Position Overview
The Institute of Child Development, housed in the College of Education and Human Development, seeks an Early Childhood Licensure Specialist to facilitate teacher licensure processes for the Early Childhood degree program. The Early Childhood Licensure Specialist will ensure compliance with state of Minnesota rules for teacher licensure and serve as the licensure lead. This position will liaison between the university, school districts, the College’s Office of Teacher Education, and the Institute of Child Development. An essential responsibility of this position is to mentor teacher candidates according to a year long student teaching placement and facilitate the associated seminar and capstone courses. The Early Childhood Licensure Specialist will serve as the academic advisor for students in the M.Ed. licensure program and coordinate the alignment of early childhood graduate and undergraduate level course content with the Minnesota Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). Effective collaboration with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Early Education is imperative.
A key responsibility of this position is to actively support and advance the University’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This position will support the Institute of Child Development’s commitment to anti-racism.
This position is based on campus. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your manager. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.
This position reports to the Student Services Director in the Institute of Child Development, is a 100% position, and holds a 10-month appointment (mid-August to mid-June). This position requires travel to off-site locations, such as public schools within the Twin Cities. The employee is required to provide own transportation and will be reimbursed for mileage.
Job Responsibilities
Early Childhood Program Licensure Oversight (20%)
- Facilitate teacher licensure processes according to University and state policies and procedures
- Serve as the Licensure Program Lead and represent ICD in the Office of Teacher Education LPL Work Group, and perform duties related to that role
- Serve as the academic advisor for licensure students in the M.Ed programs in Early Childhood, including developing course plans for students and coordinating student teaching and field experience placements
- Coordinate the alignment of early childhood graduate and undergraduate level course content with the Minnesota Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- Oversee early childhood education program review according to PELSB processes (Program Effectiveness Reports for Continuing Approval)
- Provide consultation with staff hiring and development of instructors, as needed, to the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Student Services Director
University Supervisor for teacher candidates (50%)
- Serve as the University Supervisor for the field work and student teaching courses for the Early Childhood Education Licensure program, following the Office of Teacher Education (OTE) requirements
- Serve as University Supervisor for the primary teaching candidates in their year-long student teaching placement, following OTE requirements
- Collaborate with OTE to facilitate placements of teacher candidates in public schools
- Collaborate with Elementary Education program leadership to coordinate joint orientations, trainings, and related activities for licensure students
Instructor of seminars and capstone courses (20%)
- Serve as the instructor of record for the field work and student teaching courses for the Early Childhood Education Licensure program
- Instruct graduate and undergraduate courses, including both M.Ed. completion capstone courses
- Instruct the primary student teaching seminars
- Develop syllabi for courses, aligning course goals with state teaching standards, as required: CPSY 5171, CPSY 5991, CPSY 5181 and CPSY 5187
- Serve as the instructor of record for the Early Care and Education capstone course, as needed, supervise students enrolled in the course, and work with Child Development Laboratory School staff (or other appropriate persons) on facilitating those experiences
Service Responsibilities (10%)
- Represent the Early Childhood Programs on committees, task forces, and work groups within the University, College, and Institute of Child Development
- Serve on the Admissions Committee for the M.Ed Early Childhood Programs
- Serve on the Scholarship Review Committee for the Early Childhood Programs
- Participate in Institute affairs and facilitation of a working relationship with the Institute and other departments, colleges, and centers within the University: Center for Early Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center, the Child Development Laboratory School
- Represent the Early Childhood Program at MnAEYC, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Department of Education, the Minnesota Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators, and community schools and other agencies, as appropriate
- Serve as a recognized early childhood expert and trainer in the community at large: MnAEYC, Think Small (Resources for Child Caring)
- Prepare and disseminate information and represent the early childhood education program at the local, state, and national levels
- Provide consultation on departmental research as appropriate