Job Details

English as a Second Language Full-Time Tenure Track Instructor

Position Number: 6903535
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Position Type: Liberal Arts - English as Second Language

English as a Second Language Full-Time Tenure Track Instructor

Cuesta College

Salary: $68,383.00 - $145,819.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time - 10 Months/ 100% FTE
Job Number: FY2526-00116
Location: San Luis Obispo Campus, CA
Department: Instruction
Closing: 4/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description Summary

The English as a Second Language Department at Cuesta College welcomes applications for a full-time, tenure track position beginning fall semester 2026. The teaching assignment will mainly consist of face-to-face classes on the North County Campus in Paso Robles and may include some distance education components and assignments on other campus locations as needed. Classes are primarily scheduled in the evenings, but there may be a combination of day and evening classes assigned. The faculty position includes divisional responsibilities such as program review, student learning outcome assessment, curriculum development, faculty evaluations, and service on college-wide committees.

The ideal candidate will be committed to collaborating with a diverse group of faculty, classified staff, administration, students, and community partners to improve the program and increase student retention as well as success. The applicant will need to demonstrate proficiency in current ESL pedagogical approaches including second language acquisition principles, integrated skills instruction, and differentiated strategies for students with varied educational backgrounds, including those with interrupted or limited formal education. The applicant will also have experience supporting individuals from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. The candidate will provide accessible, inclusive, and equitable instruction to multilingual adult ESL learners. The ideal applicant will be committed to advocacy for ESL students and program needs throughout the college and community.

Cuesta's ESL program, which is part of the Student Development and Success Division, provides language development opportunities for students of all English language proficiency levels. The program is committed to helping students improve their English language skills so that they may achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals as well as participate more effectively in their communities. The program offers six levels of integrated skills courses ranging from literacy to advanced. There are also three levels of conversation, two levels of grammar, and two levels of vocational English classes. ESL classes are held throughout San Luis Obispo County, and a small number of courses are offered as distance education including blended and hybrid modalities. The department receives a federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant, which requires regular student assessment and an annual benchmark report. The ESL department is also part of the district's California Adult Education Program (CAEP). To view the department website, visit:

https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/divisions/studentdevsuccess/esl/index.html

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

Where You Will Work

Serving all of San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. The main campus is located along scenic Highway 1, west of San Luis Obispo and east of the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Cuesta College has a North County Campus in Paso Robles, and South County Center, in Arroyo Grande.

Who We Are

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work we do. Cuesta College is proud to be a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified professionals, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion.

Additional information about the college can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/index.html
The college planning documents can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/collegeplans/index.html
Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/info/student-equity-initiatives/equity/index.html
We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/human-resources/benefits/index.html

Essential Functions & Qualifications

To be considered for the English as a Second Language (ESL) discipline:
-Master's in TESL, TESOL, applied linguistics with a TESL emphasis, linguistics with a TESL emphasis, English with a TESL emphasis or education with a TESL emphasis

OR

-Bachelor's in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics with a TESL certificate, applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, or any foreign language with a TESL certificate AND master's in linguistics, applied linguistics, English, composition, bilingual/bicultural studies, reading, speech or any foreign language

OR

-The equivalent. (Candidates applying on the basis of equivalency must submit all materials requested for an equivalency judgment. For directions on what is an acceptable equivalency argument, please review the requirements listed on the HR Website or see further information on Equivalency Petition Process Information below.)

OR
-A valid Community College credential in the discipline (If received prior to 1990, as the credential is no longer being issued).

Additional Requirement:

-Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

-Ability to engage and motivate a diverse student population, which (in addition to the above) includes a variety of ages; academic and ethnic backgrounds; and educational abilities.

Desirable:

-Teaching experience in the discipline, community college level preferred;

-Awareness of the philosophy and objectives of California Community Colleges;

Experience teaching multilingual learners across a range of proficiency levels, including literacy-level learners and advanced academic English students using a variety of instructional methods;
Expertise in culturally responsive teaching as it relates to the relevance of ESL students' lives, interests, and varied goals;
Awareness of emerging technologies, including AI tools, and their implications for language learning and academic integrity;
Experience supporting ESL students in transitioning to academic or career pathways;
Knowledge of and/or experience with ESL curriculum and materials development including EL Civics assessments;
Knowledge of the Canvas Learning Management System and online/hybrid/blended educational methodologies;
Evidence of an ongoing commitment to professional development in the field of ESL;
Ability to provide leadership in program improvement, curriculum development, and departmental as well as college-wide initiatives;
Willingness to engage in collaborative program development and continuous improvement efforts;
Experience evaluating and mentoring ESL instructors; and
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Additional Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO APPLY

Candidates will be required to submit ALL of the required documents below when applying for this position. When uploading documents, PDF uploads are preferred.

