SCHOOL OF EDUCATION FACULTY/CHAIR

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION DETAILS:

Position Title: FT Faculty/Program Chair 

Program: Teacher Education

Academic Enterprise: Business and Education Department: School of Education

Reports to: Dean of Business and Education

UNIVERSITY MISSION: Rochester Christian University is a Christ-centered institution that empowers students to lead lives of personal and professional significance while serving God in a changing world.

POSITION SUMMARY: This education faculty member will be tenure-track eligible and teach eighteen (18) credit hours or approved equivalency per academic year. Teaching responsibilities may include foundational education courses, content courses, and/or field observation and supervision for teacher candidates in clinical experience placements. The faculty member also leads and contributes to program compliance with CAEP accreditation standards and Michigan Department of Education (MDE) program approval requirements. Preference given to candidates with expertise in elementary mathematics education. The faculty member champions RCU’s EPIC Academic Philosophy - Exploring, Preparing, Integrating, Calling - connecting teacher preparation to Christian formation, vocational clarity, and professional excellence in PreK – 12 education.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's or doctoral degree in assigned content area.
• Minimum of 5 years teaching experience in PreK–12 content area or higher education.
• Demonstrated commitment to Christian higher education and the mission of RCU.
• Eligible for faculty rank according to institutional and departmental rank policies.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree preferred.
• Specialization in elementary mathematics education.
• Experience with teacher candidate supervision and clinical placement coordination.
• Familiarity with CAEP accreditation standards and MDE educator preparation program approval processes.
• Record of scholarly engagement or professional development in education.

EPIC-Aligned Competency Domains:

Exploring: Curriculum Breadth, Intellectual Formation, and Innovation in Teaching

• Design and teach courses that connect education theory and practice to liberal arts foundations, ethical reasoning, and Christian worldview.
• Participate with faculty to develop and continuously improve learning activities that broaden students’ understanding of the education profession.
• Stay current with developments in the field by reviewing journals, abstracts, and education literature; bring relevant insights into the classroom.
• Explore interdisciplinary connections between education, child development, content areas, and cultural contexts.
• Participate in creative and innovative problem-solving in curriculum design and program development.

Preparing: Professional Readiness, Pedagogical Skill, and Teacher Candidate Development

• Teach 18 credit hours per academic year, which may include foundational education courses, content courses, and field observation and supervision of teacher candidates in clinical experience placements.
• Develop engaging classroom activities, communicate expectations with clear markers of student success, and monitor student progress toward program outcomes.
• Provide knowledge and skill instruction in teaching diverse learners, incorporating current technology effectively.
• Provide input to the Dean for planning regarding program effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Clearly and effectively present ideas; compose and deliver presentations that model best practices in pedagogy.

Integrating: Applied Learning, Assessment, and Community Engagement

• Assess student learning of both institutional and program-level outcomes; use data to guide instructional decisions and contribute to continuous improvement cycles required by CAEP accreditation.
• Lead CAEP accreditation compliance by contributing to program data collection, evidence documentation, annual reporting, and self-study processes.
• Lead Michigan Department of Education (MDE) program approval requirements, including maintaining alignment of course content and field experiences with Michigan educator preparation standards.
• Report accurate grades, attendance, and feedback to students in a timely manner.
• Participate in RCU and School of Education committee work, contributing to shared governance and program improvement.
• Coordinate and support teacher candidate field placements and clinical experiences in PreK–12 school settings.
• Collaborate with campus partners and K–12 school communities to strengthen the relevance and impact of the teacher preparation program.

Calling: Faith Integration and Vocational Discernment

• Model leadership consistent with the university’s Christian mission in all classroom, collegial, and community interactions.
• Help teacher candidates connect their calling to teach with their faith, purpose, and desire to serve students and communities.
• Attend designated university events — chapel, convocation, graduation, and community-building activities — as expressions of shared mission.
• Integrate Christian perspectives on human dignity, equity, and vocation into course content and advising conversations.
• Encourage ethical reflection on teaching practice from a perspective grounded in Christian faith.