Educational Leadership (EDEL)

This course focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to administer special education programs and ensure the achievement of students with disabilities. Topics include legal requirements and procedures, characteristics of student behavior, effective instructional and behavior management practices, managing school teams, facilitating inclusion and collaboration, assessment of students with disabilities, and assistive technology.

This course provides the knowledge of applied learning and motivational theory necessary for effective instructional leadership. Emphasis is placed on analyzing and assessing instructional needs in order to design, implement, and subsequently evaluate instruction that is appropriate for diverse student populations. Topics include the application of human development and motivation theories to various learning environments, the range of learner difference in a diverse school community, principles of effective instruction including the use of technology, and techniques for the assessment and evaluation of learning. This course prepares the school leader to evaluate and assist teachers in research-based literacy instruction.

This course examines leadership in K-12 curriculum design, implementation, evaluation, and change. Perspectives are provided on developing a systematic school curriculum that meets the needs of a diverse student population. Influences on curriculum leadership at the school, division, state, and national levels are addressed. Topics include balancing the mastery of fundamentals with curriculum enrichment, providing for the highest achievement of all students, developing and implementing mapping and pacing guides, interpreting data, and integrating technology.

This course focuses on the social and political contexts of schools and provides an overview of practical and theoretical aspects of interpersonal and public relations. It emphasizes utilizing school staff, students, parents, and community resources and partnerships to build a positive culture necessary to achieve educational goals. Topics include understanding political structure, community relations, improving communication, shared decision making, conflict negotiation and management/crisis intervention, legal and ethical issues, strategic marketing, and utilizing the media.

This course focuses on the foundations of leadership. Strategies and assessments related to instructional leadership, professional development, and mentoring school personnel are examined.

This course examines administrative, judicial, statutory, and constitutional laws and regulations that have application to public education. Through the use of the case study approach and the Code of Virginia, the legal rights and respnsibilities of public and nonpublic school personnel are addressed. Emphasis is placed on special education law as it applies to diverse learner populations, and legal issues surrounding technology in the school setting.

This course focuses on the political, economic, and social concepts and strategies involved in educational policy development and decision making in a school setting. Emphasis is placed on the role of leadership and ethics in a global society, as grounded in educational foundations. Course topics include problem analysis, strategic and long range planning, models for change management in educational settings, confilct resolution, policy development, and the value of diverse school communities (e.g., issues in ESL policy for language minority students) in a democratic society. Theory and practical applications, simulations, and demonstrations are emphasized.

This course focuses on building capacity in schools for high quality literacy programs and instruction. This seminar is intended for school administrators, aspiring school leaders, and school specialists with an interest in literacy. This course explores the role of leadership in creating a school culture that promotes literacy development, achievement, and motivation. Topics include national and local trends in literacy, foundations of literacy development, current research for developing school-wide literacy programs, evaluating and supporting teachers' professional growth in literacy, and fostering literacy achievement for special student populations. Other literacy-related topics may be decided by the class. A seminar format is utilized with discussion related to current research and guest speaker presentations. Students complete projects related to their individual interests in literacy.

This course focuses on models and practices for assessing student learning outcomes, including value-added assessment and the use of test date in establishing a program improvement plan. Topics include issues in accountability, data organizers and analysis, the use and interpretation of test courses, the identification of performance indicators and improvement objectives, and basic statistical analysis for test and program evaluation. Participants write a data-based improvement plan.

Students will complete 150 hours of embedded experiences in the core courses prior to, during, and following the intense school division placement experience. This 170-hour practicum component is the capstone experience for the add-on endorsement in administration and supervision. It provides the opportunity to apply the skills, understandings, and competencies learned in the program under the auspices of a mentor licensed in the administration and supervision endorsement. Students are encouraged to identify, analyze, and resolve problems using effective problem-solving techniques throughout this sustained experience.