Professor, SPED Clinical Experience Design

Title: Professor, SPED Clinical Experience Design

Type: Full-time

Team: Teacher Preparation 

Start Date: August 11, 2025

Priority Application Review Deadline: June, 16th 2025

Summary:

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, holds a crucial role in advancing special education teacher preparation. This position focuses on the design, implementation, and iteration of innovative graduate-level special education curriculum informed by practical expertise and the science of adult learning. We seek a special education content expert with demonstrated proficiency in designing engaging learning experiences and coaching educators. Experience in areas such as early childhood special education, math intervention, social-emotional intervention, and/or science of reading-based literacy intervention is valued. Essential qualifications include the ability to design clinical experiences aligning with foundational pedagogy, strong project management expertise, exceptional facilitation skills, and organizational capability.

Role’s Contributions (Duties and Responsibilities): 

The essential responsibilities of this position, while not limited to the following, will include: 

Curriculum Design Leadership (45%): 

• Lead the design and development of curriculum for all Special Education courses, specifically integrating clinical experiences, foundational education concepts, and SPED-specific content.
• Collaborate effectively 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 all designed curricula incorporate current research, best practices in special education, and align with evolving state standards and accreditation requirements.
• Integrate strategies for developing engaging and effective 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 providing/receiving 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 the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal teacher preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. This includes providing teacher preparation programs that set novice teachers up to succeed in the classroom from day one; leadership programs that train new and veteran school and district leaders to best serve their school communities; and teacher-facing professional education that provides ongoing learning to educators. Additionally, for this position we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• Minimum of five years of direct classroom instruction or direct school-based professional engagement in Special Education (birth - grade 12).
• Advanced degree required (Master's or Doctorate) in Special Education or a related pertinent educational field.
• Required licensure in Special Education or a degree specifically in Special Education relevant to the grade levels served by the program.
• Demonstrated experience with curriculum design and development, specifically integrating clinical experiences, foundational education concepts, and SPED-specific content.
• Comprehensive understanding of current research and exemplary practices in Special Education (birth - grade 12), including early childhood special education, social-emotional intervention, mathematical intervention, and/or science of reading-based literacy intervention.
• Experience teaching and delivering engaging instruction to adult learners in academic settings (collegiate or professional development).
• Demonstrated ability to effectively observe, mentor, and provide constructive feedback to adult learners.
• Exceptional interpersonal capabilities fostering collegial interactions and collaboration with diverse constituents within and outside the institution.
• Proven aptitude for project management, including the ability to define objectives, manage timelines, and synthesize varied information effectively.
• Required availability for instruction on two weeknights and select Saturdays.
• Proven commitment to advancing justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-oppressive initiatives within teacher preparation programs.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Significant experience in online instructional design and delivery.
• Demonstrated understanding of the national special educator landscape and relevant policy trends.
• Proficiency in designing, developing, and delivering instruction within the Canvas learning management system.
• Active engagement with national education organizations related to Special Education (e.g. Council for Exceptional Children) or teacher preparation.

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity.

To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!

COMPENSATION

Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $87,057- $105,339. New hires will be offered a salary at the starting point of the range, $87,057 to allow for an equitable starting salary process and continual salary growth during an employee’s time at Relay GSE.

To ensure internal pay equity:

• Relay does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience,
• All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and
• Relay does not negotiate salary offers.

Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.   

WORK LOCATION POLICY

Employees must have a primary work location within the U.S., where they are legally authorized to work. Relay is a registered employer in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington State and Washington DC. Please note that Relay Graduate School of Education's headquarters are in New York City. Employees who choose to perform work from states not listed here will be subject to NYC state withholdings.

Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.