More and more, administrators are turning to dedicated teachers like you, who have a passion to serve their school communities as “peer-leaders,” helping implement and influence school-wide initiatives for improvement while remaining in the classroom.
The Master of Arts in Education/Teacher Leadership is an innovative graduate degree program that prepares you for this expanded role in your teaching career. The curriculum is designed to develop your innate leadership skills as you gain advanced knowledge in collaboration, curriculum development, assessment, peer coaching and mentoring, planning and decision-making.
Teacher Leader Master of Arts Program to include the following features: An understanding of the dispositions, knowledge, skills, and efficacy required for teacher leadership; An analysis of the candidate’s own dispositions, knowledge, skills, and efficacy in the first course (required prior to formal admission into the Teacher Leader Master of Arts Program);
- Opportunities for acquiring advanced knowledge in assessment, technological innovations, Response to Intervention strategies, and best practices for all students [e.g., English Language Learners (ELL), low socio economic status students, gifted/talented students, students with disabilities, culturally diverse learners];
- Opportunities for enhancing the professional development of their peers through collaborative teams; Opportunities for promoting school improvement through classroom action research and the dissemination of findings; and
- Continuous reflection on their professional growth and development as teacher leaders.
Program Features
Taking it One Step FurtherThe Teacher as Leader graduate program is for you if you want to lead from your classroom in roles such as PLC leader, committee chair, mentor, coach, classroom innovator and team leader, or within the school building but not as an administrator.
Accelerated Program
While a slower pace is possible, the program is designed to be completed in five semesters. It begins with three courses that are also required in the Educational Leadership program.
A Personalized Approach
The Teacher as Leader graduate program allows for a personalized format for graduate study by providing you with the opportunity to select the courses that meet your individual needs for professional growth.
What you'll learn
The Master
of Arts in Education program with a specialization in Teacher Leadership
is intended for P-12 teachers who define themselves as learners,
teachers, and leaders. Teachers become servant leaders who empower
themselves and others to directly impact school culture as champions of
innovation and facilitators of school improvement, professional
development, and student achievement. The program provides advanced
knowledge in collaboration, coaching and mentoring, decision making,
planning, action research, and evaluation. Graduates will be able to
serve their students, colleagues, and communities as ethical leaders
committed to excellence.
Professional/Career Opportunities
This major prepares you for many levels of teacher leadership both within and outside classrooms and in school and district offices. For beginning teachers, it provides the groundwork for a successful career, and for experienced teachers, it provides the basis for taking on new leadership roles within classrooms and schools. For most teachers, however, additional coursework and professional development will enhance your practice. Many teachers move into grade level or departmental leadership as a result of their graduate work. In addition, teacher compensation increases in most districts with the completion of the Master of Arts in Education degree.