Assistant Professor for the School of Education

Sonoma State University; Cotati (CA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonoma State University invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in the School of Education. The role is tenure-track with responsibilities spanning teaching, scholarship, and service.

Starting August 2027, the hire will contribute to TK-12 educator preparation and collaborative school partnerships across Northern California. Applicants should hold a doctoral degree in education, a commitment to social justice, and experience working with diverse communities.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D) in education or closely related field by time of appointment.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, advising, or otherwise working effectively with first-generation college students and/or students from historically underserved communities.
• A minimum of three years of successful teaching experience in TK-12 public schools or an equivalent educational setting.
• A demonstrated commitment to advocacy, leadership, scholarship, teaching, and/or program development that advances educational equity and supports historically underserved or marginalized communities.

Responsibilities

• Teach social science methods, educational foundations, and teacher education courses through a justice-oriented Ethnic Studies framework.
• Prepare teacher candidates to develop equity-centered, culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogies.
• Teach graduate courses in the MA in Education program and contribute to interdisciplinary offerings.
• Maintain an active program of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity.
• Supervise and support teacher candidates in clinical practice across diverse settings in Northern California.
• Advise and mentor credential and graduate students, including serving on graduate committees.

Skills

First-generation outreach

Advocacy/leadership

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Education

Ph.D./Ed.D in education

Teaching credential (Multiple/Single Subject)

Job description

Assistant Professor for the School of Education

Job No: 562992

Work Type: Instructional Faculty –Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: Sonoma

Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association,Child/Youth Education and Development, Probationary, Full Time,On-site (work in-person at business location)

School of Education

Faculty Employment Opportunity - TenureTrack

Starting August 2027

The University

Sonoma State University's beautiful 274-acre campus is located inSonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. Thecampus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning andaccess to a community of rich cultural, environmental, andrecreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, SSU is one of the 22campuses of the California State University System. As members ofthe largest public higher education system in the nation, weprovide accessible, high-quality education.

The Department

The School of Education (SOE) at Sonoma State University preparesstudents to become leaders and advocates for social justice,support diverse learners, and make a transformative impact in TK-12schools and beyond. We guide and support educators in developing ajustice-centered stance while drawing upon the cultural wealth ofthe communities we serve. We are committed to partnering with localschools and agencies to collectively address the most pressingeducational challenges and inequities.

Housed within the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies (ECES), our programs integrate theory, clinical practice,community leadership, and advocacy to strengthen educationalsystems and communities. Our interdisciplinary programs cultivatethe critical consciousness and collective leadership skills neededto navigate and contribute to an ever-changing, pluralistic,multilingual, and multiracial democracy.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to see the department's webpage at: https://soe.sonoma.edu/

Duties of the Position

• Teach social science methods, educational foundations, andteacher education courses through a critical, justice-oriented, andEthnic Studies framework.
• Prepare teacher candidates to develop equity-centered,culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogies that draw uponthe knowledge, histories, identities, and cultural wealth of thecommunities we serve.
• Teach graduate courses in the M.A. in Education program andcontribute to interdisciplinary course offerings across credentialand graduate programs.
• Maintain an active program of research, scholarship, and/orcreative activity related to the candidate's areas ofexpertise.
• Supervise and support teacher candidates in clinical practice,including candidates in traditional student teaching, teacherresidency, and intern pathways in a variety of urban, suburban, andrural areas of Northern California.
• Advise and mentor credential and graduate students, includingserving on and/or chairing graduate committees.
• Participate in service and shared governance within the Schoolof Education, College, University, profession, and broadereducational community.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with localschools, districts, county offices of education, and communityorganizations to support teacher preparation and educatordevelopment.
• Contribute to the development, coordination, assessment, andcontinuous improvement of Sonoma State's teacher educationprograms, including accreditation and California Commission onTeacher Credentialing requirements.
• Contribute to recruitment, retention, and support of a diverseeducator workforce, particularly educators prepared to serve theculturally, linguistically, and racially diverse communities of the North Bay and throughout California.

Faculty Responsibilities

In addition to teaching and scholarship, faculty are expected toengage in service to the University, profession, and community.These responsibilities include: advising students, participation incampus and system-wide communities, maintaining office hours,working collaboratively and productively with colleagues, andparticipating in traditional academic functions.

Sonoma State is committed to the Teacher/Scholar model and placesan emphasis on faculty support of undergraduate research and otherprofessional opportunities for students.

