Adjunct Instructor, Clinical Practice

Job Title: Adjunct Instructor, Clinical Practice

Type: Part-Time (40 - 60 hours/month) 

Start Date: Dependent on course assignment

End Date: Dependent on course assignment

Location: Flexible within the U.S.

Priority Application Deadline: June 21, 2024 at 5pm EST

SUMMARY

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is welcoming applications for Adjunct Instructor positions on the Teacher Preparation team. Relay’s mission is to ensure that all students are taught by outstanding educators. Our vision is to build a more just world where every student has access to outstanding educators and a clear path to a fulfilling life. Individuals dedicated and well versed in culturally responsive pedagogy, social justice in education, and exceptional teaching practices will have an opportunity to thrive while ensuring that students at Relay fulfill their aspirations of becoming teachers.  

If you have a depth of content knowledge, love coaching teachers, leading professional development, collaborating with experienced high-performing educators, learning and working with new technology, and are hungry to further build your instructional leadership skill set on a part-time basis, the Adjunct Instructor role is right for you. In this role, you’ll be able to expand your content knowledge and build relationships with aspiring educators. 

This is a great opportunity for classroom teachers and/or school leaders who are looking to gain additional experience facilitating instruction for adult learners. Depending on the content area, there may be an opportunity to teach more than one section. 

CONSIDERATIONS TO NOTE

• Adjunct openings are contingent on sufficient Relay student enrollment numbers within each course. Relay will continue to monitor enrollment and communicate adjunct instructor opportunities to candidates who move through our hiring process.
• Adjuncts are welcome to teach more than one course in a term if courses are available and adjunct schedule allows. 
• Clinical Practice (CP) connects theory to the classroom context, focusing on the development of the knowledge, skills, and mindsets required to be a culturally responsive and inclusive educator through ongoing cycles of practice (both during class and in birth – grade 12 schools), feedback, and reflection. Students receive observation-based feedback from faculty and peers as part of their CP coursework and learn as part of a collaborative cohort committed to continuous improvement.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

The essential responsibilities of this position, while not limited to the following, will include: 

• Teaching Responsibilities: Adjuncts internalize and facilitate courses, designed by our curriculum design faculty, and teach 2.5 hour synchronous classes aligned to the asynchronous modules. 3 credit courses typically have 10 class sessions (7 for Clinical Practice), 2 credit courses typically have 7 class sessions (4 for Clinical Practice), and 1 credit courses typically have 4 class sessions. Clinical Practice courses tend to require more feedback (e.g., on video-based observations) from faculty given the reduced class cadence. Class schedules will vary based on the course and section but will generally be in the evenings or on Saturdays.
• Course Preparation and Professional Development Responsibilities: Adjuncts are expected to engage in beginning of term onboarding, most of which will occur asynchronously (5-6 hours). In addition to teaching, there is required weekly collaboration time (up to 90 minutes per week), scheduled based on adjunct availability. Furthermore, all adjuncts participate in instructional observations to ensure alignment with facilitation practices and support the growth and development of Relay adjuncts. 
• Student Experience: Adjuncts ensure exceptional student experience within courses, ensuring all policies and practices outlined in the faculty and student handbooks are followed and that Relay students are supported to reach their full potential and serve their birth-12 students with the knowledge learned within the course. You will also ensure all courses taught by you are mission aligned, student-centered, and continuously improving based on student input. Additional responsibilities include hosting office hours, providing academic feedback, grading student work, updating students’ course progress throughout the term via progress check systems, and collaborating with student advisors and department faculty. 
• Programmatic & Design Responsibilities: You will support the design and continuous improvement of the courses offered within the department by providin