Job Details

Psychology Instructor

Palo Verde College


Salary: $74,968.00 - $145,145.00 Annually
Job Type: Certificated
Job Number: CDCR9
Closing: 4/10/2026 4:30 PM Pacific
Location: Blythe, CA
Department: Instruction

Description


**This position is included in the Fall 2026 cluster hire, instructor will have primary assignment at Ironwood State Prison.**


ABOUT THE COLLEGE & THE ROLE

Palo Verde College (PVC) is a publicly supported two-year community college serving approximately 7,000 students annually through in-person, online, correspondence, and hybrid modalities. Located in Southeastern California, PVC is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and is deeply committed to equity, access, and student success.

As part of this cluster hire, Palo Verde College seeks dedicated, equity-minded faculty to provide primary face-to-face instruction for incarcerated students at Ironwood State Prison (a level 2 facility). Additionally, faculty may also teach incarcerated learners across five additional CDCR sites through correspondence and Canvas-based instruction.

These positions are full-time, tenure-track faculty roles intentionally designed for the Incarcerated Education Program, reflecting PVC's long-standing leadership in this space and its commitment to strengthening the Rising Scholars program, which PVC helped initiate and continues to proudly advance.

WHAT FACULTY CAN EXPECT

Faculty hired through this cluster will:

• Have a primary teaching assignment at Ironwood State Prison, delivering face-to-face instruction in a secure institutional setting.
• Teach additional CDCR sites statewide through correspondence and Canvas-based instruction, or main campus students, as program needs require.
• Work within CDCR protocols, including clearance requirements, safety procedures, restricted materials, and technology limitations.
• Participate in specialized onboarding, including CDCR clearance, institutional orientation, and Rising Scholars program support.
• Collaborate closely with Instruction, Rising Scholars staff, and CDCR partners to ensure instructional continuity and student success.

PVC is committed to transparency and preparation. Faculty selected for these roles will receive structured onboarding, training, and ongoing institutional support to help them succeed in this unique and rewarding teaching environment.
Disciplines in this cluster include:

• Psychology
• Earth Science (with lab)
• Communication Studies

OUR COMMITMENT TO RISING SCHOLARS & EQUITY

Palo Verde College is deeply committed to expanding access to higher education for justice impacted students. Through the Rising Scholars framework, PVC works to ensure that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students experience:

• High academic expectations paired with meaningful instructional support
• Culturally responsive and trauma-informed pedagogy
• Respect, dignity, and belief in their academic potential

Faculty in this cluster are expected to embrace the PVC values of equity-minded teaching practices, demonstrate cultural humility, and contribute to an educational environment that affirms students' lived experiences while maintaining academic rigor.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

This opportunity is best suited for faculty who:

• Are motivated by social justice, educational equity, and access
• Are prepared for the realities of teaching in a correctional setting
• Value transparency, structure, collaboration, and mission-driven work
• Believe in the transformative power of education for incarcerated learners
• Are committed to ongoing learning in culturally responsive pedagogy

NATURE OF THE POSITION

The instructor will teach classes within the approved discipline(s). In addition, the instructor shall be responsible for creating, maintaining and updating curricula relevant to the assigned instructional area. Further, the instructor will participate in all appropriate faculty functions, including non-teaching assignments, office hours, and committee meetings. This position may require day, evening, weekend, correspondence and on-line assignments.

Examples of Duties


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides instruction in all areas of the assigned discipline(s)
2. Develops college curricula and associated course materials.
3. Prepares, evaluates, and revises course outlines and syllabi.
4. Participates producing, assessing, and evaluating student learning outcomes.
5. Participates in student recruitment activities.
6. Maintains organized sets of course and student records.
7. Serves on appropriate college and faculty committees.
8. Maintains campus office and duty hours, submits grades and reports on or before deadlines, attends faculty meetings, and participates in student activities.
9. Performs other duties associated with full-time employment.

Educational/Experience Qualifications


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. The instructor shall meet the minimum qualifications required for the discipline, consisting of: Master's in psychology; OR Bachelor's in psychology AND Master's in counseling, sociology, statistics, neuroscience or social work; OR the equivalent
2. Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, ethnic, racial, age, national origin, religious, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.
3. Must be able to satisfy CDCR clearance requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: Generally, a Master's degree is a minimum requirement for academic areas of instruction. Applicants who feel they meet the equivalent to the above-stated minimum qualifications must complete the Supplemental Questionnaire for Equivalency in order to be considered. The Supplemental Questionnaire application must be submitted in conjunction with the applicant's application. When completing the application, be sure to explain in detail how your qualifications are equivalent to the required minimum qualifications. All course work must be from an accredited college or university.

To obtain the Supplemental Questionnaire application please contact:

Vicky Lujano
Human Resources Technician II
vicky.lujano@paloverde.edu

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Teaching experience, preferably at the community college level.
2. A firm commitment to the needs of students with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and levels of ability with multi-cultural teaching experience.
3. Additional academic preparation enabling instructor to teach in an additional discipline.

Supplemental Information


PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

1. The physical demands and work environment are typical of an instructional job in a classroom and office environment.
2. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, as listed above, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

CLASSIFICATION & SALARY

1. Full-time, tenure track academic position. (177-day academic year)
2. Placement on the academic salary schedule will be determined by education and experience.
3. The college offers an attractive package of fringe benefits including medical, prescription, dental, vision and life insurance.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Our employment online application process is designed to assist the search committee in evaluating whether or not you possess the required knowledge and skills for the position for which you are applying. Job-related information from all applicants will be evaluated to identify those best qualified. Only the best-qualified applicants will be selected for testing and further consideration. Therefore, the online application must be completed to allow a comprehensive review and evaluation. Failure to complete the online application (and supplemental material, when required) will constitute failure to comply with the selection process and the application will be rejected.

1. To guarantee consideration, a completed application and any other required material listed, must be submitted with the online application by the published closing date.
2. Applications are only accepted for positions currently open for recruitment.
3. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee you an interview.
4. Current employees who are applying for a position should be aware that material from their personnel files will not be included as part of the application packet, and they should provide information on past and present employment in the same degree of detail as any other candidate.
5. Applicants wishing to apply for more than one position must submit a separate application and required materials for each position.
6. Legible photocopies of documents will only be accepted.
7. Travel costs related to the interview process will be borne solely by the candidate.
8. Please read the job announcement/description carefully to ensure your background and education meet the requirements of the position
9. The selection process may also include practical exercise (i.e., training demonstration and/or other written, technical manipulative, or simulation exercises), or skilled testing to evaluate candidates' qualifications.
10. Applicants with foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an Accredited United States Institution, please see the approved organizations listed in the following link: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/leaflets/cl635.pdf?sfvrsn=bb4f6e6a_6 or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services link: https://www.naces.org/

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Cover Letter

Resume

Diversity Statement

Copies of Transcripts (Must show all work completed and the conferral date of the degree. If hired original transcripts must be submitted)

Six References (3 Professional and 3 Personal)

Professional Licenses (If applicable)

LOCATION

Palo Verde College is located in the City of Blythe at one of the busiest entrance points to California. The college is located in a desert oasis adjacent to the beautiful Colorado River and the Palo Verde Valley. Blythe, and the fertile Palo Verde Valley, is primarily a farming and ranching area. Boating, fishing and hunting attract many tourists. The Palo Verde Valley is centrally located between Phoenix and Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Mexican border. The valley's great climate, with more than 350 days of sunshine and mild winters, attracts thousands of winter visitors every year.



To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/paloverde/jobs/5251569/psychology-instructor








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