Leading Change - Pleasant Hill R
Transcription
Leading Change - Pleasant Hill R
Volume 1, Issue 1 Fall 2010 Semester University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Education Leading Change Newsletter for UMKC School of Education’s Educational Leadership Preparatory Programs Preparing school and district leaders committed to educational excellence and equity for all students. Dr. Rob Leachman and the UMKC Northland Campus Special points of interest: Written by Janelle Laudick, Graduate Research Assistant, UMKC • Now Accepting Applications for the Spring 2011 Semester! Get Started Now! • We want your opinion! Join us for a focus group interview! • Learn about our UMKC Northland Campus! • Open Advising Nights in November 2010! INSIDE THIS Inside Story ISSUE: 2 pK-12 Program Advisory Board Meeting Updates 2 Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year NASSP Finalist 3 UMKC SOE Focus Group Invitation for Students, Faculty and Staff 3 Missouri Charter School Center with Dr. Jerry Cooper 3 SOE Graduate Program Highlights, Application Process & Requirements 4-5 Program Coordinator News & Updates 6 As an extension of the UMKC Volker Campus, the UMKC Northland campus offers current and prospective students another convenient location to pursue their graduate degrees in education. Program Director Dr. Robert Leachman has been at the UMKC Northland campus since retiring from his district superintendent position in August of 2009, and deeply enjoys the work that he is able to do there. The campus is located off of N.W. 112th Street, and can be easily accessed by I-29 and I435. UMKC Northland Campus located near the KCI Airport Programs at the Northland campus include advanced education degrees such as: M.A. in Counseling and Guidance, Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Administration; as well as Ed.S. and Ed.D. in Educational Administration. “We continue to maintain a high quality of education programs that are focused on the students; that in itself is a great success,” said Leachman. The administration at UMKC felt that there was a large community of students that was not being reached, and by offering the graduate education programs at (Cont’d on page 6) Become a Leader in Education! Attend One Of Our Information Sessions at the School of Education! Whether you are seeking advanced certification or simply want to become a more dynamic leader within your school, programs are designed to help you succeed in a variety of roles in school, district, and community settings. Learn more about our innovative graduate degrees in educational administration and receive information about local and state licensure requirements for principal or superintendent certification. • Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 55-6 pm in room #307 • Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 77-8 pm in room #307 Sessions held at the UMKC SOE: 615 E. 52nd St. Kansas City, MO Already enrolled ? We will also be hosting open advising sessions for current students. Come speak with our knowledgeable faculty and gain insight on course schedules and other program requirements. Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 4-7 pm in Suite #328 Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 4-7 pm in Suite #328 PAGE 2 LEADING CHANGE Program Coordinator News and Updates Dr. Jennifer Friend, Associate Professor/Program Coordinator, UMKC “It would be counterintuitive to put such limits on the schools and then expect them to perform.” -Dr. Jerry Cooper, Director, UMKC Charter School Center As a middle school administrator in the post-NCLB era, I have experienced first-hand the expectations placed upon educational leaders to promote continuous improvement toward the vision of every student achieving at high levels. In any school or district system, there are always needs for transformational leadership to promote excellence and equity for every student. The cultures of most educational administration preparatory programs, however, do not help candidates to “dig beneath the surface” to understand how to use data both to Dr. Jennifer Friend, Program Coordinator improve and to UMKC School of Education re-culture schools and districts. What is unique about UMKC’s school and district leadership programs is the commitment to preparing principals, special education administrators, and superintendents who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to positively impact student performance in K12 schools within diverse contexts. These learning progressions are aligned with the UMKC School of Education’s conceptual framework that includes: (1) academic (Continued on page 5) pK-12 Program Advisory Board Meeting Notes and Updates Provided by Dr. Jennifer Friend, Associate Professor/Program Coordinator, UMKC UMKC SOE Graduate School KNOW-HOW! Thinking about graduate school? Come learn what UMKC can offer you, and how to get there: Programs offered, Financial aid & scholarship opportunities, Entrance exams & APA writing style, Getting admitted, and More! Thursday, Nov. 18 5:30-6:30 p.m. SOE Room 264 RSVP by November 11: [email