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Posny congratulated on confirmation

By John Lloyd on Oct. 9, 2009.

The US Senate confirmed Alexa Posny as assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services in the US Department of Education Monday 5 October 2009. US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued a press release congratulating Dr. Posny on the confirmation. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

Alexa E. Posny comes to the department from Kansas where she served as commissioner of education for the state. As commissioner, Posny was responsible for helping over 450,000 students meet or exceed high academic standards, licensing over 45,000 teachers and overseeing a state education budget of more than $4.5 billion. Prior to her work as commissioner, Posny served as the director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the U.S. Department of Education, a position in which she assisted state and local efforts to effectively educate all children and youth with disabilities. Posny has also served as the Kansas deputy commissioner of education, Kansas state director of special education, director of special education for the Shawnee Mission School District, director of the Curriculum and Instruction Specialty Option as part of the Title I Technical Assistance Center (TAC) network of TACs across the United States, and a senior research associate at Research and Training Associates in Overland Park, Kan. Posny earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, a master’s degree in behavioral disabilities and a doctorate in educational administration both from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Posny has also served on the Board of Directors for the Chief State School Officers, the National Council for Learning Disabilities, and chaired the National Assessment Governing Board’s Special Education Task Force. Posny has also been a teacher at the elementary, middle school, high school and university levels.

Link for the full press release. Catch coverage by Lisa Fine for On Special Education.

Three Assistant/Associate Professors of Special Education -Illinois State University

By Carrie Anna on Oct. 9, 2009.

One of the Largest Special Education Program in U.S. Seeks Three Assistant/Associate Professors

The Department of Special Education at Illinois State University, a large public university with
nationally recognized teacher preparation programs, invites applications for three tenure track positions
to be filled at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor. The Department prepares approximately 1000
students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Our undergraduate program includes a 
sequence to prepare teachers to serve multicategorical populations, as well as sequences in deaf and hard
of hearing and low vision/blindness.

Positions: Three tenure track positions in the multicategorical program at the assistant/associate level to
start on August 16, 2010. These are nine-month positions with the opportunity for summer employment.
Responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supervising theses and
dissertations, maintaining an active research agenda, seeking external funding, and providing university
and professional service.

Qualifications: Applicants must hold an earned doctorate in special education or a related area (ABD
considered). Priority will be given to applicants who have prior university teaching experience, an active
research agenda, and experience teaching or providing services to persons with disabilities. Candidates
with expertise in one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply: assistive
technology, language development and communication strategies, literacy, secondary transition services,
and serving individuals with significant disabilities.

Application Procedures: Receipt of applications by November 13, 2009 is preferred. Initial review of
candidates will begin November 13, 2009, and continue until the positions are filled. To assure full
consideration, applicants should send a letter of application, including description of research agenda;
vita; sample publications; official transcripts; and names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three
professional references to:

Debbie Shelden, Ph.D.
Chair, Search Committee
Department of Special Education
Campus Box 5910
Normal, IL 61790-5910
Phone: 309-438-5661
FAX: 309-438-8699
Email: dlsheld@ilstu.edu

Initial review of applications will begin on November 13, 2009 and continue until the positions are filled.

Illinois State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action university encouraging diversity.