Courses put teachers on path to becoming leaders and administrators in their schools
Teachers who want to be leaders in their schools can now take courses designed to empower them for those roles in the NIU College of Education’s new Teacher Leader Endorsement (TLE) Program.
The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board recently approved the program, which is dedicated to helping build leadership capacity in classrooms, schools and districts. Developed collaboratively with Kaneland Community School District 302, the new program serves as a pathway for teachers who seek to serve as school leaders in a capacity other than principal. (The College’s Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations (LEPF) already offers the Principal Preparation Program for teachers who want to prepare to be school principals).
The TLE program purposely blends courses in educational administration with courses in curriculum. Course work in administrative leadership gives students access to principles of effective leadership, school organization, supervisory behavior, and community relations. Course work in curriculum leadership provides students with information to develop competence in curriculum theory and practice, cooperative planning for improvement of instruction, professional development, evaluation of curricular programs, and delivery of induction/mentoring programs for new teachers.
Students can choose to earn the Teacher Leader Endorsement as part of a 33-credit-hour M.S. Ed program in curriculum and instruction or – for those teachers who already possess a master’s degree in education – as a 24-credit-hour, stand-alone endorsement program.
For information on how to apply, contact Nick Slicer at nslicer@niu.edu or (815) 753-7948.