protected] Or 816-235-1295 The pK-12 Program Advisory Board is comprised of individuals who currently serve as educational administrators and are committed to the standard of excellence required while preparing future educational leaders in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Meetings are held once per semester, and evaluative conversations include topics focused on the continual examination and improvement of the UMKC SOE graduate programs. The Spring 2010 meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. A t t e n d e e s included: Jennifer Friend, Program Coordinator, UMKC; Steve Shelton, Asst. Supt., Raytown SD; Tanya Shippy, Asst. Supt. of HR, Belton #124 SD; George Curry, Supt., Smithville SD; experiences for the M.A. in Robert Leachman, Program Educational Administration Director, UMKC Northland; program, newly offered Loyce Caruthers, Associate online courses in the Ed.S. Professor, UMKC; Bob Degree in District LeaderBartman, Supt., Center 58 ship); UMKC Program SD; Tiffany Anderson, Goals; and Community Supt., University Academy; Partnerships. and Cynthia Johnson, Principal, Attention District and School Grandview Middle School. Administrators: The main Join us at our next agenda included: conversations on pK-12 Advisory current essential l e a r n i n g Board Meeting outcomes for new Wednesday Dec. 1, 2010 school and district leaders; an over4 - 5 p.m. in room 307 view of the UMKC educational Education Building administration preparatory UMKC Volker Campus programs; review RSVP to Gina Sanders: of UMKC program innovations [email protected] (newly required courses and *Light refreshments will be additional field served. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 UMKC SOE Graduate is a NASSP Finalist Written by Jesse Riggs, Graduate Research Assistant, UMKC Jeffrey Meisenheimer is the assistant principal at Lee’s Summit High School, the 2010 Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year, and also a graduate from the UMKC School of Education. He was also one of three finalists for the 2010 NASSP/ Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year Award. The NASSP website highlighted his leadership in Lee’s Summit’s push for expanded collaboration among teachers as a major factor in his selection as a finalist. Meisenheimer said he gave the credit for his nomination to the high quality of the professionals with whom he works. He said the other two finalists (Nathan McCann of Tuc- son, AZ, and Lisa Puccetti of Louisville, KY) shared his sentiments about their own staff members. “What we found out was that it didn’t matter where you were – urban school, suburban school, rural school, big school, small school – we’re all trying to do the same things,” he said. Keeping current on latest research, hiring good teachers, and then supporting those teachers are among the basic effective practices applicable across the board in education, as well as collaborating and communicating with others instead of trying to work independently. Meisenheimer received a Master's Degree in Educational Administra- tion in 2000 and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration in 2006 at the UMKC School of Education. “What I really liked about the UMKC program was that I felt it was taught by practitioners,” he said. With more focus on practice rather than theory, and the imparting of firsthand experience, he said, the UMKC program is not just training for educators, but also a resource to draw on once graduates enter the workforce. We Want Your Opinion! Focus Group Hosted at UMKC SOE Help us to improve our web site pages, for you! The UMKC School of Education administration will be hosting a focus group discussion on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The discussion will be held in room 307 of the Education Building at the UMKC Volker Campus. We invite you, our students, faculty, and staff, to come and share your opinion and recommendations on our current website and let us know how we can better serve your needs and reach our target audience more effectively. Light refreshments will be served. UMKC Charter School Center and Dr. Jerry Cooper, Director Written by Jesse Riggs, Graduate Research Assistant, UMKC Under the direction of Dr. Jerry Cooper, the UMKC Charter School Center takes a unique approach to overseeing its 10 charter schools. Most charter school sponsors take a decidedly hands-off approach, providing oversight to ensure that the charter schools adhere to state and federal regulations, but providing nothing in the way of support. Cooper believes that the center should offer resources to its schools. The center does not mandate that its charters use the resources offered, allowing the schools to pick and choose what resources they believe they need. It would be counterintuitive to put such limits on the schools and then expect them to per- form, Cooper said. In partnership with the UMKC SOE, the center helps pay for its sch oo ls’ tea ch ers’ a dvanced degrees. The center feels this is important to help teachers develop professionally. “Hopefully whatever they do comes back and impacts our