Assistant Professor in Elementary Education with a Specialization in Mental Health and Curriculum Education

Assistant Professor in Elementary Education with a Specialization in Mental Health and Curriculum Education

The School of Education at Colorado State University invites applications for a non-tenure-track Assistant Professor position in elementary education with a specialization in mental health. This is a 9-month, full-time appointment, effective August 16, 2027.

We seek a creative, collaborative teacher/counselor educator to teach mental health and other elementary education courses in our new Elementary Education licensure program. In addition to teaching, the position includes supervising and advising teacher candidates and working with local partner schools to connect what candidates learn in their courses to their work in classrooms. The successful candidate will bring a strong commitment to diverse learners and humanizing education, be willing to serve in a variety of roles as needed and be dedicated to the mission of the School of Education.

For full consideration, please apply by Sunday, January 3, 2027, 11:59pm (MT).

Essential Job Duties:

Teaching:

• Teach undergraduate courses in elementary teacher education, with an emphasis on children’s mental health and well-being as well as other relevant courses (e.g. Creating Inclusive Classroom Environments, Assessment and Data). Specific courses will be based on areas of expertise.
• Teach graduate-level courses in the School of Education, as needed.
• Supervise undergraduate practicum students and student teachers in field placements.
• Develop new courses in specific areas of expertise, as needed.

Service:

• Establish and maintain partnerships with elementary schools, school districts, and community organizations to support Elementary Education teacher preparation.
• Participate in Elementary Education faculty workgroups and committees supporting the unit, school, college, and university, including local and state-level activities.
• Collaborate with faculty in elementary education, human development, special education, counseling, and related disciplines.

Advising:

• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

Research:

• Support Educator Preparation and the School of Education through relevant scholarship.

Supervision: Position does not supervise.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment criminal background check required for all new hires.
• Position may require some travel to local community partner locations.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in counselor education, school counseling, elementary education, curriculum and instruction, or a related field. Doctorate must be conferred by the start date.
• At least three years working at the elementary or middle school level.
• Experience supporting children's mental health and socioemotional needs in school settings.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, and/or supervising university-level pre-service teachers and/or school counselors.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience integrating educator wellness, resilience, and professional sustainability into teacher preparation.
• Experience in school mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention, and trauma-informed educational practices.
• Knowledge of child development and the ability to prepare educators to recognize and respond appropriately to student mental health concerns within professional and ethical boundaries.
• Experience teaching, supervising, training, counseling, coaching, consultation, or interpersonal communication skills.
• Teaching experience at the elementary or middle school level, with expertise in curriculum and instruction or classroom environments.
• Experience collaborating with families and multidisciplinary school-based support teams to support student learning and well-being.
• Demonstrated use of culturally sustaining, humanizing, and inclusive pedagogical practices, including experience supporting students with diverse learning needs.
• Demonstrated ability to build school-university partnerships and supervise teacher candidates.

Background Check Policy Statement: Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO: Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.