Curriculum and Teaching/Teacher Education - Assistant Professor

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Education is seeking a faculty member at the Assistant Professor level with a focus in Curriculum and Teaching/Teacher Education. This is a search for an emerging scholar who will have a primary appointment within one of eight program areas within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction: Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Cultural Studies in Education, Early Childhood Education, Language and Literacy Studies, Learning Technologies, Physical Education Teacher Education, STEM Education, or Social Studies Education. The Department seeks to innovate and lead reforms in PK-12 education regarding what is taught, the contexts most relevant to questions about teaching and learning, the design and implementation of teaching approaches, and the role of policy in advancing research-based practices. We are committed to an intellectually diverse, welcoming and engaging working and learning environment and are seeking candidates whose research, teaching and service have prepared them to contribute to serving students and communities across Texas, the country, and the world.

The education policy context asks educators to be increasingly responsive to mandates regarding curriculum materials and instructional designs in PK-12 spaces. In educator preparation programs, new policies and agendas are driving reform regarding how teachers are prepared. For example, the state of Texas has emphasized use of high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) as well as expansion of teacher residencies. The Department seeks to further build research capacity and practice relating to research- and theory-grounded design heuristics for curriculum development, the evaluation of curriculum quality, intentional curricular customization, curriculum-based professional learning, the role of context, including teacher and student identities in teaching and learning, and the design and implementation of evidence-based practices that respond to social and cultural factors of learning contexts. Essential to the work of the Department is framing these questions in collaboration with children, youth, their families, schools and districts, and community-based partners. The faculty member will have a research agenda that focuses on curriculum within teaching and teacher education that contributes to the continually evolving evidence base, which may include investigating practices and programs and for whom and in what contexts practices are more or less effective; models of pre- or in-service teacher education relating to curriculum; and/or policy implementation related to teaching and teacher education. We expect the successful candidate will be prepared to secure external grants to support their research program at the level necessary to ensure the impact of their work.

The College of Education, ranked among the top public colleges of education in the country, has a longstanding commitment to the shared values of equitable opportunities, excellence, innovation, empowerment, community-focus, and endeavors to bridge research and practice. We view creating an inviting, engaged campus community as interconnected with academic excellence in the work of our faculty. The college has experienced a rapid expansion of interest in its academic programs over the past five years. About 30% of our admitted students are first-generation college students and come from all corners of Texas and beyond. Our students are joined by a world-class faculty who are among the nation's leading experts in their respective fields.

As a leading college of education in Texas and beyond, we are agents of change committed to transforming education and health research, practice, and policy to ensure the thriving of children, families, schools and communities. In our efforts to align our college to address the most pressing challenges in the fields of education and health, we launched a strategic vision known as Reimagine Education (see education.utexas.edu/about/college-leadership/deans-office/reimagine-education). In advancing this effort, we have organized our academic and research aspirations around three Signature Impact Areas: Advancing Equity and Eliminating Disparities in Health and Education, Attending to Place and Context, and Thriving through Transitions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction in education or related field earned by July 31, 2026
• Record of research in the area of curriculum and teaching/teacher education
• Record of teaching in EC-12 schools
• Potential for or record of scholarly leadership (i.e., refereed publications, extramural funding)
• Potential for or record of teaching of undergraduate and graduate students
• Potential for or record of chairing dissertation committees and guiding doctoral research projects

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Three years of teaching at the early/childhood elementary level
• Successful teaching of preservice teachers at the early childhood or elementary certification level
• Successful teaching of preservice teachers in one of our priority areas, which include Social Studies Education, Bilingual/Bicultural Education, and Language and Literacy studies

As a venue for research, Texas is home to more than 10% of the nation's K12 student population. More than 30% of students in Texas speak a home language other than English and this includes more than 100 languages. The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship state university of Texas, and one of the few universities in the U.S. that is both a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. UT Austin values and supports interdisciplinary research and, with the opening of the Dell Medical School, provides outstanding access to opportunities for collaboration with world-renowned medical faculty. Austin, Texas is an exciting, welcoming, and inclusive city with the reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World.

Review of applications will begin on October 10, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please provide all requested materials by October 10, 2025. Applicants should upload the following items:

• Cover Letter with contact information
• Full C.V.
• Research Statement that includes research accomplishments and future research direction
• Teaching and Mentoring Statement that describes specific methods used to ensure effective student mentoring and a classroom environment that is welcoming, engaging, and supportive of student learning and success
• Up to three representative publications
• A list of three references with contact information; reference letters not required at time of initial application

For additional information about the department of Curriculum & Instruction, visit our website.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Jim Maxwell. Questions about the positions can be directed to the chair of the search committee Dr. Katie Payne.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.