Position Summary:

The Department of Teacher Education at Fort Lewis College invites applications for a tenure-track Associate Professor, specializing in Special Education, to begin Fall Term 2027. The Teacher Education Department offers licensure programs in early childhood, elementary, several secondary and K-12 teaching areas, and five Master’s degree programs.

We seek an experienced Special Education scholar, educator, and academic leader who will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, scholarship, program leadership, and service. We seek a Special Education specialist who can teach graduate and undergraduate courses and successfully coordinate the Special Education graduate program, which includes a Master of Arts in Education, a Special Education endorsement program, and an alternative pathway in Special Education.

Job Description:

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• A teaching load of 12 credits per semester with a 3-credit research release within the academic year. Teaching load will include teaching education courses, mentoring special education candidates, and program coordination. Additional duties include academic advising, scholarship, and service to the college and department, and contribution to accreditation and reauthorization processes.  
• Responsive, respectful, and effective teaching of students from a range of identities  
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508
• Produce and remediate digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Normal full-time teaching load is 15 credit hours per term, including 12 credits of assigned courses and 3 credits of reassigned time for service. Tenured/Tenured Track Faculty also receive a three-credit release per year to support their scholarship/research.  

 

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• Doctorate (Ph.D or Ed.D) in Special Education or closely related field 
• A minimum of three years of experience as a Special Education Teacher in K-12 schools 
• Appointment at the Associate Professor rank requires an advanced degree appropriate to the field, six years of successful teaching experience in higher education, and substantial evidence of professional development, consistent with the Fort Lewis College Faculty Handbook.
• An active scholarly agenda and demonstrated ability to fulfill teaching, scholarship, and service responsibilities at the Associate Professor level.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive instruction, student success, and collaborative academic work
• An active research agenda in Special Education or Special Education/Teacher Education

 

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• Undergraduate and/or graduate level higher education teaching and research 
• Experience with online, hybrid and/or remote instruction
• Experience with academic program coordination 
• Experience with and ability to manage state licensure requirements and processes, both traditional and alternative 
• Experience with grant development and management 
• Development of local and regional partnerships in rural areas 

 

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

This position reports to the Chair of the Teacher Education Department

 

Work Environment:

 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time.

 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function

 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
• Light to moderate lifting is required

 

 

Travel:

Less than 5% is expected for this position

 

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

·       Exempt

·       Full-Time 1.0 FTE

·       Permanent

·       9 Month Position. 

·       Typical Work hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Compensation

• Salary is $70,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

Application Process

A complete application packet includes:

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
• CV
• Names and contact information for three current, professional references

Application materials received by 11:59 PM on November 29, 2026, will receive full consideration.

The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts

and pass a background check.

 

About Fort Lewis College:

On a sage-brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains, Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorado’s premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3,300 students identifying as people of color, FLC’s academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe, diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American-serving, Non-Tribal Institution, FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural, cultural, and historical resources found around the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real-world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in, FLC promotes a culture of work-life balance for students, faculty, and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango

Notice to Prospective Employees:
 The Fort Lewis College is required by the Clery Act of 1990 to notify prospective employees, current employees, students and applicants where to access our Campus Security Report.  The report is updated and published annually in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Federal Student Right-to-Know, the Federal Drug-free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989. This report contains information about:

• Fort Lewis College's alcohol and other drug policy

• Sexual assault policy

• Campus security policies

• Campus/community resources

• The Colorado Riot Offense Statute restriction on enrollment

• Where to find registered sex offender information

• Crime statistics for the previous three calendar years

• Reporting crimes

 
 The Campus Security Report can be accessed in two ways:
By going to the internet website at:   www.fortlewis.edu/AnnualSecurityReport Fort Lewis College Student Affairs Office will also provide a paper copy of the annual security report upon request.   You can reach them at (970) 247-7331.

Equal Opportunity
Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex*, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family or domestic status, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To file a report, get resources, read policies, or make an appointment, See www.fortlewis.edu/CARE.

Discrimination Questions?

Office of Compliance and Community Standards
David Pirrone, Director of Compliance
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7182 [email protected]

Questions about Title IX sex discrimination?    
Office of the Title IX Coordinator
Madeleine Gillman, Assistant Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7049 [email protected]

Information about Fort Lewis College’s alcohol and drug policy, sexual assault policy, campus security policies, campus crime statistics, fire safety procedures and fire statistics, and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.

* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Fort Lewis College may be directed to FLC's Title IX Coordinator and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.

ADAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Kristin Polens by phone 970-247-7459 or email [email protected] at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.