The NCCU School of Education offers undergraduate, graduate, licensure and professional development programs to train students to become teachers, principals, counselors, as well as serve as mentors to community schools. The School offers traditional, classroom-based instruction as well as synchronous and asynchronous online/web-based instruction. Faculty and staff offer diverse knowledge and experience, providing students with a unique learning experience using the latest technology; small class sizes provide easier access to peers and instructors. The primary goal of the School of Education is to prepare educators for Diverse Cultural Contexts in the 21st Century.

The Goodnight Distinguished Professor (DP) of Early Literacy (Goodnight Professor) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) will join seven other distinguished professors to serve as a network of early literacy expertise with the purpose of advancing the University of North Carolina System’s current literacy initiatives across 15 educator preparation programs, through engaging in outreach and dissemination of best practice. The Goodnight Distinguished Professors may serve on statewide literacy committees in an advisory capacity to elevate how UNC System institutions are ensuring the production of well-prepared teachers of reading. In addition, the cadre of professors will enhance partnerships with school districts across North Carolina to foster collaboration between teacher education programs and current teachers in the field.

The Goodnight Professor will be assigned to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for the purpose of establishing scalable programs to ensure the preparation of teacher candidates in evidence-based practices in literacy instruction aligned with the University of North Carolina System Literacy Framework, and to expand continuing support for teachers of reading. The Goodnight Professor will collaborate with literacy faculty in the Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary, and Special Education programs at NCCU. The SOE places great emphasis on understanding of and respect for equity, social justice, and belonging among students and colleagues; therefore, we encourage applications from professionals who can help us achieve these goals. We seek a candidate with the following qualifications:

The DP Candidate should have a proven track record of teaching evidence-based early literacy practices, currently known as “the science of reading,” within a teacher education or P12 setting; and who can demonstrate the articulation of current reading research into effective classroom practice. Additionally, the candidate must have an earned doctorate in Elementary Education, Reading/Literacy, Early Childhood, Special Education, or a closely related field from an accredited university and the ability to hold a faculty rank of tenured Full Professor.

The DP Candidate should have a proven track record of teaching evidence-based early literacy practices, currently known as “the science of reading,” within a teacher education or P12 setting; and who can demonstrate the articulation of current reading research into effective classroom practice.

The candidate must have an earned doctorate in Elementary Education, Reading/Literacy, Early Childhood, Special Education, or a closely related field from an accredited university and the ability to hold a faculty rank of tenured Full Professor.

NC Teaching License or eligibility for NC Teaching License

North Carolina Central University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

Service includes outreach as a literacy champion and facilitator of professional development and seminars for and/or in collaboration with partners such as regional school systems and North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teachers (NCCAT). There may be additional opportunities to serve on state-level literacy efforts associated with North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and/or other organizations.
Serve as mentor to junior faculty. Share effective evidence-based literacy practices for teacher candidates at NCCU and across the state. Collaborate with faculty on unique teacher candidate early field experiences.

All Goodnight and Spangler Distinguished Professors of Early Literacy will join an endowed professor state network, charged with the following:
-Design and implement engagement opportunities for faculty (e.g., seminar series, symposiums, etc.).
-Serve in an advisory capacity for progress in the UNC System’s literacy initiatives to include enhancements to the Literacy Framework Implementation Guide.
-Consult on possible video/online literacy lessons to serve as a resource for teacher educators, candidates, and in-service teachers.
-Elevate how UNC System institutions are ensuring production of well-prepared teachers of reading and support in-service teachers as they become more masterful practitioners.
-Significantly enhance the capacity of schools to employ evidence-based practices in reading instruction with fidelity.

Research in early literacy with the goal of advancing evidence-based early literacy knowledge. Articulate the importance and integration of current reading research. Candidates should have an established record of securing external funding and must have an extensive record of research productivity in early literacy.

Teaching responsibilities include a 2-1 load consisting of undergraduate literacy courses and/or internship supervision. The DP will serve as a model for effective, high-quality evidence-based literacy practice.

The selected candidate will need to submit official transcripts and complete a criminal background check.