Interested in earning a Master of Education?
The Master of Education (MEd) in Teacher Leadership may be just what you are looking for to enhance your career!
The MEd program is designed for certified teachers who plan to seek a masters degree. The program was designed in collaboration with P-12 classroom teachers, district specialists, and university faculty and school administrators for preparing teacher leaders. The program can lead to an endorsement for Teacher Leadership.
What makes the UofL M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership program stand out from the rest?
The program:
In the Teacher Leadership program, students will work with a faculty mentor to develop a specialization unique to their professional needs.
P-12 Opportunities
| Early Childhood | Assessment and Research | Science Education |
| Elementary | Pan African Studies** | Social Studies Education |
| Secondary and Middle School | Women and Gender Studies** | English as a Second Language* |
| Equity and Diversity | English/Language Arts Education | Asian Studies** |
| Instructional Technology | Math Education | Latin America and Latino Studies** |
*Leads to an endorsement (in addition to Teacher Leadership Endorsement)
**Can lead to an Arts and Sciences certificate in this specialization
Special Education Opportunities
| Special Education Core | Learning and Behavior Disorders | Autism |
| Moderate and Severe Disabilities | Assistive Technology |
Note: These options are limited to teachers who are already certified in Special Education
"I am glad I chose the UofL MEd program because it afforded me the opportunity to broaden my depth and understanding of our current educational system. It prepared me to challenge my students as well as challenge myself, and become a competent leader in the field."
Jeff Pyle, full-time MEd student working with Jefferson County Schools
"I chose UofL for my degree because it is important to learn current best strategies in literacy from professors that have extensive teaching and research experience. While my job offers daily challenges, I am confident in my abilities to meet the needs of all my students due to the excellent faculty at the CEHD and the mentoring relationships that were built there."
Jen Beckman, MEd Reading '09, teacher with Clark County Schools in Indiana
The Teacher Leadership Master's program prepares all teachers, whatever their years of experience, to become leaders in their classrooms and schools. The program's developmental model includes three levels of leadership:
We believe that you first become a leader in your own classroom, modeling effective practices in teaching and assessment.
Level I (three classes) focuses on honing your skills as a classroom teacher. Teacher leaders tend to be experts in an area within teaching (e.g., assessment or math teaching).
Level II (five classes) provides you the opportunity to pursue your own area of interest and develop a depth of knowledge in that area. Teacher leaders are effective in working with other teachers and school personnel.
Level III (two classes) targets the skills you need in order to work effectively at the school or district level to support other teachers.
Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums does not guarantee admission to the program.
Students may apply to the program by first going to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies web site.
Students must also submit the following information:
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
Upon admission to the program, students will be assigned a faculty advisor and will work collaboratively with that advisor to complete the following components. The materials below will be submitted electronically through LiveText.
The personal statement is the applicant's opportunity to demonstrate his/her writing ability as well as provide a personal introduction to the admissions screening committee. The personal statement should be no more than 500 words, and should be double spaced and word-processed. Applicants are encouraged to proofread their writing, and to submit the best work possible. The attached rubric (Ideas to Action Holistic Construct Rubric [PDF]) is provided to help applicants understand how their writing will be evaluated.
In developing the personal statement, applicants are encouraged to identify and describe personal characteristics, abilities, beliefs and goals as well as diverse experiences with children and adolescents, which will contribute to their success as an outstanding educator. Applicants should also review the College of Education and Human Development’s Conceptual Framework, reflecting on the concepts of inquiry, action, and advocacy. Applicants should consider the following questions:
You must be a certified teacher to apply for the M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership. For more information, please contact the person below whose program aligns with your initial certification.
Tricia Bronger
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office# 236
Office phone: 502-852-1362
Sherri Brown
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office # 275
Office phone: 502-852-0599
Maggie McGatha
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office# 261
Office phone: 502-852-0584
Amy Lingo
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office #: 147
Office phone: 852-0563
In accordance with 16 KAR 5:010, section 12, upon completion of the MEd in Teacher Leadership and a recommendation from his or her faculty advisor, a candidate may apply for graduation and apply to the EPSB for a Teacher Leadership Endorsement.
For more information about the Teacher Leadership Endorsement-Only Option, please see Endorsements.
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
In recognition of valuable service to the preparation of teachers and the need for all teachers to have continual professional growth, a supervising teacher or a resource teacher for teacher interns may, with prior approval of the course-offering institution, take a maximum of six (6) credit hours per term at any public postsecondary institution and pay no tuition. The postsecondary institution shall waive the tuition up to a maximum of six (6) credit hours.
To apply, you must complete the Tuition Waiver Certification for Supervising and Resource Teachers Application [PDF]. It should be completed by the supervising teacher, certified by their principal, and returned to our office. Return the form to the Student Financial Aid Office at U of L, attention: Wesley Partin.
Eligibility: 6 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a full responsibility supervising or resource teacher, or 3 credit hours of tuition benefits for each semester served as a shared supervising or resource teacher. Students may exercise the tuition waiver option up to twelve months following the assignment. Tuition benefits are paid directly to the University of Louisville.
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
Successful candidates will graduate with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teacher Leadership and receive a Teacher Leadership Endorsement (with possibility of other endorsements within the Specialization). If you already have a Masters degree and seek only the Teacher Leadership Endorsement, you will complete Levels I and III of the Master program.
The program can be completed in as few as two years or as many as six years.
Courses are being offered at UofL, JCPS and OVEC district locations. Online courses are still being developed.
Most courses in the UofL Teacher Leadership program are designed to align with at least one of the NBPTS Core Propositions, as well as the Kentucky Teacher Standards (Advanced Level), Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) initiatives, and Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) themes. Each course in the program includes a description of its relationship to NBPTS Core Propositions.
The UofL Teacher Leadership Master's degree program is designed so that candidates practice types of entries required in the National Board Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) portfolio. The NBPTS portfolio is a Rank I option in Kentucky.
After you are admitted, you will meet with a faculty advisor who has been selected based on the specialization area you identified on your application. During your first session, you will use a modified version of the Kentucky Guide to Reflective Classroom Practice [PDF] to design a specialization that will reflect your professional growth plan.
No, but the CEHD does offer a principal certification program.