Lecturer - Education of Young Children

The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Watson College of Education seeks to fill a full-time, 9-month, non-tenure-track Lecturer faculty position in early childhood education within the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy, and Special Education to begin August 2025, with the possibility of annual renewal. Responsibilities include teaching four courses per semester in the Education of Young Children program inclusive of supervision of field experience students and interns in the undergraduate program.

The Education of Young Children program is a community of theory-applied scholars whose research interests reflect the unique needs of early childhood educators, children, and their families. Our courses and program prepare teachers to use Developmentally Appropriate Practices with an emergent curriculum philosophy, introduce current evidence-based practices, and hone skills for creating learning environments that are responsive to children's and families' unique needs. We prepare current and aspiring educators, including high school graduates and paraprofessional educators who desire to work with young children and their families, as well as practicing teachers without a B-K teaching license.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate advocacy for and a deep knowledge of early childhood education foundations, current teaching practices, and issues in early childhood education. Areas of teaching interest include kindergarten practice and curriculum, language and literacy, STEAM, play-based learning, observation and assessment methods, models of early childhood programs (e.g. Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia Inspired), global trends, and other courses in the early childhood education discipline.

The ideal candidate will be able to:

We strongly encourage applicants from members of underrepresented groups and who demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the diverse needs of students, children, and families.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every preferred qualification. We are most interested in finding the candidate who will best contribute to our Department and the University

The Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education is a community of professional educators dedicated to the preparation of teachers and other professionals who have the knowledge, skills and dispositions to work with children from early childhood through middle grades, students with special needs and their families. It values the integration of current theory, research and professional expertise from multiple disciplines and perspectives to inform practices that enable all learners to reach their full potential.

The department provides opportunities for students to develop as educational leaders and advocates for the children and families they serve. It develops, implements and coordinates programs leading to undergraduate degrees and/or licensure in birth through kindergarten education, elementary, middle grades and special education (general and adapted tracks) as well as graduate degrees and/or licensure in elementary, middle grades and language and literacy.

The Watson College of Education ( WCE) (www.uncw.edu/ed) is a rapidly growing college with over 65 tenure-track faculty members working in undergraduate and master's programs in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education and the Department of Instructional Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education, and master's and doctoral programs in the Department of Educational Leadership. It offers several international study programs, a newly developed laboratory school, and maintains partnerships with numerous school districts, community colleges, and colleges/universities in the region.

We prepare educators to work in all communities and to serve children and families in all contexts.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

At the University of North Carolina at Wilmington ( UNCW), our culture reflects our values of inclusion, diversity, globalization, ethics and integrity and innovation and we are committed to providing equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs. UNCW believes that embracing the unique contributions of our faculty, staff and students is critical to our success and paramount in being recognized for our global mindset.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

Cover Letter Requirements: in 2 pages or less, please describe your interest in the position, and how your professional experience and teaching philosophy align with the minimum and preferred qualifications.

Applications that do not include all required materials may not be reviewed.

Please note that a minimum of three professional references is required for all applications. (References must have first-hand knowledge of your teaching (e.g. supervisors, principals)