Cover letter (see further instructions below);
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (see further instructions below);
Professional Reference List (see further instructions below);
Two professional letters of recommendation (see further instructions below);
Teaching philosophy/Diversity statement (see further instructions below);
Unofficial transcripts (see further instructions below).

Cover Letter Instructions: Please address your qualifications and interest in this position and why you have chosen to apply to Cuesta College.

Resume/ Curriculum Vitae Instructions: Include all relevant education, training, and teaching experience (including courses taught), and other work experience.

Reference List Instructions: List three professional references including their contact information (name, title, phone number, email address) and their relationship to you.

Letters of Recommendation Instructions: Provide two letters of recommendation from current or former colleagues, supervisors/managers, or faculty that highlight your skills and qualifications as they relate to this position.

Teaching Philosophy/ Diversity Statement Instructions: We invite you to compose a teaching philosophy statement that explains your teaching values, motivation, and/or beliefs in the purpose of education. As part of your statement, discuss how your instructional practices contribute to an equitable and inclusive learning environment for multilingual students. You are encouraged to share examples from your teaching that illustrate how you engage learners with diverse language backgrounds, educational experiences, and goals.

In preparing your teaching philosophy/diversity statement, you are encouraged to review Cuesta College's Academic Senate approved Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Rubric located on the Human Resources Equal Employment Opportunity Page: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/eeo/index.html

Unofficial Transcript Instructions: Transcripts need to show that you meet the minimum qualifications (with degree conferred) and/or have a foreign degree evaluation completed if the degree you hold is from outside of the US. If the titles of your degrees on your transcripts do not show that you meet the minimum qualifications as written above, it is necessary to submit an equivalency petition with your application. See below for more information about equivalency.

Equivalency Petition Process Information:Faculty shall meet the minimum qualifications established by the Board of Governors, or shall possess qualifications that are at least equivalent to the minimum qualifications set out in the regulations of the Board of Governors. If a candidate's earned degrees do not exactly match the minimum qualifications, they can submit a Petition for Equivalency form in order to apply for equivalency. For more information on the process, please review the links below.

Equivalency Process (AP 7211) (Download PDF reader)

Petition for Equivalency Form

Completed online applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the closing date for this position. LATE, INCOMPLETE, FAXED, MAILED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Please contact HR to ensure all documents have been uploaded and your file is complete up until 72 hours before the closing date.

SALARY SCHEDULE

Salary is determined by education and experience. More information regarding our current salary schedules can be found on the following link: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/salary_schedules.html

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cuesta College will not sponsor any visa applications.

San Luis Obispo County Community College District ("Cuesta College") is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), age, disability (physical and mental), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Cuesta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

In compliance with California law, all prospective staff and students are entitled to read the Annual Security Report, published each October by the Cuesta College Department of Public Safety. This report contains information about our emergency and crime reporting procedures, as well as crime statistics for the past 3 years. You may request a copy of this report at one of our two Public Safety Offices: on SLO campus at Building 6600A or on North County Campus at building N1021, during campus business hours. You may also access the complete text of this report at the following website address:

https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/publicsafety/clery_act

Cuesta College uses E-Verify as part of the I-9 process to verify the work eligibility of all new hires. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. For further information, visit: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Job_Opportunities.html

Interview Process Information

Selected applicants will be invited to give a teaching demonstration and have an interview on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

First interviews will be held in person on the North County Campus in Paso Robles. Applicants in need of accommodation should contact Human Resources at hr@cuesta.edu. In person interviews are preferred and, in the interest of equity, candidates will be reimbursed for up to $500 toward their travel expenses if they interview on campus.

Second interviews will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

The selected applicant will begin their full-time teaching assignment in the Fall semester of the 2026-2027 school year, which begins on Monday, August 17, 2026.

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cuesta

The San Luis Obispo County Community College District promotes inclusiveness, prohibits discrimination, and encourages all qualified persons to apply. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, Cuesta College actively seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds to assist students, staff, and faculty. For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) assistance with the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office: (805) 546-3129.