Assistant or Associate Professor in K-12 Leadership

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks an individual for a tenure-track position in K-12 Leadership to begin in August 2026 or earlier depending on department need and funding.

The mission of the ELPA Department is to create, evaluate, exchange, and apply knowledge about leadership, learning, and organizational performance to prepare scholars and scholar practitioners who cultivate equity and educational opportunity in a diverse and changing world (Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis - School of Education - UW-Madison).

The scholar must have an established interest and record of research, teaching, and service, with a commitment that aligns with our departmental mission.

Preference will be given to candidates with a teaching and research focus in any of the following areas as they relate to K-12 leadership: special education, law, data-informed improvement and systems change, technology, and/or finance.

The ideal candidate has prior experience as a school, district, or community leader. A successful external funding portfolio is also desirable.

We seek an individual who is committed to excellence not only in their research and teaching, but also in graduate student advising and in contributing to the growth and quality of the K-12 Leadership programs.

We seek a wide range of candidates, including current assistant and associate professors, postdoctoral fellows, recent doctoral degree recipients, and individuals with distinguished educational leadership experience. Associate Professor candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials suitable for appointment with tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Tenure - Office of the Secretary of the Faculty - UW-Madison).

• Advise and mentor doctoral, master's, and certification students, and serve on committees of doctoral students.

• Create and maintain networks with students, staff, and faculty in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

• Inform and enrich state policy development in alignment with the Wisconsin Idea.

• Embrace the responsibilities associated with departmental and university membership, which include service (departmental, university, and professional).

• Conduct exemplary research that leads to the cultivation of promising ideas and publications in major scholarly outlets, and pursue and secure external grant funding.

• Teach core courses - including graduate-level courses in the K-12 leadership programs that meet in various modalities and typically in evenings and weekends - for educational leadership scholars, leaders, practitioners, and policymakers.

School of Education / Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA)

Negotiable. Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

• Established interest and record of research, teaching, and service, with a commitment that aligns with our departmental mission.

• Teaching and research focus in any of the following areas as they relate to K-12 leadership: special education, law, data-informed improvement and systems change, technology, and/or finance

• Commitment to excellence in graduate student advising

• Prior experience as a school, district, or community leader

• Successful external funding portfolio is also desirable

PhD or terminal degree, must be conferred by start date.

Please go to the "Apply Now" area and select your current UW Employment Status.

Upload the following materials:

• A letter of interest that describes the candidate's interest in the position and addresses the qualifications and preferences outlined in the job summary.

• A curriculum vitae.

• Statements (3 documents, 1-2 pages each):

• A research statement describing the candidate's research program, major accomplishments to date, and goals for the future.
• A teaching/advising statement describing personal teaching philosophy, strategies, and objectives, as well as your experiences and approaches to advising.
• A service statement documenting individual efforts and significant impacts.
  

• Two (2) samples of scholarly writing.

• The names and contact information of three (3) professional references (reference letters may be requested for finalists).

To ensure consideration, application materials must be received by Monday, December 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm; however, this position will remain open, and applications may be considered until this position is filled. The tentative timeline is to conduct first-round virtual interviews in December 2025 and invite finalists to campus in February 2026.

Note: incomplete application packages that do not include all of the requested documentation will not be considered.

Jessica Carew

ELPA Department Administrator

gile2@wisc.edu

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

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