Assistant Professor, Secondary Math Education

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Assistant Professor of Secondary Math Education is a full-time Professional Practice track, ten-month faculty position with some administrative responsibilities in the Undergraduate College (UGC) at National Louis University. The position is based in Chicago, and applicants must be willing to teach at other Chicago metropolitan area campuses, remote, and online, as needed. The primary responsibility for this role is to demonstrate excellence in teaching. The Assistant Professor of Secondary Math Education teaches 8 courses per year, displaying deep content knowledge in the discipline. This role is responsible for student success across coursework including guiding students as they translate theory into practice and work toward licensure and endorsement. Through the use of data-informed practices, this role engages in continuous improvement, guiding instructional and curricular delivery with the primary goal of supporting student success and preparing next-generation educators to be change agents and leaders in their field.

This particular position requires an extensive background in the teaching of Math in Secondary Education. The role will have the primary responsibility for Secondary Math Education coursework that adequately prepares teacher candidates for their work in high school classrooms. The ideal candidate possesses not only content knowledge but also research-based instructional strategies that help teachers engage in inquiry-based methods of teaching. An understanding of applicable mathematics standards is critical to being able to execute this role. While this is primarily a teaching position, the role will also contribute content expertise in the overall coordination, design, development, and implementation of the Secondary majors as they continue to iterate. The courses in the major lead to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Professional Educator License and a Secondary Math Endorsement. This position is also responsible for oversight of the adjunct faculty teaching Secondary Math Education coursework and is involved in the hiring, onboarding, and training process.

This position requires a high degree of collaboration and communication across programs, units, and colleges. The Assistant Professor of Secondary Math Education works in close collaboration with faculty across departments in the college and with graduate-level faculty in the National College of Education (NCE) where appropriate. This role also supports the recruitment and marketing for the department and represents the department at internal and external events (including major experience days, admit days, and Career Bridge events). This role provides service to the institution as required by the UG model, and as specified in the UGC workload plan.

We are a team of dedicated educators working together to build a new Undergraduate College (UGC) at National Louis University (NLU) focused on building academic pathways and providing holistic student support to ensure students are career ready. Our undergraduate majors serve first time freshmen as well as adult and transfer students in blended and online delivery formats - on and off campus. We work fearlessly to educate and retain our students. As a result, we have exceeded national benchmarks through our approach to appreciative advising and data-informed, personalized instruction. Our educational model is student-centered, equity-driven, professionally-focused, grounded in excellence, and provides personalized support in a data-driven environment, while focused on continuous improvement and innovation to strengthen our work.

We are looking for a collaborative, dedicated and hard-working colleague that is committed to student success; a creative problem solver that thinks outside the box; a leader who is willing to take responsibility for all aspects of the program; and a teacher who believes students can positively impact the field of criminal justice throughout their professional lives.

WHO YOU ARE

You will: Provide Students with Exceptional Learning Experiences

Your work has demonstrated your respect for education and the power that it holds to empower students to achieve their career and life goals. Each term, you will facilitate blended and online classes that utilize technology and data to drive instruction. You will work with a dedicated team of faculty, success coaches/advisors, career advisors, employer relations managers, and data analysts to determine how to personalize the learning experience for your students. In addition to teaching content, you will support students with meeting the goals that they have for themselves and celebrate the lived experiences they bring to the classroom.

You are: Driven to Succeed

You are energetic and passionate about a diverse student body that includes many first-generation students. To be successful teaching in this program, you must be committed to excellence in teaching and learning in Higher Education. The position requires you to be agile, creative, and engaging while offering an unparalleled experience to undergraduate students. Enthusiastic candidates have the belief that all students can be successful students. As an active team member, you believe in a supportive environment and a student-driven and data-informed culture.

You are ready to: Make an Impact

Each and every day, our Undergraduate College changes lives. You want to be a part of that meaningful innovation. You are someone that will always look for creative ways for students to earn success. We know this work is challenging, but we are in it together.

