Master of Education in Teacher Leadership Program

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.

Program Highlights

What makes the UofL M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership program stand out from the rest?

The program:

• individualized to meet professional goals
• based on three levels of leadership development
• many specialized courses specific to content area and grade level
• preparatory pathway to National Board Professional Teaching Standards Application
• courses taught by nationally recognized faculty
• focused on meeting needs of diverse learners
• emphasizes coaching and mentoring
• places your classroom and school as the focus of course discussions and assessments

Specialization Areas

In the Teacher Leadership program, students will work with a faculty mentor to develop a specialization unique to their professional needs.

P-12 Opportunties

*Leads to an endorsement (in addition to Teacher Leadership Endorsement)
**Can lead to an Arts and Sciences certificate in this specialization

Special Education Opportunities

Note: These options are limited to teachers who are already certified in Special Education

Student testimonials

"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

Related

• Interested in visiting campus? Find out how!
• EPSB
• JCPS
• OVEC

Developing Teacher Leaders

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:

• Level I - Teaching Expertise (becoming a leader in your own classroom)
• Level II - Specialized Expertise (becoming a leader in an area of interest)
• Level III - Beyond the Classroom (becoming a leader in your school)

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.

How to Apply

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:

• Official transcripts with a GPA of 2.75 in the Bachelor's degree and a 3.0 GPA or higher for graduate work
• For GRE scores prior to August 1, 2011, a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of an 800 is required for unconditional admission. For GRE scores taken August 1, 2011 and after, please refer to the concordance table from ETS (Educational Testing Services) [PDF] for revised score equivalencies. Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
• Two letters of recommendation (use graduate recommendation forms [PDF])
• Teaching certificate or statement of eligibility
• A personal statement of no more than 250-500 hundred words, along with the Personal Statement Cover Sheet [PDF]
• (Application materials, including the personal statement, will be evaluated using the Ideas to Action Unit Dispositions Rubric [PDF], and Ideas to Action Holistic Construct Rubric [PDF] by a faculty member committee).
• Signed statement: Technology and Code of Ethics Form [PDF]
• TOEFL is required of all foreign students from countries in which English is not the native language. Students who hold a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. are exempt from this requirement.

Additional Admission Requirements

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.

• Self assessment Kentucky Guide to Reflective Classroom Practice [PDF] (This will be prepared when you meet with your faculty advisor).
• Professional Growth Plan

Information about the Personal Statement

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) 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:

• How do you demonstrate intellectual curiosity?
• How do you develop positive relationships and work collaboratively with peers, teachers, and others?
• How do you demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to do the daily work of teaching?
• Can you give examples of your commitment to diversity, equity and social justice?
• Can you identify characteristics critical to successful teaching (such as dependability, initiative, organization) and give examples of how you exhibit those traits?

Contact Us

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.

Learn more about our program faculty.

Elementary or Early Childhood Education

Sherri Brown
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office # 275
Office phone: 502-852-0599

Middle and Secondary Education

Tricia Bronger (Replacing Dr. Maggie McGatha for the Fall 2011 semester.)
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office# 161
Office phone: 502-852-1362

Special Education

Amy Lingo
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Office #: 147
Office phone: 852-0563

Advanced Programs Coordinator

Career Pathways and Degree Endorsement Options for the Teacher Leadership Program

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.

Master of Education (MEd)

• students eligible to apply after completing their initial teacher certification through a Bachelor's degree or the Master of Arts in Teaching
• must hold a teaching certificate

Teacher Leadership Endorsement (Only 15 hours)

• complete only Levels 1 and III of the program
• complete within a Rank I or after a Rank I
• complete as a stand-alone endorsement or as part of a Rank I program

For more information about the Teacher Leadership Endorsement-Only Option, please see Endorsements.

Financial Aid

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.

Supervising and Resource Teachers

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.

I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?

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.

What degrees or endorsements do I receive if I complete the UofL Teacher Leadership Program?

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.

How long does it take to complete the MEd program?

The program can be completed in as few as two years or as many as six years.

Where are courses being delivered?

Courses are being offered at UofL, JCPS and OVEC district locations. Online courses are still being developed.

Will the UofL Teacher Leadership Endorsement help me prepare for National Board Certification?

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.

How will I be able to individualize my program of study?

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.

Will this program lead to principal certification?

No, but the CEHD does offer a principal certification program.