kindergarten settings
• Experience with edTPA portfolio, teaching courses in a Birth-Kindergarten program, and advising students
• Experience with online instruction and development of online courses

Position Type

Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following:

• Cover letter
• VITA
• Complete transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*
• Current licensure
• Current contact information for five professional references

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Myra Watson at mkwatson@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.