real customers, the [charter school] students,” Cooper (Cont’d on page 6) Jeffrey Meisenheimer, Lee’s Summit High School Assistant Principal with Senator Claire McCaskill “What we found out was that it didn’t matter where you were – urban school, suburban school, rural school, big school, small school – we’re all trying to do the same things.” -Jeffrey Meisenheimer, NASSP Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist PAGE 4 LEADING CHANGE School of Education - Graduate Program Highlights: Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.), District Level Certification Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Administration (P-12) Admission Requirements: • • • Possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree Must hold compatible teaching license/certificate if seeking administrative certification (i.e. to be an elementary principal one must be an elementary teacher) At least two years of certified teaching experience This program is for candidates who have already completed a Master’s degree in educational administration with an emphasis in building-level administration (principal), and who are fully admitted to the Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education (ULAPSIE) Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree program with an emphasis in District Administration / Superintendent course work. In consultation with the advisor, the student should initiate a Program of Study process, secure the approvals indicated, and present the Program of Study to the School of Education (SOE) Student Services Office for processing prior to the completion of 15 hours applicable to the degree program. Now offering online courses for the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) District - Level degree! http://education.umkc.edu/GraduateDegrees Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree, Building Level Certification This program is for candidates who have already completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a field outside of educational administration, who are fully admitted to the Urban Leadership & Policy Studies in Education (ULAPSIE) Educational Specialist Degree program with an emphasis in Building Level – Beginning Principal course work. In consultation with the Advisor, the student should initiate a Program of Study proc- ess, secure the approvals indicated, and present the Program of Study to the School of Ed uc at ion St ud ent Services Office for processing prior to the completion of 15 hours applicable to the degree program. Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree, Advanced Building Level Certification This program is for candidates who have already completed a Master’s degree in educational administration with an emphasis in building administration (principal), and who are fully admitted to the Urban Leadership & Polic y St udies in Education Educational Specialist Degree pr og ram wit h an emphasis in Advanced Building Level course work. In consultation with the Advisor, the student should initiate a Program of Study process, secure the approvals indicated, and present the Program of Study to the School of Ed uc at ion St ud ent Services Office for processing prior to the completion of 15 hours applicable to the degree program. Program Coordinator News and Updates Dr. Jennifer Friend, Associate Professor/Program Coordinator, UMKC (cont’d from page 2) excellence, (2) inquiry leading to reflective decision-making and problem-solving, (3) skilled and knowledgeable professionals working collaboratively, (4) democracy and social justice, and (5) creating caring and safe environments. According to the School Leadership Study: Developing Successful Principals report commissioned by The Wallace Foundation, “Evidence suggests that, second only to the influences of classroom instruction, school leadership strongly affects student learning. Principals’ abilities are central to the task of building schools that promote powerful teaching and learning for all students” (2005, p. 3). Consequently, our faculty members have examined research and findings on educational leadership practices and preparatory programs to seek applications to integrate into the continuous improvement of our programs (Davis, Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, & Meyerson, 2005; Levine, 2005; Orr 2006; Waters, Marzano, & McNulty, 2003). During the 2009 Fall semester, the Division of Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education (ULAPSIE) launched re- designed Master of Arts (M.S.