Writing in the New York Times, Sharon Otterman reviews some of the challenges encountered in providing educational services to students with multiple and severe disabilities. In her extended article, Mr. Otterman uses the case of Donovan Forde, a 20-year-old youth who is nearing the end of mandated educational services in the US, to explain how teachers must weigh provision of academic experiences and functional living needs.

And yet, because of his cognitive disabilities brought on by a traumatic brain injury at nearly 6 months old, it is almost impossible to know what he comprehends and retains. After 15 years in the New York City school system, he is less reserved and more social, but otherwise has shown almost no progress, his mother said.

Once predominately isolated in institutions, severely disabled students have been guaranteed a free, appropriate public education like all children since the passage of federal legislation in 1975. In the years since, school districts across the country have struggled to find a balance between instruction in functional skills and academics while providing basic custodial care.

Read to Ms. Ottermn’s article. It would be a worthwhile one for discussion in courses about teaching students with disabilities.

The University of Kansas (KU) Department of Special Education has multiple VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (VAP) positions available during the 2010-2011 academic year for early-career individuals (i.e., doctoral program completion within the past three years) in early childhood special education, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and low- and high-incidence disabilities.

These early-career visiting faculty positions are designed to provide recent doctoral program graduates with a “post-doctoral” experience with an emphasis on teacher education knowledge and skills development and related research and writing with KU faculty, staff, and students. Positions may be renewed for a second year based on Department need and VAP performance.

Contact: chrisswt_at_ku_dot_edu

Chriss Walther-Thomas, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Special Education
University of Kansas

Job Title:             ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION
Special Education Program in the department of            Teacher Education
Salary:             Commensurate
Expected Date of Appointment: Fall 2010

Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Special Education, Educational Diagnostics, and pedagogy; work as a team member with other professionals, serve on committees and grant projects; and serve as academic advisor at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  The successful applicant must possess strong knowledge and skills in assessing, diagnosing, and planning for students with learning disabilities, physical handicaps, communication/language disorders, emotional disorders and behavior disorders. Must possess strong organizational skills, current technological skills, and a desire to develop innovative learning experiences. Candidates should be dedicated to excellence in teaching with a strong commitment to high professional standards both in and outside the classroom. The ability to write and develop grant projects is desired.

Qualifications. Candidate must have an earned doctorate in Special Education, Educational Diagnostics, Learning Disabilities, or equivalent from an accredited institution. Hold certification in Educational Diagnostics and Special Education. Have two or more years teaching experience in the public/private school system in special education and experience as an Educational Diagnostician required.

Experience in college teaching, development of curriculum and pedagogy, and background in reading, ELL, Bilingual, or educational psychology a plus.

Required Applicant Documents:Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Teaching Philosophy, & Other Information: If three professional letters of reference are not attached at time of application, please mail to:

Teacher Education Department
Attention: SPED Search Committee
Angelo State University
ASU Station # 10893
San Angelo, TX 76909

Apply at https://employment.angelo.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1264527076130

Position is open, but may close any time after June 30, 2010.  Individuals selected for an interview must provide official college or university transcripts.

Posting Date:             01-26-2010
Closing Date:             Open Until Filled
Position Number:             999365
Job Code:             F0050
Posting Number:             0000150

For questions contact

Dr Richard Evans, Search Committee Chairs
Special Education Program
Angelo State University

Richard.evans@angelo.edu

The Department of Special Education at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University invites applications for an associate professor in the area of severe disabilities. The successful applicant will be eligible for tenure evaluation. The duties of the position are to maintain a program of research, teach courses in the program on severe disabilities, participate in the development of master’s and doctoral programs, advise students, and submit and operate grants. Affiliation with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development is possible.

For a full description of the position, please download the accompanying position announcement.

The Council for Exceptional Children is seeking applications for the position of Assistant Executive Director for Professional Development Services. Here are some particulars about the position. See the link near the end of this post to download a copy of the announcement.

Position Title: Assistant Executive Director for Professional Development Services
Classification: Category 10 (Exempt) Starting Salary Range: $86,340 to $107,924.
Unit: Professional Development Services
Reports to: Executive Director
Selection Procedure: Evaluation of written application materials, relevant education, experience, and references. Personal/panel interview(s) of top-rated candidates.
Application Procedure: Each candidate must submit a current resume and cover letter to: Recruiter, Norma Marshall, preferably via Email to cecnm@att.net. (Voice: 336-547-8315).Mailed resumes should be sent to: Council for Exceptional Children, 1110
North Glebe Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201-5704 Persons requesting accommodation during the application process should also contact the Recruiter.
Application Deadline: Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.