Faculty are also expected to foster our commitment to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 through excellent teaching,advising, and mentoring. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the University's Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion Policy. During the first two years of the probationary period the instructional assignment will be reduced by two courses per academic year for probationary faculty members, in order to assist in establishing their programs of research, scholarship, and/or creative activities, and carrying out other activities that would support them in meeting the requirements for retention, tenure, and promotion. All faculty are required to have the ability to workeffectively in a multicultural environment.

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D) in education or closelyrelated field, with expertise in social science education and/oreducational foundations by time of appointment.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, advising, or otherwise workingeffectively with first-generation college students and/or studentsfrom historically underserved and marginalized communities.
• A minimum of three years of successful teaching experience inTK-12 public schools or an equivalent educational setting.
• A demonstrated commitment to advocacy, leadership, scholarship,teaching, and/or program development that advances educationalequity and supports historically underserved or marginalized communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in bilingual/ multilingual/ plurilingual education,including experience teaching, supervising, coaching, or providingprofessional learning in bilingual or dual-language educationalsettings.
• Expertise in preparing teachers to serve multilingual learnersand communities
• A current or previously held Multiple Subject (elementary) or Single Subject (secondary) Teaching Credential, or comparableteaching certification or authorization.
• Experience with teacher residency programs or other clinicallyrich, partnership-based approaches to teacher preparation.
• Bilingual or multilingual proficiency, particularly inlanguages represented in California's TK-12 schools andcommunities.
• Experience teaching, advising, mentoring, or providingleadership at a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) or otherinstitution serving a highly diverse student population.
• Teaching, scholarly, professional, and/or community-basedexpertise in critical and justice-oriented approaches to education,such as Ethnic Studies, critical race theory, queer theory andLGBTQ+ studies in education, culturally sustaining pedagogy,decolonial perspectives, or anti-racist and anti-biaseducation.
• Experience preparing educators to teach effectively andequitably in racially, culturally, linguistically, andsocioeconomically diverse TK-12 schools and communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to integrate artificialintelligence (AI) literacy, including the critical, ethical, andequitable use of AI in teaching, learning, and/or educatorpreparation.

Rank and Salary

Service credit depends upon academic preparation and professionalexperience. The anticipated salary range for this position is:$74,000 to $85,000.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter including research interests and teachingphilosophy, maximum 3 pages
• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial transcripts (Official transcripts Will be requiredof the selected candidate)
• Contact information for three references

Application Deadline

First consideration will be given to applications received by November 30, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. Early response is encouraged.

Contact Information

Questions concerning the application process may be directed to: [e-mail]

Questions concerning this position may be directed to: Rhianna Cases a t [e-mail]

Please refer to the requisition job number on all correspondenceand inquiries regarding this position.

The ADA Coordinator is also available ([e-mail]) to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

Our Commitment

Sonoma State University is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, as such we are committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and we endeavor to employ faculty and staff reflecting the linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region and state.

Guided by our core values as a university: diversity,sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability, SonomaState University (SSU) offers an education that fosters intellectual, social, and personal growth. SSU is a public liberalarts and sciences university. As the only member of the Council ofPublic Liberal Arts Colleges in the state of California, we are committed to preparing students for a life of active citizenship and public service. We have a vibrant campus life characterized bya lively co-curriculum that fosters broad-based intellectual andartistic opportunities in which the campus as a whole is activelyengaged.

Sonoma State University is committed to creating a community inwhich bias and intolerance have no place. It is our expectationthat all students, faculty, and staff work together to honor thiscommitment and hold each other accountable to create an open andinclusive environment.

We are committed to facilitating spaces in which all can grow by building on our students' assets as they explore new knowledge. These efforts include fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, experimentation, empathy, and communication. Thesuccessful candidate will be one who can collaborate with faculty,staff, administration, and students to achieve these goals. We areespecially interested in candidates committed to diversity, equity,and inclusion.

Equal Opportunity & Mandated Reporting

The University is an Affiliated Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status. Mandated Reporting: This position may be considered a \"mandated reporter\" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Employment Eligibility & Conditions

CSU Out of State Policy - Sonoma State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022 the CSUOut-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.

Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Due to a recent change in policy, SSU is unable to sponsor new H-1B employment visas at this time. All offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee's identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Education Code 89521

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have