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree preparatory programs for beginning building administrators. The changes to these programs enhance the overall ULAPSIE preparatory program for school leaders and better prepare our candidates to be leaders of high performing schools for the 21st Century. One example of a recent program change is the course EDUL 5518: Leadership for School Improvement, which is designed to prepare educational leaders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to lead (Cont’d on page 6) Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree, Special Education Administration Certification This program is for candidates who have already completed a Master’s degree in Educational Administration (or Special Education), who are fully admitted to the Urban Leadership & Policy Studies in Education (ULAPSIE) Educational Specialist Degree program with an emphasis in Special Education Administration course work. In consultation with the Advisor, the student should initiate a Program of Study process, secure the approvals indicated, and present the Program of Study to the School of Ed uc at ion St ud ent Services Office for processing prior to the completion of 15 hours applicable Now to the d e g r e e accepting program. Master’s (M.A.) Degree, Building Level Certification This program is for candidates who have already completed a Bachelor’s Degree in education, who are fully admitted to the Urban Leadership & Policy Studies in Education (ULAPSIE) Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree program with an emphasis in Building Level – Beginning Principal course work. Additional course work is required to add a middle school administrative certification to the initial administrative certificate. In consultation with the Advisor, the student should initiate a Program of Study process, secure the approvals indicated, and present the Program of applications for the IPh.D. (Due Feb. 1, 2011) Ed.D. cohort applications available in 2011 for a January 2012 start! Study to the School of Education Student Services Office for processing prior to the completion of 15 hours applicable to the degree program. Now Accepting Applications for the Spring 2011 Semester!! • Complete the UMKC graduate application found here (and send official transcripts): http://www.umkc.edu/ admissions/umkcgraduate.asp • Submit the following four items to the Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education Office: 1. Statement of purpose regarding past, present and future career goals (500 words or less) 2. Three professional or academic letters of recommendation 3. Copy of teaching license/certificate 4. Resume showing at least two years of certified teaching experience Urban Leadership and Policy Studies Office: 328 School of Education 5100 Rockhill Rd. Kansas City, MO 64110 For more info, contact Program Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Friend : [email protected] PAGE 6 LEADING CHANGE NEWSLETTER FOR UMKC SCHOOL OF EDUCATION’S Program Coordinator News and Updates Dr. Jennifer Friend, Associate Professor/Program Coordinator, UMKC (Cont’d from page 5) school-level improvement initiatives within the unique context of the school. Candidates will learn to develop, implement, and assess school improvement strategies in alignment with district-wide initiatives, and with state and national policies and standards. A second recent change involved course redesign for EDUL 5520: Data Driven Leadership for Re-culturing Schools. Reculturing (Caru th ers, Thompson, & Eubanks, 2004) is defined here as changes in schools and communities as a result of educators and community members beginning to reflect on, evaluate, and expand their own images, assumptions, and stories about others, institutions, and every aspect of the world. Examination of culture includes both the organizational school culture and the candidates’ examination of what they bring to school leadership in terms of their own cultural diversity. The challenges facing urban education are complex and may be understood from a myriad of perspectives including historical and socio- cultural underpinnings, economic and political contexts, and pedagogical/achievement orientations. This course brings together some of these arguments as candidates relate to what school leaders can do to promote a community of adult leaders who use data to make decisions for the success of all children. Such a challenge includes working as educational leaders to reculture schools to increase opportunities for all students to learn. For many schools this task involves closing the persistent achievement gap that may exist among groups of students which requires disaggregating data by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and special educational needs. In conclusion, it is recognized that school and district improvement is not a linear process and takes place in a complex dynamic environment that recognizes cultural and linguistic diversity. Th e ULA PSIE programs focus on stewardship of the change process to improve the learning outcomes of diverse students, to improve the professional skills of teachers, and to improve the educational organization. Additional research that indicates the effectiveness of this focus was recently published in a review of high quality preparatory programs, “Curricula at exemplary programs tend to be more tightly foDr. Jennifer Friend, Associate Professor/ cused on instruc- Program Coordinator, UMKC tional improvement and transformational leadership than at more traditional programs.” (The Wallace Foundation, 2008, p. 6). As program coordinator, I invite you to contact me at any time regarding our programs. References Carthers, L., Thompson, S., & Eubanks, E. (2004). Using storytelling to discuss undiscussables in urban schools. Multicultural Perspectives, 6(3), 36-41. Davis, S., Darling-Hammond, L., LaPointe, M., & Meyerson, D. (2005). School leadership study: Developing successful principals. Stanford, CA: Stanford Educational Leadership Institute. Leithwood, K., Seashore-Louis, K., Anderson, S., & Wahlstrom, K. (2004). How leadership influences student learning (Learning From Leadership Project Executive Summary). New York: The Wallace Foundation. Levine, A. (2005). Educating School Leaders. New York: The Education School Project. Orr, M. T. (2006). Mapping innovation in leadership preparation in our nation's schools of education. