Assistant/Associate Professor and Director of Teacher Education

Assistant/Associate Professor and Director of Teacher Education
Department: Teacher Education
Employment Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $70,000-$85,000
Reports to: Dean of Faculty, Academic Affairs
 

Who We Are?

Ferrum College is committed to providing a supportive academic environment that promotes student success, professional growth, and service to others. Guided by the College's motto, "Not Self, But Others," Ferrum College strives to uphold academic excellence, collaborative decision-making, and meaningful partnerships with the communities it serves.

The Teacher Education Department prepares future educators through undergraduate and graduate programs designed to support effective teaching, professional development, and student achievement. Through strong academic leadership, curriculum development, and partnerships with local school divisions, the department works to prepare qualified educators who are ready to make a positive impact in the classroom and beyond.

What We're Looking For

Ferrum College is seeking a collaborative, experienced, and forward-thinking Assistant/Associate Professor and Director of Teacher Education to provide academic leadership and administrative oversight for the College's undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs.

This is a full-time, 12-month, hybrid faculty-administrative leadership position with a 1:1 teaching load. The Director is responsible for overseeing program operations, supervising faculty and administrative staff, managing curriculum and academic policies, leading accreditation and licensure compliance, overseeing budgets, and developing partnerships with local public school divisions and other educational organizations.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills, along with experience in higher education or PK-12 education management. This position requires a commitment to collaborative decision-making, shared governance, academic quality, continuous program improvement, and the successful preparation of future educators.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative & Program Leadership

• Develop and refine program policies in collaboration with Teacher Education faculty, ensuring alignment with College handbooks, shared governance practices, and academic standards.
• Oversee, balance, and allocate program budget resources in accordance with College and departmental requirements.
• Manage admissions processes for undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs.
• Oversee student academic standing, program requirements, and student disciplinary matters.
• Provide academic advising to graduate education candidates and designated undergraduate education students.
• Establish course pathways for transfer students and coordinate course rotations for undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Supervise faculty and administrative personnel and support effective departmental operations.

Accreditation, Compliance & Assessment

• Maintain compliance with Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), and SACSCOC standards across initial licensure and advanced degree programs.
• Review and update teacher licensure procedures to reflect evolving VDOE regulations.
• Collaborate with EDU 404 and Capstone instructors to verify required components and approve licensure applications for program graduates.
• Lead CAEP site visits, attend VDOE and accreditation meetings, and ensure timely submission of institutional, state, and national compliance reports.
• Oversee the design and collection of assessment instruments and coordinate data analysis and reporting responsibilities with appropriate faculty.
• Coordinate with College Faculty Supervisors on the collection of evaluation rubrics.
• Lead annual program assessment activities, including submitting Assessment Identification Worksheets to the Student Learning Assessment Committee.
• Map student learning outcomes within Brightspace D2L and analyze Xitracs assessment reports to support continuous quality improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement & Clinical Partnerships

• Serve as the primary institutional liaison to local public school divisions, including Franklin County Public Schools, and private school partners.
• Oversee Clinical Educators and coordinate the recruitment, placement, and evaluation of mentor and cooperating teachers for field experiences, internships, and student teaching.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with school divisions, clinical educators, and other educational stakeholders.
• Convene and lead internal and external advisory committees to evaluate workforce needs and strengthen the department's responsiveness to the educational community.

Teaching & Academic Responsibilities

• Maintain a 1:1 teaching load across the academic year in undergraduate or graduate education courses.
• Deliver coursework in accordance with Carnegie unit guidelines and applicable academic standards.
• Incorporate contemporary instructional technology, inclusive teaching practices, and research-based methods into coursework.
• Support student learning, academic achievement, and professional preparation.
• Contribute to curriculum development, program evaluation, and ongoing academic improvement.

Faculty & Staff Supervision

• Provide operational oversight, workload management, and performance evaluation input for full-time Education faculty.
• Oversee onboarding, course alignment, and instructional evaluation for contingent and adjunct faculty.
• Supervise the Program Administrative Assistant, including responsibilities related to internship documentation, event planning, room scheduling, VDOE and CAEP data entry, budget tracking, and student record maintenance.
• Direct College Faculty Supervisors and clinical personnel responsible for observing and evaluating student field placements.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, and effective communication among faculty, staff, and educational partners.

Who You Are?

You are an experienced education professional and academic leader who understands the responsibilities involved in managing teacher education programs and preparing future educators.

You demonstrate strong managerial and organizational skills and are comfortable balancing teaching responsibilities with program administration, faculty supervision, accreditation requirements, and student support. You value collaborative decision-making and shared governance and understand the importance of maintaining academic standards and regulatory compliance.

You are an effective communicator who can build and maintain productive relationships with faculty, staff, students, school administrators, clinical educators, and external partners. You approach challenges thoughtfully, use assessment data to guide improvement, and are committed to maintaining high-quality undergraduate and graduate education programs.

You are also committed to professional scholarship, continued learning, and advancing teaching practices that prepare students for successful careers in education.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated administrative or leadership experience in higher education or PK-12 education management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of teacher licensure procedures and state and national accreditation frameworks, including VDOE and/or CAEP.
• Successful college-level or PK-12 teaching experience and academic advising experience.
• Strong managerial and organizational skills.
• Commitment to collaborative decision-making and shared governance.
• Proficiency in budget management, academic scheduling, and program assessment.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to develop effective partnerships with external school divisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in Education or an equivalent terminal degree in a related field from an accredited institution.
• Direct experience leading CAEP self-studies, preparing accreditation reports, or hosting CAEP site visits.
• Direct experience with Virginia Department of Education licensure requirements and Virginia public school systems.
• Experience with online course design, distance education delivery methods, and learning management systems such as Brightspace D2L.
• An active record of scholarly contributions, including publications, grant writing, or presentations at regional or national conferences, consistent with the Boyer Model of scholarship recognized by Ferrum College.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique?

The Assistant/Associate Professor and Director of Teacher Education will have a meaningful impact on the preparation of future educators and the continued development of Ferrum College's undergraduate and graduate education programs.

This position combines teaching, academic leadership, program administration, accreditation oversight, and community partnerships. It provides an opportunity to influence curriculum, strengthen relationships with local school divisions, support faculty development, and ensure that teacher education programs meet evolving academic and professional standards.

The successful candidate will help shape the future of teacher preparation at Ferrum College while supporting the College's commitment to academic excellence, service, and student success.

What We Offer

At Ferrum College, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of teacher education programs while working with faculty, students, school divisions, and educational partners.

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Lead undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs.
• Combine teaching with academic leadership and program administration.
• Shape curriculum, assessment, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead accreditation and teacher licensure compliance efforts.
• Build meaningful partnerships with public and private school systems.
• Supervise, mentor, and support faculty and educational personnel.
• Participate in scholarly activities and professional development.
• Contribute to the preparation of future educators and the advancement of Ferrum College's academic mission.

Ready to Join Our Team?

If you are an experienced education professional with a passion for academic leadership, teacher preparation, and student success, we encourage you to explore this opportunity to join Ferrum College.

Interested applicants should refer to Ferrum College's current employment posting for application instructions and submission requirements.

Ferrum College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.