Director, School of Education and Associate Professor or Professor

Summary:
The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), a regional public university committed to excellence in teaching, learning, and community engagement, seeks an experienced, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as Director of the School of Education beginning July 1, 2026. The Director provides academic and administrative leadership to advance the mission of the School, including oversight of undergraduate and graduate teacher education and educational leadership programs, faculty development, student success initiatives, and accreditation compliance. This position offers the opportunity to lead a dedicated team of educators and staff, strengthen partnerships with area school districts, and contribute to strategic initiatives that prepare high-quality educators for diverse learning environments. The Director receives a teaching reduction to support their administrative duties, and teaches one to two courses per year.

Rank: Associate Professor or Professor. This is a full-time (12-month) on-campus tenure-track faculty appointment. UIS tenure-system faculty are expected to be available and engaged in the university community, with assigned professional responsibilities for teaching, scholarship, and service.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Leadership and Administration
Provide visionary leadership in academic planning, program development, assessment, and innovation. Manage daily operations of the School of Education, including budget, scheduling, personnel, and facilities. Support faculty governance and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture among faculty (in SOE and in licensure areas across campus), staff, and students. Lead faculty recruitment, retention, development, and evaluation in alignment with university policies. 30%

Accreditation and Compliance
Ensure compliance with Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) licensure requirements and national accreditation standards as appropriate to UIS programs. Lead continuous improvement efforts, including curriculum updates and program assessment cycles that are proposed from a student-centered approach. Collaborate with the School of Education staff assigned to accreditation, compliance and licensure and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment offices to maintain accreditation readiness. Work closely with Enrollment and Retention Management offices to ensure compliance with university and state completion requirements including Registrar, Financial Aid, and Admissions. Demonstrated experience applying educational theories to educational practice. 20%

External and Internal Collaboration
Develop and maintain strong partnerships with P-12 schools, school districts, regional office of education, and community organizations. Represent the School on college and university committees. Collaborate with School of Education staff and faculty and university leaders on strategic initiatives. Serve as the School of Education primary point of contact between College and University committees. Seek and steward external funding opportunities to support faculty research, outreach, and innovation. 20%

Student Success and Program Quality
Promote student-centered practices that improve access, retention, licensure completion, and graduation rates. Oversee academic advising, licensure preparation, and clinical experiences in coordination with program coordinators/leads. Support equity-minded practices in curriculum, instruction, and recruitment. Support non-degree seeking students in their completion of licensure requirements. Teach one or two courses per year. 30%

Minimum qualifications:  Earned doctorate in Education or closely related field that supports teaching within a UIS Education Program.
Record of successful teaching, scholarly activity, and service that merits appointment at the associate or full professor rank, including demonstrated excellence in teaching at the university level (tenure status negotiable).
Demonstrated experience in academic administration or leadership within Educational Leadership (Principalship or Superintendency), Teacher Education, or related fields.
Knowledge of educator preparation standards, accreditation, assessment, and licensure processes.
Proven ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with diverse internal and external constituencies
Demonstrated ability to manage and resolve conflict and stress within a complex academic unit.
Experience in online or hybrid program delivery and innovation in teaching and learning.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with national and state accreditation, such as ISBE, or equivalent accreditation processes related to a School of Education.
Knowledge of Illinois state licensure requirements.
Successful P-12 teaching and/or administrative experience.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing educational equity.
Grant writing or external funding experience.

Application deadline (5pm Central Time):  12/7/2025

Minimum 12-month salary $91,000

Application instructions:  Click the "Apply Now" button, create or update your profile, complete the online application, and upload a cover letter addressing your qualifications for the responsibilities of the position, current curriculum vita or resume . Contact information for professional references will be requested later in the search process. Formal review of applications will begin soon after the application deadline, and continue until the position is filled or the search is terminated.

About UIS:  Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves approximately 4,000 students in 60 undergraduate programs of study, 41 minors, 44 graduate programs of study, 1 doctorate, 43 graduate certificates, and coursework that leads to 8 ISBE endorsements. The academic curriculum offers students a strong liberal arts core, a wide range of professional programs, and close faculty interaction. Making the most of its location in the state capital, UIS is broadly engaged in public policy and service. Its diverse student body includes traditional, non-traditional, and international students. Twenty-five percent of majors are in 17 undergraduate and graduate online degree programs and the campus has received several national awards for its implementation of online learning. UIS faculty are committed teachers, active scholars, and professionals in service to society. The University emphasizes excellence in teaching, and faculty are also expected to provide a balance of scholarship and service activities to meet requirements for tenure and promotion. You are encouraged to visit the university web page at https://www.uis.edu and the school website at https://www.uis.edu/education

About Springfield, Illinois:  https://www.uis.edu/academic-affairs/about-our-springfield-community

UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State Universities Retirement System

1. You do not pay Social Security taxes and your earnings will not be on your Social Security record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages.)
2. Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your:

• Social Security benefit and
• Social Security benefit as a spouse

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