Mary Frances Early College of Education
The Department of Educational Theory and Practice
Elementary Education Program
Clinical Assistant Professor
Aderhold Hall, Suite 630 110 Carlton Street
Athens, Georgia 30602 TEL 706-542-4244 www.coe.uga.edu
The Department of Educational Theory and Practice (ETAP) at the University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications for the position of Clinical Assistant Professor in its Elementary Education program. We are seeking an individual with expertise in PreK-5 teaching, integrating theory and practice in teacher education programs, and experience with the scholarship of teaching or engagement. This is a ten-month, renewable appointment for the 2027-28 academic year that begins August 2027. In recognition of the important role that clinical faculty play, starting salaries for clinical faculty match those for tenure-track faculty, and the University has a well-structured promotion system for individuals in clinical track positions to advance to clinical associate professor and clinical full professor ranks. Opportunities exist for summer teaching appointments.
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, (see https://www.visitathensga.com and https://www.georgia.gov ) with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine. As the 4th largest public college of education in the country and the 3rd largest college at UGA, the Mary Frances Early College of Education (MFECOE) improves the lives of residents of Georgia and beyond through our instruction, research, and service. The MFECOE is a comprehensive college with disciplines focused on teacher preparation, counseling and human development, communication sciences, human movement sciences, career development, student affairs, and educational administration and policy. We place significant emphasis on graduate education with approximately 40% of our students at the graduate level, making us the second largest college at UGA with respect to graduate education. ETAP has contributed to this stature locally, nationally, and internationally. The department is characterized by critical, forward-thinking research and innovative, dynamic teaching. ETAP is committed to making equity, access, and belonging visible in its courses, programs, policies, and practice. Our outreach and research include a variety of multifaceted collaborations, including those with local school districts and local community-based informal education projects, as well as projects that extend across the state of Georgia, the
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United States, and a variety of international contexts. Information about the department is available at https://coe.uga.edu/directory/educational-theory-and-practice/.
The Elementary Education program at UGA, which includes Early Childhood Education, has been ranked among the nation’s top 10 elementary education programs by U.S. News and World Report for more than a decade. Our mission in the Elementary Education program is to blend theory and practice grounded in our shared philosophy of critical pedagogy. Upon program completion, we expect our students to demonstrate teaching competencies related to habits of reflexive practice, integrating scholarship and research, engaging in professional collaboration, and appreciating and supporting multiple backgrounds and perspectives. These elements of thought and action are viewed as key to supporting critically informed and equitable teacher decision-making. The Elementary Education program is designed to offer theoretically and clinically rich experiences in diverse environments. By the end of the program, teachers are prepared to enact these commitments as leaders in their classrooms, schools, and communities.
Responsibilities:
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses (face-to-face, online, and/or blended) and mentor and advise students, as assigned
- Instruct and supervise teacher candidates in clinical practice in PreK-5 settings • Provide service to the program, department, college, university, and the profession • Work across departmental and institutional boundaries and participate in sustained engagement with public schools
Required Qualifications:
- Earned doctorate in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field by the time of employment
- 5 years of relevant experience in early childhood/elementary educational settings or educator preparation
- Demonstrated potential for making significant contributions to the mission of the department, including but not limited to, clinical practices in early childhood and elementary education settings, program improvement, and innovation
Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification: • Record of experience working with pre-service and/or in-service teachers in educational or professional learning contexts
- Record of experience working across a variety of educational settings and with diverse student, family and community populations.
- Background in and/or expertise that relates to one or more of the following areas: clinical supervision and teacher preparation, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics); school-university partnerships; positive early childhood/elementary learning environments for students and educators; early childhood/elementary education for children and youth from working class and
impoverished families and communities and/or bilingual and multilingual communities; family and community engagement, or assessment.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:
- Fluency with research literatures in teacher education
- Knowledge of teacher certification programs, state and federal standards and mandates and/or an awareness of current developments in student assessment and teacher evaluation
Applicants should submit:
- A letter of application specifically responsive to the position’s responsibilities and required qualifications as described above
- A curriculum vitae
- Two writing samples
- The names and contact information of three persons who could provide letters of reference (transcripts and letters of reference will be required only from selected finalists)
All material should be submitted electronically via:
https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/506249
Applications received by Sunday, October 18, 2026, will be assured full consideration, but this position is open until filled. Address questions to the search committee chair Dr. Beth Tolley btolley@uga.edu
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia: confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).