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(7), 492-499. The Wallace Foundation. (2008, June). Becoming a leader: Preparing school principals for today’s schools. Retrieved on February 5, 2009, from www.wallacefoundation.or g Waters, T., Marzano, R. J., & McNulty, B. (2003). Balanced leadership: What 30 years of research tells us about the effects of leadership on student achievement. Aurora, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. UMKC Northland Campus (cont’d from front cover) the Northland Campus, UMKC would be able to serve the individuals searching for advanced degrees, as well as the school districts that are in need of future administrative leaders. “They might not be the easiest programs available, but I do believe they are the best. And offered at a very efficient and convenient location,” said Leachman. Leachman and other faculty/staff at the UMKC Northland campus will remain as a partner with the nine Missouri and Kansas school districts north of the river for years to come. The Northland campus provides clean and modern facilities with a full computer lab and free parking available for all students. More information can be found at: www.umkc.edu/northland. UMKC Charter School Center (Cont’d from page 4) said. Because each charter school is considered its own district, the center provides support that would normally be handled by a district’s central office. They connect th e sch oo ls w ith UMK C consul tants for finances, data and other areas as needed. Cooper, who has been with the center from the beginning, says he feels fortunate to be able t o o f f e r th a t s up p or t. “We’re very blessed that our dean, and past deans have agreed philosophically with that,” he said. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7 SOE Mission & Values University of Missouri-Kansas City Building Location: School of Education 615 E. 52nd St. Kansas City, MO 64110-2401 Mailing Address: UMKC School of Education 5100 Rockhill Rd. Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 Phone: 816-235-2234 Fax: 816-235-5270 E-mail: [email protected] The mission of the School of Education is to empower professionals to become reflective practitioners committed to a more just and democratic society. This mission is centered on five key values which embody the knowledge, skills and dispositions expected of our candidates across the School of Education. The goals defined by individual programs are more specific subsets of these broader goals: • Academic excellence • Inquiry leading to reflective decision-making and problem-solving • Skilled and knowledgeable professionals working collaboratively • Democracy and social justice • Creating caring and safe environments For more info about the UMKC School of Education: http://education.umkc.edu Selected Regional Education Position Openings Belton, MO School District (https://belton.schoolrecruiter.net/index.aspx): Girls JV Soccer Coach • Blue Springs, MO School District (https://bssd-netchemia.bssd.net): Teacher, Substitute Teacher, Prime Time Aide • • Center, MO School District (http://www.center.k12.mo.us): Early Childhood - Para Professional • Clinton, MO School District (http://clinton.k12.mo.us): RN Nurse Substitute, Para Professional Excelsior Springs, MO School District (http://essd40.com): Communication Arts Teacher, Para Professional • Fort Osage, MO School District (https://fortosage.schoolrecruiter.net/index.aspx): Certificated Teacher • • Independence, MO School District (http://www6.indep.k12.mo.us): CBSS Special Education Teacher Kansas City, MO School District (https://kcmsd.schoolrecruiter.net): Director of Standards-Based Education, • Exceptional Education Coordinator, Asst. Supt. Of HR, Chief of Staff, Educational Diagnostician Liberty, MO School District (http://liberty.k12.mo.us): Assistant Principal Part-Time, Director of Food Service • • • North Kansas City, MO School District (http://www.nkcsd.k12.mo.us): Administrative Assistant for Food Service, Speech Pathologist Park Hill, MO School District (https://phwebapps.parkhill.k12.mo.us/PHOnlineJobApp/): Administrative Assistant to the Director of Curriculum/Professional Development • • Blue Valley, Kansas School District (https://jobs.bluevalleyk12.org): SPED Teacher of Visually Impaired Kansas City, Kansas School District (https://kckps.schoolrecruiter.net): Parents As Teachers Parent Educator (part-time)