Visit the CEC Web site at http://www.cec.sped.org

Download a PDF of the announcement of the position.

The Learning Disabilities Association International (LDA) encourages young professionals committed to quality teaching in the Learning Disabilities field to apply for stipends to attend the LDA conference.

Four TEACHER EDUCATOR STIPENDS will be available for the 2010 International Learning Disabilities Association Conference, February 17-20, 2010, at Baltimore’s (MD, US) Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

Two-person teams must come from the same institution and include one faculty member who trains teachers to work with children with LD and one who teaches general education courses taken by those teachers. The selected teams must attend all four days of the Conference and can be reimbursed for airfare, lodging, meal, and parking expenses up to $1,000 per team. Registration and Banquet fees are waived.

The Conference includes a Wednesday afternoon Professional Preparation Workshop on the difficulties of high-school-to-post-secondary transition from a variety of perspectives. General session speakers will be Martha Denckla, Lisa Dieker, and Michelle Rhee (Chancellor of the Washington, DC, Public Schools). Over 200 other sessions will fill the four-day conference with information, networking opportunities, and greater understanding of the challenges student with learning disabilities and their teachers, face.

Faculty teams desiring to participate must submit the required Application and related materials to:
LDA Teacher Educator Stipends

4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234

All materials must be received by November 16, 2009. The application and an Information Sheet are available at LDAamerica.org. You may also contact LDA by phone at (412) 341-1515 or e-mail at info [at] LDAamerica [dot] org. Selected teams will be notified via e-mail by January 5, 2010

Now in its 14th year, special thanks to the Learning Disabilities Foundation for making stipend funding available for 2010.

Folks , Angelo State University has an opening for Assistant Professor in Teacher Education with expertise in Early Childhood Education. Could you pleas share this with your colleagues.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Department: Teacher Education

Job Summary: Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in teacher education programs in early childhood education, pedagogy, and general teacher education. Possibly Special Education

Expected date of appointment: Fall 2010

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The successful applicant must possess strong communication and organizational skills, possess current technological skills, and a desire to develop innovative learning experiences. Candidates should be dedicated to excellence in teaching with a strong commitment to high professional standards both in and outside the classroom. The ability to write and develop grant projects desired.

Qualifications: Candidate must have an earned doctorate in Early Childhood Education or equivalent from an accredited institution. Teacher certification in Early Childhood and elementary. Two or more years teaching experience in the public school system in early childhood education or PK-3 grades required. Experience in college teaching, development of curriculum, and background in reading, ELL, SPED and Bilingual a plus.

Required Applicant Documents:
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Teaching Philosophy
Other Information:
Include Position Number: 999361
Job Code: F0040

Apply on Line at
https://employment.angelo.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1253049327755

or mail to:
Angelo State University
Department of Teacher Education
ASU Station #10893
San Angelo, TX 76909

Position is open, but may close any time after November 1, 2009.
Angelo State University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting and ensuring equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Angelo State University is committed to providing reasonable accomodations to ensure equal access to employment opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring that a qualified individual with a disability has the same rights and privileges in employment as non-disabled employees. If an accommodation is requested for the job application process, please contact our office at (325) 942-2168 or email us athr@angelo.edu.

Richard Evans
Angelo State University

Siegfried Engelmann, the developer of Direct Instruction, has revised his Web site. If you’re a teacher educator concerned about preparing people to help students with disabilities, you almost certainly know about Zig’s DI programs and you’ve probably read some of his writings. His revised site has videos as well as previously un-published papers that are worth reviewing. The site is available a Zig Site.

The University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) Department of Special Education (http://education.missouri.edu/SPED/ ) seeks an Assistant Professor (tenure track) or an Assistant Professor of Teaching (non-tenure track) to join a collegial and highly productive department. We seek a person with expertise/interest in the delivery of special education services within the context of general education curriculum, standards, and settings. As such we anticipate candidates will have expertise in one or more of the following: inclusionary practices, teacher education, special education/general education collaboration, co-teaching, and programming for at-risk or struggling learners.

Qualifications expected for either position include an earned doctorate in special education or closely related field, direct experience in working with children and youth with disabilities or those at risk for academic and behavioral problems, and evidence of effective teaching at the university level. The primary instructional responsibilities for both positions will be to provide leadership in the ongoing development and delivery of coursework for pre-service general education teachers in the areas of working with students with disabilities or those considered at risk as well as introductory information regarding classroom and behavior management . This coursework supports the accreditation and certification programs of the college’s Teacher Development Program (TDP).

