Public School and School District Leadership
The Public School and School District Leadership course of study prepares students for positions of leadership within the public schools, such as principal, director, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools. The Ed.D. leads to New York State School District Leader certification. Students completing the Ed.D., however, can satisfy School Building Leader requirements as they work towards School District Leader certification.
The chief objectives of this course of study are to:
• Develop students’ ability to lead educating institutions as purposeful, effective, humane organizations;
• Stimulate inquiry into problems encountered in professional practice;
• Broaden and deepen reflection about values, trends, and issues that affect the education enterprise;
• Provide skills and knowledge needed for the effective leadership and management of complex organizations in a sophisticated technological society; and
• Create and sustain a learning community committed to continuous learning and mutual support.
The curriculum spans the domains of leading learning, organizational management, policy and politics. Students complete intensive internships and conduct research, usually in field settings of the student’s choice. Instructionally, the concentration offers innovative case-based, problem-based, and field-based learning experiences. Offerings reflect both the National Policy Board for Educational Administration’s National Coun-cil for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Educational Leadership Constituent Council (NCATE/ELCC) and New York State Education Department standards for effective leadership preparation and the Education Leadership Program’s assumptions about the characteristics of effective leadership: The centrality of education and education leadership in promoting social justice and diversity; the need to nurture teaching and learning among all members of the school community; the importance of collaboration and team work; the importance of personal transformation and leadership modeling; the use of reflective practice; and the need for innovation in creating a school vision and promoting educational change.
The course of study in Public School Building Leadership and Public School District Leadership offers three concentrations:
• The Public School Summer Principals Academy M.A., Ed.M.– Summer cohort program
• Urban Education Leaders Program Ed.D.– Summer/school-year cohort program
• School-Year Master’s– Leadership Ed.M.– for aspiring school-level leaders (not accepting applications for 2010-2011)
