Early Childhood Education (Tenure Track)

The posting will remain open until the position is filled. Priority screening for applications received by April 11, 2022. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Join the Education Department at Highline College (HC)! This is a full-time, tenure track faculty position in Early Childhood Education with teaching assignments at both the associates and bachelors levels. 

The HC Education Department collaborates with our community to develop highly effective educators using coursework rooted in equity pedagogy, critical thinking, and research-based learning and teaching strategies. We actively engage in the identification and elimination of inequities in our schools and communities as a strategy to promote the health of children, families, and educators. We value justice, respect, humanity, reflection, universal design, and professionalism. Equity is at the core of our work and our first consideration in our planning and decision-making. See more about our mission and values on our website. 

Be prepared to engage! We value relationships with students, community, and colleagues - their knowledge and experience informs our work. This requires meetings, advising, and classes in the evenings, on weekends, and at off campus locations (HC faculty teach an equivalent of 15 credits per quarter). As the most diverse college in Washington State, faculty who bring a shared lived experience of our students are encouraged to apply.

The Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education at Highline College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The current accreditation term runs from March 2017 through February 2024.

This position is expected to begin in Fall Quarter, September 2022.

ABOUT HIGHLINE COLLEGE

Established in 1961, Highline College is a comprehensive community college providing certificates as well as associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in high-quality academic transfer pathways, workforce training, and Adult Basic Education.  We serve transfer students, Running Start students, Professional-Technical students, International Students, Adult Basic Education students, English Language Learners, students with intellectual disabilities, and lifelong learners of all ages.  

Committed to the success of all students and to closing racial equity gaps, Highline College is the most diverse community college in Washington State and one of the most diverse in the United States. 20% of current students identify as Black/African American, 18% identify as Asian, 18% identify as White, 16% identify as Hispanic/Latinx, 2% identify as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1% identify as Native American or Alaska Native, and .7% identify as Filipino. Highline’s commitment to equity and social justice drives our collective work to increase access to higher education, inspire student learning and achievement, and strengthen our diverse community.  Highline aspires to reflect the diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic demographics of our region.  This aspiration reflects both our commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice, and our desire to maintain the excellence of our faculty.

MISSION: As a public institution of higher education serving a diverse community in a multicultural world and global economy, Highline College promotes student engagement, learning, and achievement, integrates diversity and globalism throughout the college, sustains relationships within its communities, and practices sustainability in human resources, operations, and teaching and learning. Adopted August 2013.

VISION: Highline College is valued as the educational crossroads where dreams are shaped, communities are created, and excellence is achieved. As an essential part of our mission and vision, diversity, equity and inclusion are promoted and fostered in all aspects of college life. 

    VALUES: Highline College is committed to these values:

• Access: We believe education should be available to all who seek it;

• Collaboration: We value teamwork, joint responsibility and ownership;

• Community: We value our community and are dedicated to serving its educational needs;

• Diversity: We respect the rights and perspectives of the diverse populations, who live, learn and work in our community;

• Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in all our programs and services;

• Integrity: We believe in honesty and trustworthiness in all our college practices;

• Internationalization: We value a global perspective and respect cultural diversity;

• Learning: We develop an interactive, creative and learner-centered environment that supports student success.

LOCATION: Highline College is located in a diverse community just 15 minutes south of downtown Seattle, with easy access to a dynamic urban arts scene, world-class cultural and sporting events, and unsurpassed outdoor recreation opportunities.  The college annually serves more than 16,500 students, and with a student population of over 70% students of color, representing 35 nations and more than 100 languages, Highline has been consistently ranked as one of the most diverse colleges in the nation.

HIGHLINE COLLEGE OFFERS:

• An unrelenting focus on our mission to increase access, improve learning, and strengthen partnerships with our surrounding community;

• Robust support for innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship;

• A friendly, supportive, and highly engaged work environment with diverse colleagues;

• Excellent benefits including competitive leave packages and an array of health, dental, vision, and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs. 

DID YOU KNOW? Highline College is in the process of implementing guided pathways as a campus-wide transformation strategy designed to improve student success and decrease equity gaps. HC received a federally funded, five-year Title III grant in October 2020 designed to support our guided pathways work. HC is also developing a new Equity-First Strategic Plan with broad campus participation.

Please address the following in your application. If you don’t have experience in an academic setting, please address within the framework of your professional experience:

• Show excellence in teaching a variety of ECE courses at the AAS and BAS levels;
• Use a disability justice approach to lead integration of inclusive/special education methods throughout the Education curriculum;
• Design and deliver equity focused on-campus, online, and hybrid instruction;
• Incorporate anti-racist, inclusive, and equitable pedagogical approaches in instruction to promote student success;
• Utilize student achievement data for improvement at both the course and department levels;
• Collaborate with colleagues to improve outcomes for students; for example, participation in department wide assessment and reporting, NAEYC accreditation activities, program/curriculum reviews and improvement;
• Advise students and support students in college entry, academic planning, and career success;
• Participate in service and leadership at the department, division, and college-wide levels as delineated in the faculty contract;
• Identify and seek out appropriate development opportunities; for example, staying current in the discipline, advising, accreditation;
• Promote the health and effectiveness of the Education Professional-Technical Advisory Committee;
• Complete and maintain all appropriate certifications including Vocational-Technical Certification;
  
• Promote the program in the community to build robust enrollment;
• Complete other related duties and special projects as assigned.
  