Candidates for the tenure-track position must also display evidence of emerging scholarly productivity and a strong potential for securing external research or training funding. The tenure-track position includes a start-up package including reduced initial teaching, service, and advising loads, moving expenses, computer and technology resources, mentoring and support through the tenure process, a graduate assistant, research funds, and grant support. Merit, promotion, and tenure considerations are based primarily on scholarly productivity, excellence in teaching, participation in service to the college and the field, and procurement of external funding.

Candidates for the non-tenure track position will have an expanded teaching load, service expectations within the department and college, and extensive student advising requirements. Moving expenses, technology resources, and instructional support resources will be provided. The university has recently adopted new guidelines for the evaluation and promotion of non-tenure track faculty.

MU is an AAU, Doctoral/Research Extensive institution and is the flagship of the University of Missouri four-campus system. It is the oldest state university west of the Mississippi River and proudly embraces its land grant mission. MU has over 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The College of Education is one of 18 colleges/schools on campus and is home to 1,200 undergraduates, 1,559 graduate students, and a tenure/tenure track faculty of 86. The college is currently ranked 28^th nationally. The college has a unique partnership with 22 school districts across the state which includes urban, suburban and rural districts. These districts collaborate with the college in terms of research, field placements, and professional development. The Department of Special Education has a long history of federal training and research grant funding.We are home to the IES Center for Adolescent Research in Schools and the OSEP Center for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. We also house the Missouri School-wide Positive Behavior Support Initiative. We are affiliated with the interdisciplinary Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Our department is very collaborative and we have developed a number of productive relationships with other departments within the college, around the MU campus, with a range of institutions across the country as well as internationally.

MU is located in Columbia , a progressive community of approximately 100,000.The community has very good public schools, a range of cultural and recreational opportunities, regional shopping centers, and wide selection of eating/entertainment venues. It is located midway between Kansas City and St. Louis. It is frequently listed as one of the best places to live by national publications such as Money magazine. For more information link to http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/.

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experiences and qualifications.

Appointment: 9 months beginning in August 2009.Summer teaching opportunities are available annually.

Application: Submit letter of application; vita or resume; three letters of reference; evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., course syllabi, student evaluations, chair/advisor/peer reviews). Candidates for the tenure-track position should also submit evidence of scholarly writing (2-3 examples).Submit these materials to Dr. Erica Lembke, Chair of the Search Committee, 303 Townsend Hall, Columbia MO 65211. (Materials can also sent electronically to Dr. Lembke at lembkee [at] missouri [dot] edu.)

Closing Date: Review of applications will begin February 1, 2009, and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. Persons with disabilities, women, and persons from under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply. To request ADA accommodations, please contact the College of Education at 573.882.8311

Verano en México 2009

Study abroad in the beautiful city of Guanajuato! On-site cultural and educational experiences and instruction will take place at the University of the Americas in Mexico City, the Universidad de Guanajuato, the Academia Falcon and in public school settings in Guanajuato, México. As part of the program, you will spend the first five days in Mexico City visiting such sites as the world-renowned National Museum of Anthropology, the pyramids at Teotíhuacan, the Frida Kahlo Museuem, the Ballet Folklórico, and the world famous Diego Rivera murals in the National Palace and the Secretary of Education. Participants also meet with educational officials from the Secretary of Education in Mexico City.  In Guanajuato, students are placed in regular and special education settings 20 hrs per week for four weeks in public schools. Coursework is provided by faculty from Chile, México, Perú, and the U.S.  This is an enriching educational experience that will provide an opportunity to reflect on your own cultural identity and professional practice. See the Verano en México brochure .

Deadlines

Application and Travel Grant Deadline : March 15, 2009
$300 Non-Refundable Deposit Due : April 1, 2009
Final Payment of Fees : April 21, 2009

Applications

Apply by visiting the University of Arizona Study Abroad Office web site (www.studyabroad.arizona.edu ) and search for the keyword ‘verano’. Or, visit the Verano en Mexico Study Abroad page directly .

More Information

See the Verano en México brochure . Visit the Verano en México web site (www.uacoe.arizona.edu/verano ). And, contact Dr. Todd Fletcher or Renee Griggs.

Dr. Todd Fletcher, Project Director
toddf@u.arizona.edu
(520) 621-0939

Renee Griggs, Study Abroad Office Contact
griggsr@email.arizona.edu
(520) 626-7180