Education Department: Teaching Professor and Director of Teacher Education (Initial Review Date Nov. 12, 2025)

The Education Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for the open rank position of Teaching Professor and Director of Teacher Education. The department seeks an experienced and visionary leader who will steward the widely respected Master of Arts/Credential Program (MA/C) which prepares teachers to challenge inequity and foster liberatory learning in schools and communities. At a critical time for public education, we are looking for a leader who can meet the urgency of this moment with clarity, integrity, and imagination. The ideal candidate will bring the skills and experience necessary to direct a comprehensive teacher education program and a commitment to preparing educators who can navigate and help transform complex educational landscapes. We welcome applicants who bring innovative and collaborative approaches to teacher development that support both pre-service and in-service educators in building more just and humane educational futures.

The Department prepares approximately 65 credential students for teaching in K-12 California public schools. The program, which also grants a Masters of Arts in Education, operates on a year-round (summer to summer) schedule. Under the direction of the Education Department Chair, the MA/C Program Director is responsible for day-to-day program components as well as cultivating and stewarding the long-term vision of the program in meeting its mission. The job includes building and sustaining partnerships with educators and administrators in regional school districts; guiding the work of Teacher Supervisors and Lecturers; ensuring oversight of student teaching placements; coordinating the teaching performance assessment for credential candidates (e.g., EdTPA and/or CalTPA); monitoring student progress; cultivating an alumni network; leading report writing and long-term planning; and adhering to California's state credentialing guidelines.

The selected candidate will supervise and evaluate approximately six teacher supervisors and lecturers, and organize and support students and instructors with a particular emphasis on pedagogical practice, student recruitment, and student success. The MA/Credential program is supported by a dedicated Credential Analyst and department staff. The successful candidate will also serve as Chair of the Teacher Education Committee (TEC), lead the Education Department faculty in assessing program strengths and envisioning and implementing improvements and reforms, and collaborate with directors of teacher education at other University of California campuses. With a Teaching Professor line, the successful candidate will both teach and engage in mentoring activities related to education and teaching. Furthermore, teaching professors are expected to sustain research or other professional activity in the broader field of education; this could include, for example, research publications, textbook development, professional development materials, presentations, and grant proposals, among others. Teaching professors must also engage in service at the program, department, and campus-wide levels.

Applicants with the following areas of expertise or experience are strongly encouraged to apply:

(a) Knowledge of the California credentialing system and state and national teacher education initiatives; (b) Publication and/or grant-funding record; (c) Significant preK-12 experience; (d) Record of engaging with in-service teacher professional development; (e) experience building and sustaining school and community partnerships; (f) Skills and capacity to intellectually and administratively direct a comprehensive pre-service teacher education program; and/or (g) Demonstrated expertise to teach pre-service teachers at the college/university level.

The University of California, Santa Cruz, is a Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution with a high proportion of first-generation and low-income students . The MA/C program is committed to inquiry and asset based pedagogies for preparing teachers to improve the education of students from a wide range of socio-cultural backgrounds. We welcome candidates who have experience building an equitable and inclusive scholarly environment.

The Assistant Teaching Professor title confers the rights and responsibilities of membership in the UCSC and UC Academic Senates. Appointees to this title are eligible for promotion to Security of Employment, which is analogous to tenure. Associate Teaching Professor and Teaching Professor titles confer the rights and responsibilities of membership in the UCSC and UC Academic Senates, and appointees to these titles have Security of Employment which is analogous to tenure.

The Education Department: https://education.ucsc.edu/

• Doctorate (or equivalent foreign degree) in education or related field such as sociology, social welfare, or human development;
• PreK-12 teaching experience;
• Experience with the teacher credentialing process;
• Experience with data management, budget development, and reporting;
• Demonstrated experience with teaching/training pre-service teachers at the college/university level;
• Experience with inclusive pedagogy;
• Experience leading institutional change to improve learning experience.

It is expected that the degree requirement will be completed by June 30, 2026.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Applicants must provide the names and contact information of their references. The hiring unit will request confidential letters* from the references of those applicants who are under serious consideration. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC's confidentiality statement at https://academicpersonnel.ucsc.edu/confidentiality-statements/.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
  

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.

Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

VISIT UC Santa Cruz