Faculty-wide skills and abilities

• Adopt and use equity-minded approaches to teaching and learning for all students, including designing curriculum, pedagogy, and assessments relevant to students; valuing what students already know; and empowering students to demonstrate knowledge in multiple ways as appropriate for the discipline(s) or program(s);

• Demonstrate commitment to student learning including planning, organizing, and creating an interactive, cooperative, and mutually respectful learning environment incorporating research-based practices to teaching and assessment;

• Encourage students to ask questions, confront limits, recognize complexities, think critically, and challenge assumptions;

• Convey information and expectations clearly, listening carefully, encouraging students to communicate, and acting with respect, enthusiasm, and empathy toward students;

• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity, including being professional, honest, and ethical in the selection and delivery of course content; 

• Establish and maintain respectful, ethical, and professional relationships with students and colleagues;

• Demonstrate cultural responsiveness in interactions with students and co-workers, and within the community. 

 Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, human development, social work or related field from an institution with regional accreditation or its international equivalent (pending degrees must be verified by a letter from the granting institution).

Desired Qualifications:

• Significant experience working in multicultural/diverse environments;
• Bilingual or multilingual;
• Experience teaching in higher education and/or providing professional development in teaching and learning;
• Experience supervising and/or supporting ECE practitioners in practicum placements;
• Demonstrated commitment to equity practices in education;
• Knowledge of inclusive and special education practices in ECE through a disability justice lens;
• Experience working with children birth to eight and/or families.

SALARY, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

A standard 170-day contract is written annually for the period of September to June. Late contracts will be prorated on the basis of work days remaining in the contract year. This position is exempt from the overtime pay requirements of The Fair Labor Standards Act.

This is a union represented position subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Salary, retirement, medical and insurance benefits are provided in accordance with state regulations and may be subject to change in accordance with legislative mandates and collective bargaining agreements. Additional information on benefits can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/hca/pebbhealthplan/compare.aspx.

Conditions of Employment:

Prior to employment, the candidate must complete a sexual misconduct declaration form, and pass a sexual misconduct check.

If hired you will be required to provide proof that you are either 1) a U.S. citizen, or 2) an immigrant whose status permits you to lawfully work in this country.

Completion of academic degree(s) will be verified through receipt of official transcripts at the time of hire.

Highline College does require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, staff and faculty –– with waivers for specific exemptions –– for those who physically attend courses, operations, or other in-person activities. This decision was made in accordance with higher higher education proclamation  20-12.4. A candidate will not be asked to report their vaccination status unless they are hired by the college. If a candidate chosen for hiring is not fully vaccinated from COVID-19 and plans to submit a medical or religious exemption to this employment condition, the hiring process will be suspended until a decision has been made regarding any exemption application which is submitted. A candidate will not be allowed to do any work for Highline College or be onboarded as a new employee during the time period when the exemption is being considered. The request for an exemption does not guarantee approval.

Application Procedure:

To be considered for this position, applicants must:

1. Meet the minimum qualifications and;

2. Submit a complete application to the online recruitment system at www.highline.edu that includes the following:

• The online application, which includes answers to all supplemental questions and contact information for at least three (3) professional references;

• A current resume; (Attachment: Resume);

• A letter of interest addressing the minimum qualifications, desired qualifications, and your education and experience as they support the duties and responsibilities of this position; (Attachment: Cover Letter). Successful candidates should expect that screening committees will be interested in learning how their education and experiences support the faculty-wide skills and abilities;

• In order to be considered for the position, you must complete the online application in full and attach the required supplemental documents. Failure to provide this information may eliminate you from consideration for this position;

• Unofficial Transcripts documenting undergraduate and graduate course work and degrees (official transcripts required upon employment).

Application Deadline: Priority screening will begin after April 11, 2022.
Applications received on or before this date will receive first consideration. Applications received after the screening date may be considered until the position is filled.

Please be aware that the College hiring authorities reserve the right to hire one or more candidates, and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.

Recruitment Timeline (tentative):
Posted: March 18
Positions posted for 3 weeks (close April 11)
Allocate one week for HR to screen for min qualifications (April 28)
Allocate one week for committees to select first round interviews and send to VPAA/HR (April 25)
First round interviews scheduled via phone/zoom/Spark Hire May 9-6
Committees select finalists by May 11
HR contacts finalists to schedule final interviews (zoom probably; could be on campus)
Final interviews scheduled May 16-20
Selection by end of May

Recruitment: Positions posted on SBCTC, Inside Higher Ed, HERC; other places identified by committees/departments; committee/department members encouraged to share posts in professional networks.

 
APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/highline
 
NEED APPLICATION HELP?
Should you have any difficulties uploading your documents or navigating the application process, please contact NEOGOV Technical Support at 1-855-524-5627, Monday - Friday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time. 
 
HIGHLINE COLLEGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Highline College is an equal opportunity employer. The College is committed to enhancing the diversity of our faculty and staff, as well as our student population. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identity diversity. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legal protected status.
 
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at (206) 592-3812. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.
 
TITLE IX POLICY
Highline College complies with Title IX regulations. For details on our policies, see our website https://humanresources.highline.edu/faculty-and-staff/policies/title-ix/

The College appointing authorities reserve the right and may exercise the option to make an employment decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process. 

Salary : $65,943 - $75,302