Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
Teacher Leadership
Program Highlights & Benefits
Blended classroom instruction or fully synchronous online for multiple learning styles
20 month completion time, including breaks
No GRE or admission tests
No weekend classes
For
Certified teachers with a desire to obtain a non-administrative leadership role in their school while they continue to teach in the classroom. Candidates admitted to the Ed. S. degree in Teacher Leadership must hold a Master’s degree and possess a Georgia professional T-5 or higher certificate (or comparable professional certificate from another state) and have at least 1 year certified teaching experience.
What You Learn
The purpose of this program is to prepare classroom teachers to develop as leaders who will facilitate the design and implementation of sustained, intensive, and job-embedded professional learning in their schools and districts. Participants in this program will also possess the understandings that enable them to use fundamental research methods to address educational problems and assume leadership roles beyond the classroom.
How You Learn
Synchronous Online Option: This is a fully online cohort. For five nights out of each 8-week course, an online class session will be held from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. during which you are required to sign in and actively participate. These synchronous online class meetings will be supplemented by additional online activities which may include assignments, webinars or chats, materials, discussion threads, assessments and/or group activities completed electronically outside of class. Following this schedule, you will complete the program in less than 2 years.
*Students must report a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 or an identified writing deficiency may be considered for provisional admission. Provisionally admitted students may be required to take one or more writing classes prior to or during the first semester. Decisions about additional admission requirements are determined by the University Graduate Council after a complete review of all materials presented by the applicant.
Career Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will have earned Education Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership. Recommendation for a Service (S) certificate P-12 requires a passing score on the Teacher Leadership GACE. Once the GACE is passed, students will receive a level T-6 certificate upgrade. Please note: Teachers who complete the program and pass the GACE must have at least 1 year of certified teaching experience before their certificate can be upgraded to T-6.
Degree Requirements
Advanced Professional Knowledge (3 hours):
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| EDU 604 | Observation and Analysis | 3 |
| Hours: | 3 |
Research and Inquiry Skills (6 hours):
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| EDU 619 | Action Research for the Teacher Leader | 3 |
| EDU 617 | Using Data to Improve Schools | 3 |
| Hours: | 6 |
Professional and Ethical Practice (24 hours):
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| EDU 600 | Intro to Graduate Programs | 3 |
| EDU 602 | Teacher as Leader and Mentor | 3 |
| EDU 611 | Leading the Professional Learning Community | 3 |
| EDU 615 | Educational Law | 3 |
| EDU 616 | Educational Reform | 3 |
| EDU 618 | Building Collaborative Teams | 3 |
| EDU 602 | Teacher Leadership Residency I | 3 |
| EDU 675 | Teacher Leadership Residency II | 3 |
| Advanced Graduate Professional Dispositions | 0 | |
| Hours: | 24 |
| Course # | Title | Hours |
| EDU 699 | Advanced Candidate Program Completion | .5 |
| Hours: | .5 | |
| Total Program Hours: | 33.5 |
Note:
This course outline is tentative and is subject to change. Courses may be offered in a different order than outlined above.
Candidates must also meet the following requirements:
- The name of a school-based mentor to serve on the Candidate Support Team throughout the program.
Admissions Requirements
- Be currently employed in a full-time position in a PK-12 school as a classroom teacher, instructional coach or related position. Under special circumstances a student may be considered for admissions who is not employed in a full-time PK-12 position. The admissions decision rests with the Program Director of the program for which the applicant is applying.
- Possess a valid, level 4 or higher Induction, Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional teaching certificate in a teaching field.
- Must have a master’s degree in a relevant field from a regionally accredited college or University.
- Report a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from their bachelor’s degree or undergraduate coursework and in any other graduate course work. Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 may be considered for provisional admission by the respective Graduate Council. Any candidate provisionally admitted may be required to take a 3-credit hour writing course, and other requirements may be prescribed by the Division and/or Graduate Council.
- All applicants must have 1 year of teaching experience and a full-time position in a PK-12 school.
- Required program of study courses submitted for transfer credit older than 5 years will be reviewed by the Program Director or Division Chair for acceptance of transfer credit.
Along with proof of the above criteria, teachers are required to submit the following along with their application for Graduate Admissions:
- A personal statement of career and educational objectives (maximum two pages). Prospective candidates must explain any extenuating circumstances which may have had an adverse impact on previous academic performance. Additionally, applicants must explain the circumstances surrounding any ethics reprimand on their certificates and/or a GPA below 2.75.
- Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree was awarded and all institutions where graduate coursework was completed, even if a degree was not awarded attended, to be forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions from the schools attended.
- Three professional or academic references (2 colleagues and 1 administrator/supervisor).
- A completed Mentor Assurance form.
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