Job Title

Elementary Education, Tenure-Track Faculty

Department

Elementary and Special Education

University Expectation

MTSU seeks candidates committed to innovative teaching, robust research/creative activity, and meaningful service. We also seek to attract culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with diverse students.

Salary

The salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Department of Elementary and Special Education at Middle Tennessee State University invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position (#115210) at the rank of assistant or associate professor. The start date for the position is August 1, 2026.

We seek a dynamic educator-scholar with expertise in elementary education and especially with experience in disparate content areas. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to preparing future educators, advancing evidence-based practices, and contributing to a collaborative academic community.

The successful candidate will:

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary education.
• Model effective, content-specific pedagogy aligned with best practices.
• Supervise and mentor teacher candidates in field experiences and residency placements.
• Support recruitment and retention of teacher candidates.
• Maintain an active research and scholarship agenda.
• Provide service to the department, college, university, community, and profession.

Other responsibilities may include:

• Participating in program development, accreditation efforts, and curriculum innovation.
• Dissertation/thesis supervision.
• Collaborating with community partners and other stakeholders (e.g. LEAs) to advance program goals.

Required Education

A terminal degree in elementary education, curriculum and instruction, mathematics education, science education, social studies education, or a closely related field with at least 18 graduate credit hours in elementary education is required by the appointment date.

Required Related Experience

Three years of teaching, providing services, or administration experience in U.S. elementary schools (grades K-5) is required by the appointment date.

Other Desirables

Applicants with the following will receive special consideration:

• Teacher certification in elementary education with expertise in mathematics, social studies.
• Experience with classroom and behavior management in K–5 settings.
• Experience in program coordination or management at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Experience teaching in a university or postsecondary setting.
• Evidence of the pursuit of external funding.
• Experience advising and supervising education majors or pre-service teachers.
• Experience developing curriculum and online courses.
• Evidence of the ability to work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives.
• Evidence of flexibility, open-mindedness, and professional responsiveness in preparing candidates to succeed in varied contexts and to adapt to the needs of those they serve.

Documents Needed to Apply

To successfully apply, applicants must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, and statement of research or creative activities (as appropriate to the discipline) as separate attachments at the time of online application.

Special Instruction to Applicants 

For more information about serving as a faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University, please visit our faculty recruitment webpage at https://mtsu.edu/facultyrecruitment/.

If you need help applying, please contact Mitzi Dunkley, Faculty Recruitment Specialist, at (615) 898-5128. If you have position-specific questions, please contact Bonnie Barksdale at Bonnie.Barksdale@mtsu.edu.

Application Review Date: 03/05/2026