What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant/Associate Professor of Special Education position at Appalachian State University?
Posting Details
Request to Recruit
Position Title Assistant/Associate Professor of Special Education
Tenure Status Tenure Track
Provide Rank Assistant or Associate Professor
Position Number 008651
VISA Sponsorship? VISA sponsorship is available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.
Department Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education - 260200
Working Location (City, State) Boone, NC
Position Summary Information
Minimum Qualifications
We are looking for candidates who bring expertise in at least TWO of the following areas (in terms of teaching and/or research). Please explicitly identify and discuss at least TWO areas in your letter of interest:
License/Certification Required
N/A
Description Of The Department Or Unit
The Special Education Program within the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University is one of the largest in North Carolina with nine full-time special education faculty who offer in person and online BS and MA degrees in special education, an undergraduate minor in special education, and graduate certificates in autism, special education leadership, and emotional/behavioral disorders. The program prepares educators to teach students with a range of disabilities as well as an ability to analyze how social justice intersects with our schools, especially as they are manifested on local, state, and national levels. The Reich College of Education also offers a doctorate in Educational Leadership, including a concentration in Literacy and Exceptionalities, providing faculty with opportunities to chair or serve on doctoral committees.
Appalachian State University is a member of the sixteen-campus University of North Carolina. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the University enrolls over 20,000 students, primarily in Bachelors and Masters programs. Appalachian has a traditional residential campus and a variety of distance education programs. Additional information about the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education, the university, and the surrounding area is located at https://clse.appstate.edu .
The campus is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, a region noted for its scenic beauty. We are near the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and national and state parks.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University seeks qualified candidates to fill one tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Special Education.
We are seeking applicants with expertise in teaching and an active research agenda in special education to join our collaborative team. The successful applicant will be appointed to a full-time, nine-month position beginning in August 2027, with the possibility of summer teaching.
The duties include teaching, research, and service. Specific responsibilities will include:
Appointment Type 1.0
Number Of Months Per Year 9
Physical Demands of Position
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Posting Details Information
Proposed Date of Hire 08/09/2027
Suggested Salary Range Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience
ABD Consideration: ABD with reduction in rank and salary (see desc. below)
ABD Description
ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.
No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.
Special Instructions to Applicants
ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND TIMELINE :
For a complete application, please apply and submit all below-required documents electronically through Appalachian State University’s Job Board:
Review of complete applications will begin October 1, 2026, and we will continue to accept and review applications until the position is filled.
UNC System Code (Section 610(2)) Special Faculty Hires
The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.
Posting Date 05/14/2026
Closing Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Evaluation of Applications Begins 10/01/2026
Search Chair Name Dan Poling and Debra Prykanowski
Search Chair Email polingdv@appstate.edu , prykanowskida@appstate.edu
Quick Link https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/54054
Posting Number FA00580P
Request to Recruit
Position Title Assistant/Associate Professor of Special Education
Tenure Status Tenure Track
Provide Rank Assistant or Associate Professor
Position Number 008651
VISA Sponsorship? VISA sponsorship is available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.
Department Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education - 260200
Working Location (City, State) Boone, NC
Position Summary Information
Minimum Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in special education or closely related field by August 2027 – Candidates who are ABD will be considered, but the position requires successful completion of all doctoral requirements by the start date
- Minimum of three years of teaching or clinical experience with students with disabilities
We are looking for candidates who bring expertise in at least TWO of the following areas (in terms of teaching and/or research). Please explicitly identify and discuss at least TWO areas in your letter of interest:
- Online undergraduate and/or graduate teaching experience and course development
- Supervising teacher candidates in clinical or field-based settings
- Knowledge of multi-tiered systems of support and evidence-based practices in academic instruction, with experience teaching a range of disabilities
- Candidates with an established record of, or potential for, securing external funding
- Knowledge of administration, law, and policy
License/Certification Required
N/A
Description Of The Department Or Unit
The Special Education Program within the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University is one of the largest in North Carolina with nine full-time special education faculty who offer in person and online BS and MA degrees in special education, an undergraduate minor in special education, and graduate certificates in autism, special education leadership, and emotional/behavioral disorders. The program prepares educators to teach students with a range of disabilities as well as an ability to analyze how social justice intersects with our schools, especially as they are manifested on local, state, and national levels. The Reich College of Education also offers a doctorate in Educational Leadership, including a concentration in Literacy and Exceptionalities, providing faculty with opportunities to chair or serve on doctoral committees.
Appalachian State University is a member of the sixteen-campus University of North Carolina. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the University enrolls over 20,000 students, primarily in Bachelors and Masters programs. Appalachian has a traditional residential campus and a variety of distance education programs. Additional information about the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education, the university, and the surrounding area is located at https://clse.appstate.edu .
The campus is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, a region noted for its scenic beauty. We are near the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and national and state parks.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University seeks qualified candidates to fill one tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Special Education.
We are seeking applicants with expertise in teaching and an active research agenda in special education to join our collaborative team. The successful applicant will be appointed to a full-time, nine-month position beginning in August 2027, with the possibility of summer teaching.
The duties include teaching, research, and service. Specific responsibilities will include:
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses both in person and online
- Conduct engaging scholarly work
- Provide service to the program, department, college, university, profession, and community
- Collaborate with colleagues in the program, department, university, and Pre-K-12 schools
- Advise graduate students
- Serve on doctoral committees
- Demonstrate commitment to the university’s strategic plan and/or department mission/goals
Appointment Type 1.0
Number Of Months Per Year 9
Physical Demands of Position
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Posting Details Information
Proposed Date of Hire 08/09/2027
Suggested Salary Range Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience
ABD Consideration: ABD with reduction in rank and salary (see desc. below)
ABD Description
ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.
No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.
Special Instructions to Applicants
ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND TIMELINE :
For a complete application, please apply and submit all below-required documents electronically through Appalachian State University’s Job Board:
- A letter of application that includes a description addressing the listed required minimum qualifications, essential duties and responsibilities, and identification of at least two areas of interest listed in this job description;
- Current vita; and
- Contact information for three references familiar with the candidate who can speak to the candidate’s teaching and scholarship qualifications.
- Unofficial Transcripts (Graduate and Doctoral) – no password-protected files
Review of complete applications will begin October 1, 2026, and we will continue to accept and review applications until the position is filled.
UNC System Code (Section 610(2)) Special Faculty Hires
The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.
Posting Date 05/14/2026
Closing Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Evaluation of Applications Begins 10/01/2026
Search Chair Name Dan Poling and Debra Prykanowski
Search Chair Email polingdv@appstate.edu , prykanowskida@appstate.edu
Quick Link https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/54054
Posting Number FA00580P