Job Description

Title: Director, School of Teaching and Learning
Employee Classification: Dir School Teaching Learning
Division Name: Academic Affairs
College/Unit: College of Education
Department: School of Teaching and Learning
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The School of Teaching and Learning seeks a dynamic, collaborative leader to advance its mission and vision through effective leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to excellence across its policies, personnel, and undergraduate and graduate programs. Additionally, the leader will foster a deliberate culture of fairness, opportunity, belonging, and professional growth. The Director will support excellence in teaching, research, and service while advocating for the resources necessary to prepare teacher leaders. The Director will be responsible for long-range planning, fiscal management, personnel administration, faculty and staff development, program assessment, curriculum review, and oversight of the Mary and Jean Borg Center for Reading and Literacy.
The Director will establish and sustain partnerships within and beyond the University and promote the School’s programs and initiatives among campus constituencies, alumni, businesses, government agencies, and the community. Additionally, they will position the School as a leading voice in statewide discussions and initiatives related to teacher education in Illinois.

The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Education. This is a full-time, twelve-month tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Full Professor. Salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience.

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Additional Information

The School of Teaching and Learning (TCH) is home to four undergraduate teacher preparation programs and three graduate programs. The School includes faculty recognized for high-quality research and publications, as well as strong classroom teaching experience. The School includes 42 tenure-line faculty, more than 90 non-tenure-line faculty, three academic professionals, and eight civil service staff. The Director of the School of Teaching and Learning collaborates with the Associate Director of Scheduling and Contractual Staff, the Assistant Director of Student Teaching and Student Affairs, and five program coordinators to facilitate and enhance TCH programs. For more information about the School, visit https://education.illinoisstate.edu/academics/teaching-and-learning/

The College of Education complements its enduring commitment to inclusive teacher preparation and the development of educational leaders with the pursuit of valued scholarly contributions. A distinguished faculty, and the students they mentor, engage in work that discovers, integrates, and applies disciplinary knowledge while also advancing the University’s commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Illinois State was awarded $195 million in grant funds over the last four years, with $50 million being awarded to the College of Education. Centers and institutes (described below) help coordinate these efforts and enhance the College of Education’s and the University’s prominence in and impact on the field.

The College of Education is organized into the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, the Department of Special Education, the School of Teaching and Learning, Metcalf School (P-8), University High School (9-12), nine centers, including the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, the Larry and Barbara Efaw Center for Educator Excellence, and the Center for the Study of Education Policy, and many initiatives. The college enrolls nearly 3,000 students who choose from a wide array of teacher and administrator preparation programs, including elementary education; early childhood education; middle-level education; reading; bilingual and bicultural education; learning and behavior; deaf and hard of hearing; low vision and blindness; leadership, equity, and inquiry; and areas of educational administrator/leadership. Graduate programs are offered in teaching and learning, special education, K-12 administration, and higher education administration.

The College of Education is among fewer than 100 in the nation that includes public Laboratory Schools. Metcalf and University High Schools provide a unique public educational option from pre-kindergarten through the senior year for approximately 2,000 students from surrounding communities. The schools also serve as sites for clinical experiences that are critically important to the college’s future teachers.

Illinois State University, IllinoisState.edu, was founded in 1857 as Illinois’ first public university. We enroll approximately 21,000 students in seven colleges. Our strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2029, lists our seven core values: Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship; Individualized Attention; Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging; Collaboration; Community and Civic Engagement; Respect; and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our university being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. Learn more about Illinois State’s Metrics of Excellence at IllinoisState.edu/PointsofPride.

Bloomington-Normal: Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems, and its citizens’ high level of educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreation, health care, vibrant fine arts scene, job growth, economic opportunity, historic sites, and low crime rates. Bloomington made Livability’s top 100 Best Places to Live (2024) and ranked No. 3 on College Values Online’s list of Best Small College Towns in America (2024). Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis; two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis; and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield. Many of these locations are accessible from Bloomington-Normal via Amtrak, which is located one block from Illinois State’s campus. For more information on our community, visit visitbn.org.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$163,000-170,000

Required Qualifications

1) A doctoral degree in a relevant field to the School of Teaching and Learning.
2) Academic achievement that merits appointment with tenure at the rank of Full Professor.
3) A minimum of three years of teaching experience in Pre-K through 12th grade school settings.
4) A demonstrated record of teaching, scholarship, and service.
5) A demonstrated record of commitment to equitable public education.
6) Administrative and/or leadership experience in higher education.
7) A demonstrated record of effective collaboration with faculty, staff, students, administrative colleagues, alumni, and professional communities.
8) Experience developing and managing budgets.
9) Experience advocating for and negotiating an equitable distribution of resources, including internal and external funding.
10) State law mandates demonstrable oral proficiency in the English language as a requirement for this position.

Work Hours

Varies

Proposed Starting Date

July 1, 2027

Required Applicant Documents

1. A cover letter addressing interest in the position and the required qualifications
2. A current curriculum vitae
3. A statement of leadership philosophy
4. Names, telephone numbers, and email addresses for 3–5 professional references

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Initial review of applications will begin November 30, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.

Contact Information for Applicants

Ms. Hannah Uranich, Office Manager, Dean’s Office
College of Education
hgurani@ilstu.edu
(309) 438-2453.

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.