Adjunct Faculty in Special Education: Practicum or Independent Teaching Mentor

Department:School of Graduate and Professional Studies
Reports To:Department Chair
Time Commitment:Ongoing (as needed)
Start Date:Immediately

The Division of Special Education at Fresno Pacific University offers preliminary education specialist credentials in Mild-Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, and Early Childhood Special Education. The division also offers the Adapted Physical Education Added Authorization and Master’s degree in Special Education. The program completers and graduates are well prepared and highly desired in the educational community in California’s Central Valley and beyond.

Role:

Mentors must have extensive, articulable experience in a range of classrooms and demonstrate a willingness to serve in a variety of educational settings as a mentor. Mentors must have demonstrated success serving in a special education setting which matches the credential held. Must be able to provide quantifiable and insightful feedback to candidates in a timely manner to support the candidate’s development as a teacher. Must be able to exhibit sensitivity to a wide variety of teaching experiences.

Candidates range from seasoned teacherswho are supplementing general education credentialsto beginning teacherswho have not maintained a classroom of their own for a year.

• Uphold ethical standards and incorporate evidence-based educational practices in alignment with relevant theories, research, and regulations.
• Embrace and respect cultural diversity, including differences in heritage, ethnicity, language, age, religion, socioeconomic status, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, and abilities or disabilities.
• Demonstrate knowledge of pedagogical theories, academic language development, and best practices for teaching English language learners.
• Assess and support students from diverse backgrounds with varying language, communication, and cognitive abilities.
• Utilize both formal and informal assessments to identify students' needs and strengths.
• Understand the goals, content, and objectives of the adopted instructional program, especially for English learners, to ensure effective teaching and support.
• Exhibit a thorough understanding of typical and atypical human development, from prenatal stages to adulthood, and how developmental stages influence learning.
• Understand atypical development related to disabilities, risk factors, resilience, and protective factors, and how these impact learning.
• Implement systems for assessing, planning, and providing academic and social skills instruction to foster positive behavior in all students.
• Develop, adapt, and evaluate various pedagogical approaches, including instructional sequences, unit plans, and lesson plans.
• Apply strategies and best practices to create differentiated lessons and instructional sequences tailored to students' diverse strengths and needs in various educational settings.
• Collaborate effectively in co-teaching, consulting, and instructional teams to enhance curriculum and instruction for students with disabilities.
• Understand how children's and adolescents' decisions and behaviors can impact their health and safety.
• Demonstrate professionalism in attitude and behavior at all times.
• Exhibit effective coaching techniques to support student development and achievement.
• Work independently with minimal supervision and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• Provide outstanding coaching and support to students and colleagues.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information with the utmost care and professionalism.
• Demonstrate a commitment to serving and inspiring students in an academic context that integrates your Christian faith and learning.
• Embrace the mission, vision, and values of Fresno Pacific University, affirm the FPU Faith Expectations, and support the ideals and practices articulated in "The Fresno Pacific Idea”
• Other job duties as assigned

Required:

• California special education teaching credential
• Level II or Clear Education Specialist Credential form an accredited institution
• Earned Master’s or Doctorate degree in special education or closely-related field
• Commitment to the Christian faith and the University’s mission of Christ-centered teaching and learning and involvement in a local church.

Experience:

• Special education classroom: 0-22 years of age
• Special education program leadership
• Computer skills
• Expertise in working with mild/moderate, moderate/severe, adapted physical education, and/or early childhood special education

Preferred:

• Ability to work with students, staff and faculty in a college environment
• Ability to teach and work with persons from culturally diverse backgrounds
• Familiarity with contemporary trends and policies in special education
• Reliable transportation

Environmental Conditions:

• Indoors in a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes at least eighty percent (80%) of the time.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation, up to eight hours per day.
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Drive personal or University vehicles to appointments.
• Public contact position requiring professional apparel, personal hygiene, and grooming.

Physical Demands:

• This position typically functions indoors in an office environment with light to moderate noise associated with business office equipment. The position may involve travel for meetings and events.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: remain in a stationary position 80 % of the time, be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets/office machinery etc., operate a computer and keyboard and other office productivity machinery such as calculators/copy machines/printers. The employee is occasionally required to position self to reach items on the floor and in high cabinetry.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employee must be able to communicate with others to exchange information including both over the telephone and in-person communication with callers and community members and be able to read a computer screen and paper documents.
• Reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities will be provided in accordance with law.

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official Transcripts (showing highest degree earned)
• 2 Professional References
• Faith Reference Letter — This should be written by a clergy or church leader who has extensive knowledge of your Christian life and relationship with Jesus Christ. This knowledge should be expressed in the letter.

Compensation is based on highest completed degree level:
Master's degree: Anticipated pay per unit $811.51, $23.97 per hour
Terminal degree: Anticipated pay per unit $977.98, $28.82 per hour

UNIVERSITY DESCRIPTION

Fresno Pacific University is the only accredited Christian university founded in the Central Valley. FPU connects every student’s untapped potential with unlimited opportunity for professional, personal and ethical growth. FPU offers undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs that stress solid academic preparation and a strong ethical foundation to more than 3,500 traditional and adult students on the main campus in southeast Fresno and regional campuses in North Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield and Merced as well as online. The university also reaches about 8,000 students through professional development studies. FPU has the highest four-year graduation rate of any Central Valley college or university, and is a Hispanic Serving Institution, with a Hispanic student population of 47 percent. FPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ranked in the top tier among western universities—master’s category by U.S. News & World Report. Both U.S. News and Washington Monthly include FPU on their “Best Value” and “Best Bang for the Buck” lists, U.S. News places it at number 13 in its category for student social mobility and Money has ranked it at number 11 among 50 Best Colleges for Transfer Students. FPU is affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren Church, and all employees express a personal Christian commitment and support the Christian mission of the university. A description of the unique quality of FPU as an academic community can be found in the Fresno Pacific Idea at fresno.edu/about/fpu_idea.

Reserving its rights as a religious institution, Fresno Pacific University is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age or disability, or other classes protected by applicable law. Committed to excellence and actively supportive of cultural diversity, FPU invites individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact FPU’s Human Resources Department athr@fresno.edu. As a religious institution, the University will administer the equal opportunity employment policy consistent with the Fresno Pacific University statement of faith, the FPU Idea and the University’s governance by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

*This information, including salary, is accurate as of January 13, 2025.