EMPLOYMENT TERMS: Full-time position
PRIMARY DUTY: The successful candidate will serve as a multi-age teacher and educational leader at a kindergarten through sixth-grade laboratory school where commitment to curriculum development, educational leadership, research, multi-age education, and child-centered teaching practices are valued. The teacher will provide elementary students with exemplary instruction within a laboratory school setting, modeling culturally sensitive teaching. The teacher will work collaboratively with University faculty to facilitate and evaluate practicum students through the modeling of effective teaching practices and opportunities to engage in superior clinical experiences. The teacher is responsible for promoting high expectations for students, communicating effectively with parents, developing curriculum, and working collaboratively with both Horace Mann and the School of Education faculty and staff. The position includes supervision and evaluation of student employees, practicum students, and implementation of state and national standards into the curriculum.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Provide research-based instruction in a laboratory school setting
2. Facilitate, evaluate, and provide timely feedback to practicum students about instruction in the areas of literacy, math, science, social studies, and project-based learning
3. Participate in highly collaborative, professional learning activities with colleagues
4. Build relationships with families and community members to promote regular parent involvement
5. Collaborate and co-teach with an instructional aide
6. Supervise and evaluate practicum students completing clinical experiences
7. Exhibit strong skills in educational technology, research, and collaboration
8. Create curriculum and lesson plans in all curricula areas
9. Demonstrate a growth mindset, initiative, and actively collaborate in the research of innovative practices
10. Model a nurturing disposition with an excellent ability to communicate effectively with young children
11. Integrate technology across the curriculum
12. Serve as the fourth through sixth grade academic extension co-sponsor (i.e., math contest, spelling bee, geography bee)
13. Effectively communicate with parents, college students, University faculty, and staff
14. Assist with university and program accreditation (AAQEP, HLC, CAEP, DESE, and/or other)
15. Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Education
Certification/License: Missouri Elementary Teaching Certification (or the ability to attain certification)
Experience: Three years of experience in a school setting
Skills: Integration of technology and online course management system in teaching; strong communication skills; collaboration skills; ability to work well with others toward common goals; strong organizational skills
WORKING CONDITIONS: Collaborative team-based faculty working in an academic environment
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Will supervise observation, practicum students and graduate assistants
EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Interactive SMART Board, iPads, laptop computers, document cameras, online course management system
TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Actively instructing elementary students from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the regular school year (August – May). Instruction of Practicum students may occur from 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Participation in after school committees, family activity nights, and faculty meetings as assigned. Ability to complete essential classroom functions. Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.
UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 9,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.
Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.
Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement, with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.
Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.
Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.
The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin immediately
DATE AVAILABLE: August 1, 2026
TO APPLY: Follow the steps of the online application process. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1121 or email ewilmes@nwmissouri.edu if more information is needed regarding the process.
APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of interest, a current vita, a copy of all academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts acceptable), and the names and contact information of three professional references
INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:
Breanne Poston, Director
Re: Horace Mann Teaching Position
Northwest Missouri State University
Horace Mann Laboratory School
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468
Phone: 660-562-1233
Email: bposton@nwmissouri.edu