Education
Teacher Leadership Certificate
This certificate is designed for practicing teachers who want a research-based approach to facilitating instructional improvement within a department, grade level, or school.
Strengthening teacher leaders within a school increases the capacity of the entire staff to facilitate change for improvement and collaborate with stakeholders. Teachers will enhance their skills in mentoring, curriculum development, and assessment through theory and reflective practice. This program focuses on local context, using the Teacher Leadership Competencies as a framework.
The graduate certificate in teacher leadership will provide practicing educators with the skills to lead teams to improve teaching and learning; however, this certificate does not result in Missouri educator licensure. The courses in this graduate certificate may be applied to the non-thesis Master of Science in Biology and the Master of Science for Teachers. Other programs may accept these courses according to their guidelines.
The following courses are required:
| EDUC 5150 | Teacher Leadership within Educational System | 3 |
| EDUC 5220 | Instructional Coaching and Mentoring | 3 |
| EDUC 5225 | Curriculum Development and Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 5330 | Community-Based Participatory Action Research | 3 |
Students may transfer one equivalent graduate course into the certificate. Students may substitute EDUC 5330 with another research course with advisor approval.
Admission Criteria
1. Currently teaching or two years of experience teaching (evaluated through resume)
2. 3.0 GPA in undergraduate or previous graduate coursework
3. Statement of purpose with a focus on how this program will impact their teaching and learning community
No GRE is required.
EDUC 5100 PLTW Training (LEC 0.0-8.0)
This graduate-level Project Lead the Way course prepares K-12 educators to become more effective teachers of STEM-focused material.
EDUC 5150 Teacher Leadership within Educational System (LEC 3.0)
Students will examine their educational context and research educational systems at various levels. Developing a collaborative culture of collective responsibility will be discussed, including equity, accountability, and continuous improvement processes. Teacher leaders will understand how educational policy is crafted and create an advocacy plan.
EDUC 5220 Instructional Coaching and Mentoring (LEC 3.0)
The differences between coaching and mentoring will be discussed, as well as research-support practices in each. Teacher leaders will research adult learning principles and apply them to instructional coaching. They will learn approaches to observing and providing constructive feedback, then practice them with peers.
EDUC 5225 Curriculum Development and Assessment (LEC 3.0)
Curriculum will be analyzed using research-based processes. Teacher leaders will model collaborative and reflective practice based on student data and practice leading teams to do the same. Instructional strategies and assessments that address issues of diversity and equity will be the focus.
EDUC 5330 Community-Based Participatory Action Research (LEC 3.0)
This course will focus on methods for engaging school and community members in research. Students will collaboratively identify research questions, practice data collection techniques, analyze, and report the results.
EDUC 5370 Teachers Academy: Effective Instructional Strategies (LEC 3.0)
Participants will develop an understanding of research-based instruction and the ability to implement the instructional strategies in their classrooms. In addition to effective instructional practices, the teachers' academy will focus on leadership, empowerment, collaboration and renewal. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.