To be successful in this program, you must be committed to excellence in teaching and learning in higher education. The position requires you to be agile, creative, and engaging while offering an innovative, practice based curriculum and an unparalleled experience to undergraduate students. You believe in a supportive environment, a strengths-based approach to learning, and a student-driven culture. As an active team member, working closely with both internal and external partners, you are open to continued learning and self-reflection.

Demonstrate excellence in teaching:

Collaborate with the faculty team to develop an effective student experience for students.
• Implement pedagogical practices centered on culturally relevant teaching and universal instructional design
• Facilitate courses by delivering engaging instruction in a blended, flipped classroom environment.
• Empower students to develop competency by sharing a passion for the subject and skills being taught.
• Utilize technology-based teaching platforms aid students in the development of competencies.
• Communicate professionally and relate well.

Demonstrate, maintain, and continuously strengthen content expertise:

• Lead and manage bi-weekly content meeting faculty to review curriculum plans, determine implications of student data, and plan curriculum revisions.
• Maintain current and active content knowledge in the expertise area that is reflected in instruction.
• Possess appropriate expertise as demonstrated by appropriate credentials.
• Optional: Support the interviewing and hiring of contingent faculty.

Promote student success with a proactive, high expectations, high support approach:

• Demonstrate and share a passion for postsecondary success for diverse learners and for teaching.
• Demonstrate flexibility in delivery and work schedule to provide personalized student support (includes but is not limited to office hours).
• On-campus presence on days when not teaching.

Engage in data-driven instruction and student support planning:

• Track student course data weekly in multiple university data systems as needed.
• Engage in regular data-driven Student Success Collaboration meetings with faculty, coaches and support specialists to report student progress and obstacles and to plan student support interventions.

Participate in continuous improvement of UGC curriculum, as governance model evolves:

• Actively document and share suggestions for curriculum revision to support ongoing revision/enhancement of UGC curriculum.
• Participate in faculty governance related to college and/or university operations and improvement, as governance model is developed.

Commit to continuous improvement of self and colleagues (i.e., professional development):

• Create, attend and actively participate in training opportunities provided in online and in person settings.
• Contribute to a learning culture by participating on committees, supporting local campus events such as orientation and graduation and participating in various other workshops and meetings.
• Experience and a passion for elevating and driving toward excellence in teaching in a higher education setting, particularly with students from minoritized populations.
• Excellent facilitation and classroom management skills; ability to differentiate instruction and support based on students with diverse learning needs.
• Technologically savvy, with experience working with different platforms and learning management systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Collaborative attitude and creative problem-solving skills.
• Experience with digital tools for teaching, teaching in either online or blended/hybrid formats is required.
• Ability to consistently connect instruction to its real world relevance, tying in concepts and theories in the classroom to students' current and future work experiences and highlighting immediate applicability.
• Willing and able to use data to inform instruction.

• Master's degree or higher required in Mathematics or closely-related field; or a graduate degree with 18+ credits in Doctorate Preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting historically marginalized college students with meeting their academic and professional goals.

NLU UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE CORE COMPETENCIES

• Student-Focused: Make decisions based on what is best for students with the belief that when all students have access, resources and support, they are empowered to achieve success.
• Expect Excellence: Hold high expectations for our students and for the adults to serve them and hold ourselves accountable for achieving excellence.
• Personalized Support: Take a holistic approach to providing individualized support that encourages students to realize their full potential in college and beyond.
• Data-Driven, Collaborative Environment: Work together as a unified team, utilizing real-time data and technology to adapt to student needs.
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Remain agile and open to changes and new ideas-incorporating data as well as student, faculty and administration voice-to ensure that we are continuously learning, improving, and innovating in all aspects of the student experience.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time faculty benefits can be found here.

NLU Faculty salaries are based on rank within each college. The ranges for each rank for the Undergraduate College are listed below:

2024 UGC 10-Month Faculty Salary Ranges

Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, current/previous faculty rank, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.