The University of Goergia

College of Education

Department of Educational Theory and Practice

Department Head Position Description

The University of Georgia seeks a skillful leader to head its Department of Educational Theory and Practice. This position is a 9-month tenured appointment with 2 months of summer support to begin August 2015 (summer start date negotiable).

Context: The Department of Educational Theory and Practice supports the development of a critically minded public, in which relations are democratic, difference is appreciated, and experience is conjoint and communicated. Our focus is on children and adolescents, their families and teachers, and their communities as well as analyses of the historical, cultural, and political forces that influence them. We believe our research and teaching, including collaborative inquiry among teachers, teacher educators, and other members of the public, can help achieve the equitable educational outcomes required for a just society.

The Department has academic programs in initial teacher certification (BSEd and MAT), teacher continuing education (MEd and EdS) and doctoral preparation in educational theory and practice with multiple emphasis areas (PhD). Initial teacher preparation is offered in early childhood education, middle grades education and secondary social studies education. Teacher continuing education is likewise offered in these three areas. Doctoral preparation is offered in the emphasis areas of early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades education, social studies education, teacher education, and critical studies of education. The Department also houses the undergraduate social foundations courses.

Required Qualifications: Candidates must possess an earned doctorate in an education field, or a closely related field, and an excellent record of teaching, service, and research that would be suitable for appointment at the rank of Professor in the Department. Candidates should also provide evidence of their experience in effectively administering a large, complex academic unit with diverse programs.


Preferred Qualifications: We seek candidates who have at least one year of successful university leadership experience managing a complex academic unit and a record of commitment to diversity in all its forms. We prefer someone with an in-depth understanding of teacher preparation programs and evolving policies influencing teacher initial certification and teacher professional evaluation, demonstrated management skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, an attention to detail, a service orientation to the Department and its students and faculty, and a demonstrated ability to refine and implement an existing strategic vision.

Responsibilities: The Department Head is expected to provide leadership for the general direction of the department in a manner that continues to advance excellence in the teaching, research, and service missions in all areas of the unit. This includes but is not limited to promoting informed, collaborative, and strategic decision-making in the unit, representing and advocating for the department with the college, university and external constituents, and overseeing matters of budget, facilities, personnel and curriculum. The department head’s budgeted time for administration is 50%. The remaining 50% of the department head’s budgeted time will be allocated among instruction, research, and service, based on the strengths of the individual hired and the needs of the unit.

Procedure:
Submit a letter of application that addresses the required and preferred qualifications as well as leadership style and a curriculum vita to Patricia Flaherty at paf@uga.edu. The application deadline is 31 October 2014, but we will continue to receive and screen applications until the position is filled. Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. Rob Branch, Search Committee Chair, at rbranch@uga.edu.

Additional Context: The Department of Educational Theory and Practice has 26 full-time faculty members across its various programs. Department faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized for their academic accomplishments. The Department has facilities in Aderhold Hall located on the main campus, and offers satellite programs on the University’s Gwinnett Campus that is adjacent to Atlanta, as well as two new online programs. The College of Education consists of 9 departments and approximately 230 faculty members. The University of Georgia is a land-grant and sea-grant research-intensive university composed of 17 schools and colleges with approximately 35,000 students. Athens is a town with a population of approximately 120,000, located 75 miles northeast of Atlanta.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Protected Veterans/ Disability Institution.

For more information about the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, visit www.coe.uga.edu/directory/departments/educational-theory-practice; for the University of Georgia, visit www.uga.edu; for the city of Athens, visit www.visitathensga.com; and for the state of Georgia, visit www.georgia.gov.
18 September 2014