Assistant Professor - Elementary Literacy Education

The School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) at Utah State University offers an Assistant Professor position in elementary language arts/literacy. Join an outstanding group of literacy education scholars who are making a difference in schools and the scholarly discipline. Located on the statewide campus in Vernal, Utah, this is a tenure-track, primarily teaching, 9-month academic-year position with the opportunity for summer employment, subject to departmental need and available funding. The successful candidate will join a vital school with 38 faculty members—33 on the Logan campus and 5 on Statewide Campuses. 

Review of applications will begin in October 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 2027.

Inquiries may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Jake Downs (435) 797-0342; jake.downs@usu.edu.

An ideal candidate must demonstrate a record of, or potential to be an effective classroom teacher at the undergraduate and graduate levels who is capable of using a variety of delivery modalities, work with local schools, and provide meaningful service to Utah State University, the residents of Utah, and the profession; produce publications, obtain extramural research funding, recruit and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

• →Teach undergraduate courses in TEAL’s Elementary Teacher Education Program using online delivery methods (both synchronous and asynchronous and face-to-face); teach graduate courses as assigned.
• →Collaborate with local school districts to improve elementary student outcomes, including literacy education.
• →Demonstrate a commitment to teaching and working with a broad range of students with various educational goals and needs.
• →Chair and serve on graduate student committees.
• →Provide service to the department and institution as well as national, state, and local service to the profession.
• →Engage in academic scholarship, including grant writing, and conducting and publishing in elementary literacy education (e.g., early literacy acquisition, oral language development, literacy with English learners/multilingual learners, writing instruction, teacher education in literacy).

• Earned EdD or PhD by August 2027, with expertise in teacher education at the elementary level.
• Demonstrated experience or potential for teaching elementary education literacy courses at the university level.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• An emerging record of publications in elementary literacy that aligns with the assistant professor level.

• Experience with distance education delivery and learning management systems.
• Evidence of ability to establish a program of research that includes practicing professionals in field-based settings.
• Potential for obtaining extramural research funding through grant writing and/or public/private contracts.
• At least two full-time years of demonstrated successful experience teaching English Language Arts at the elementary level (grades K-6) in U.S. schools.

Along with the online application, please attach:

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

The School of Teacher Education and Leadership offers undergraduate programs for early childhood education (PK-3), elementary education, and the professional education framework leading to secondary education licensure in other teaching majors. We also offer endorsement programs in early childhood education, literacy education, and math education. Our graduate programs include a Graduate Route to Licensure, a Master in Elementary teaching, a Master in Secondary teaching, a MEd in school leadership, a MS, MEd, and EdS in curriculum and instruction, an EdD in Education, and a PhD in education with a specialization in curriculum and instruction and concentrations in school leadership, literacy education and leadership, mathematics education and leadership, cultural studies in education, and science education. 



As part of a land-grant institution, we deliver our programs to students on campuses across the state of Utah through interactive broadcasts and online delivery. We value our partnerships with local, state, national, and international leaders and welcome the many ongoing opportunities we have to collaborate toward common goals. Drawing on an extensive knowledge base spanning both theoretical and practice-oriented research, we design programs and conduct research focused on improving the quality of teaching, learning, and leadership in complex local and global contexts.

The Uintah Basin Campus offers excellent access to higher education for approximately 900 students across the Roosevelt and Vernal campuses, as well as through remote learning for students in rural Utah. Located in one of the state’s most diverse and dynamic regions near the Colorado border, USU Uintah Basin also serves the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, expanding educational opportunities in a historically underserved area. Spanning nearly 15,000 square miles in northeastern Utah, the Uintah Basin forms an asymmetric bowl east of the Wasatch Mountains and south of the Uintah Mountains. Once driven by agriculture and mining, the region's economy has since diversified, with energy extraction and tourism becoming key industries. Utah is a paradise for outdoor recreation, and local attractions include Dinosaur National Monument, Starvation Reservoir State Park, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, and the Uintah Wilderness Area. Residents enjoy easy access to breathtaking natural landscapes and year-round recreational activities, including world-class hunting, fishing, rafting, and hiking.

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is committed to academic excellence in research, teaching, and service activities across a wide array of education and human service fields. The college is home to eight academic departments with approximately 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research and high-level graduate and undergraduate education. The college is consistently ranked by US News and World Reports as one of the top Graduate Colleges of Education in the country, ranking 26th among public institutions of higher education in 2025 and 1st in the state of Utah for the past 25 years. The college’s programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center, Center for the School of the Future, Institute for Disability Research, Policy, & Practice, and National Center for Hearing Assessment & Management. Faculty, students, and staff within the college also engage with a broad range of community partners to both provide opportunities for community-engaged research projects and learning, which enhances the overall quality of education and human service programs throughout the state of Utah.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, officially joining on July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025–26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 07/2026

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

titleix@usu.edu

(435) 797-1266

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov

*updated 08/2026