Kennesaw State University (KSU) is the third-largest university in the University System of Georgia. Over 21,400 commuter and residential students, including more than 1,700 from 136 countries, pursue degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels through seven colleges. The university’s dedication to fostering excellence in public service brought it recognition from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities as one of the nation’s top publicly engaged universities. The American Council on Education selected KSU as one of eight institutions in the country for a study called “Global Learning for All.” KSU’s First-Year Experience has been named a “Program to Look For.” Most recently, Kennesaw State was recognized as one of 40 institutions that have made the most promising and innovative changes. U.S. News and World Report placed KSU among the 70 “Up-and-Coming” institutions nationally. The university’s 328-acre campus is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Atlanta in Kennesaw, Georgia, a perennial contender on Money magazine’s “Best Places to Live” and “Best Places to Retire” lists.

The Bagwell College of Education (BCOE) is one of the largest and strongest teacher preparation units in the University System of Georgia offering bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctor of education degree programs. It is also one of Georgia’s largest leadership preparation programs. All educator preparation programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by Georgia’s Professional Standards Commission (PSC). As a member of the Renaissance Group, BCOE continues its advancement toward meeting the challenges of national and state reforms for teacher education as well as program expansion. The college houses an Educational Technology Center that provides professional learning, consulting, and service for Georgia educators in 11 school systems within metro Atlanta and North Georgia.

KSU’s conceptual framework for educator preparation is the Collaborative Development of Expertise in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership. This collaboration, including service and support units, is carried out both through the college’s four academic departments (Educational Leadership, Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Inclusive Education, and Secondary and Middle Grades Education) and in conjunction with other members of KSU’s Professional Teacher Education Unit (PTEU). PTEU, the university’s umbrella organization for preparing educators, includes twelve departments from five colleges all of which collaborate on the design, delivery, approval, and accreditation of all educator preparation programs. The PTEU serves as a model of university-wide responsibility for teacher education; field-based collaboration with practicing professionals and partner schools; infusion of technology for enhanced teaching and learning; and best practices for the inclusion of English learners and students with disabilities.

As one of the larger departments at KSU, the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education has more than 80 full-time and part-time faculty members.  The department serves over 1,500 Elementary and Early Childhood Education undergraduate majors and over 100 graduate majors.  It offers programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels.  Certification for pre-kindergarten to grade five is embedded in the undergraduate program.  A Birth to Five Bachelor of Science degree program is under development, and fund raising efforts are currently underway to construct an Early Learning Center that will serve as a model for early learning education in the southeastern United States.  It will be a laboratory school designed to serve 220 children ages birth through five.  In collaboration with the College of Science and Mathematics, the Bagwell College of Education recently established the Center for Teacher Development in Science and Mathematics.  Faculty in the BCOE will work with science and math faculty to offer professional development opportunities for PK-12 teachers and learning experiences for PK-12 students.

Position Description
Reporting to the Chair of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, the Lecturer of Early Childhood Education Birth through Five is expected to collaborate with faculty across the Professional Teacher Education Unit, teach early childhood education (Birth through 5) courses at the undergraduate level, supervise and assist with field experiences, advise at the undergraduate level, model effective teaching practices with children (Birth through Five), use instructional technology effectively, and participate in program development. This is a nine-month position and is not tenure track.

Required Qualifications

1. Masters in Early Childhood Education with emphasis upon developing expertise at the Birth through Five level or closely related field (i.e. Child Development).
2. Teaching and/or leadership experience with infants, toddlers, or children ages three through five years in an early learning environment.
3. Commitment to working in an environment that fosters diversity.
   

For a more complete description of the requirements of the position, please refer to department, college, and university promotion and tenure guidelines at:  http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/facultytenture.html. 

Preferred Qualifications

1. Three or more years of experience as a teacher and/or leader with infants, toddlers, and children ages three through five years in a nationally accredited early learning environment.
2. Experience or expertise in teaching in an elementary area (P-5) (e.g., literacy education, curriculum, math education, science, social studies, technology, educational foundations, ESOL).
3. Experience as a director of a nationally accredited Early Learning Center.
4. Experience teaching at the university level.
5. Experience teaching online courses.

All materials must be submitted electronically as Microsoft Word or PDF documents to ECEEarly@kennesaw.edu on or before April 30, 2009 to guarantee consideration. A complete application will include a letter expressing interest and addressing qualifications for the position and teaching philosophy; copies of transcripts (official transcripts are required before employment at KSU); a curriculum vita; and names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of five or more professional references.

For a detailed description of the university, college and department, please visit our home page at www.kennesaw.edu. The search will continue until the position is filled. The search will continue until the job is filled.

For questions about this position opening, contact Dr. Raynice Jean-Sigur. E-mail: ECEEarly@kennesaw.edu. Telephone: 770 423-6121.