Professor, SpEd Clinical Experience Design

Relay Graduate School of Education; United States; Remote; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A pioneering educator institution seeks a Professor of Special Education Clinical Experience Design. In this role, you will lead curriculum development, teach graduate-level courses, and manage part-time specialists. Ideal candidates have a Master's or Doctorate in Special Education, extensive classroom experience, and commitment to diversity and equity in education.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of direct classroom instruction or school-based professional engagement in Special Education.
• Advanced degree required in Special Education or related field.
• Required licensure in Special Education or degree relevant to the program’s grade levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of curriculum for Special Education courses.
• Teach graduate-level courses to cohorts of ~50 students.
• Manage part-time design consultants and ensure project completion.

Skills

Direct classroom instruction

Curriculum design

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Mentoring

Education

Master's or Doctorate in Special Education

Tools

Canvas LMS

Job description

Overview

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is an accredited not-for-profit institution of higher education serving thousands of educators from across the country, from pre-service teachers to system-level leaders. Our mission is to ensure that all students are taught by outstanding educators, in order to build a more just world where every student has a clear path to a fulfilling life.

The Teacher Preparation Instructional Team at Relay Graduate School of Education is dedicated to fostering pedagogical excellence and providing comprehensive student support for both pre-service and in-service teachers. The division oversees academic programs, faculty, and student support across all licensure- and degree-granting components.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, SpEd Clinical Experience, the Professor, SpEd Clinical Experience Design, advances special education teacher preparation through the design, implementation, and iteration of innovative graduate-level special education curriculum informed by practical expertise and the science of adult learning. This position seeks a special education and structured literacy content expert with demonstrated proficiency in designing and facilitating engaging learning experiences for educators. Essential qualifications include the ability to design clinical experiences aligned with foundational pedagogy, strong project management, exceptional facilitation skills, and organizational capability.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of curriculum and assessments for all Special Education courses, integrating clinical experiences, foundational education concepts, and SpEd-specific content.
• Collaborate with other curriculum design professors to ensure cohesive and aligned program offerings.
• Develop and implement training initiatives to educate faculty on the effective use of centralized curricula.
• Ensure curricula incorporate current research and best practices in special education and the science of reading, and align with state standards and accreditation requirements.
• Integrate strategies for developing engaging asynchronous and synchronous learning experiences into the curriculum design.
• Continuously evaluate and refine curriculum based on data, including student performance and feedback, to drive ongoing improvement.

Teaching Responsibilities (45%)

• Teach multiple engaging and effective graduate-level courses (~3-9 credits/term) to cohorts of ~50 students.
• Adapt to varying teaching schedules, including evening classes (Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:30-8:00 CT or Wednesdays 5:30-8:00 CT) and occasional Saturdays.
• Model the knowledge, skills, and mindsets of a culturally responsive educator within teaching and student support activities.
• Hold regular office hours to provide individualized student support.
• Engage in peer observation and provide/receive constructive feedback for continuous instructional improvement.
• Provide guidance, resources, and feedback to facilitate student and course learning goals.

Management (5%)

• Lead and manage assigned part-time design consultants, including setting priorities, assigning tasks, and providing regular coaching and feedback.
• Conduct performance reviews and support consultants’ professional growth.
• Ensure timely, high-quality project completion by aligning consultant strengths with project needs and capacity.

Institutional Service (5%)

• Serve the institution through committee, working group, and/or board membership.

Qualifications

First and foremost, the Professor, SpEd Clinical Experience Design must share Relay’s commitment to improving student growth and achievement through exemplary teacher preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The following skills and qualifications are sought:

• Minimum of five years of direct classroom instruction or direct school-based professional engagement in Special Education (K-12)
• Advanced degree required (Master's or Doctorate) in Special Education or related field
• Required licensure in Special Education or a degree specifically in Special Education relevant to the program’s grade levels
• Demonstrated experience with curriculum design and development, integrating clinical experiences, foundational education concepts, and SpEd-specific content
• Comprehensive understanding of current research and exemplary practices in special education (K-12), including science of reading-based literacy intervention
• Experience teaching and delivering engaging instruction to adult learners in academic settings
• Demonstrated ability to observe, mentor, and provide constructive feedback to adult learners
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse constituents
• Proven project management ability, including objective setting, timeline management, and synthesis of varied information
• Availability for instruction on two weeknights and select Saturdays
• Commitment to advancing justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-oppressive initiatives within teacher preparation
• Commitment to asset-based approaches with exceptional learners

Preferred Qualifications

• Formal training and/or certification in science of reading (e.g., LETRS)
• Experience in online instructional design and delivery
• Teaching/coaching across multiple grade levels and special education settings
• Experience with social-emotional interventions
• Understanding of national special educator landscape and policy trends
• Proficiency with Canvas LMS
• Active engagement with national education organizations related to Special Education or teacher preparation

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to serve diverse students and is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism across staff, faculty, and students.

Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply and welcomes candidates who meet a majority of the qualifications.