Location: Bowling Green, KY Category: Staff Posted On: Thu Mar 28 2024 Job Description:

Position Summary

The Director of Professional Educator Services is responsible for the oversight of the Office of Professional Educator Services (OPES). Under supervision of the director, the OPES oversees teacher education admissions, clinical field placements, student teaching placements, and certification applications to ensure compliance with the Education Professional Standards Board and KY statutes and regulations. The OPES collaborates with stakeholders involved in preparing education candidates which include staff and faculty in The School of Teacher Education, The School of Leadership and Professional Studies, the Professional Education Unit, and WKU regional campuses. The Director of Professional Educator Services serves as the primary point of contact for P-12 school districts and community support agencies seeking to partner with WKU students, faculty, and regional education partners.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are customary for this position but are not to be construed as all-inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted, and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

• Oversees teacher education admissions, clinical field placements, student teaching placements, and certification applications to ensure compliance with the Education Professional Standards Board and KY statutes and regulations.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders that impact education candidates at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

• Supervise OPES staff and university supervisors to oversee quality services are provided for all education majors including mentoring, training, and professional development.

• Serve as the clinical instructor which oversees the management of the student teaching experience (EDU 490).

• Provide mentoring and training for P-12 school district mentors hosting teacher candidates.

• Provide onboarding orientation for on-campus and regional campus teacher candidates.

• Manage the process for alternative route certifications which include MAT option 6, proficiency evaluations, and highly qualified applications.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for school districts and community support agencies seeking to partner university students, faculty, and regional education partners.

• Oversee operations facilitating a seamless student experience related to form processing, recordkeeping, and communications.

• Oversees department budget for six indices (Office of Professional Educator Services, including School of Teacher Education's Teacher Induction programs and Educator Connect programs)

• Assist in recruitment and retention of education candidates.

  Job Requirements:

• Master's Degree

• At least five years of Teacher, Principal or P-12 leadership experience

• Teaching and principal (or equivalent) licensure

  Additional Information:

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Institutional Equity. To request an accommodation, report a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Ms. Ena Demir, Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator via email at ena.demir@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-6867. Ms. Demir is also responsible for coordinating the University's response to complaints related to sex and gender harassment. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU's https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php

For information related to job postings, please email employment@wku.edu.