Location:

Savannah, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Doctorate

Specialty:

Education Leadership & Administration

Program Overview

Program Description:

Ed.S. Teacher Leadership Online Classes with Weekend Seminars and a Team Focused Approach to Learning The Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership is designed for teachers who are certified at the master's level and want to develop their skills as teacher leaders within their grade levels and schools. Successful completion of the program and a passing score on the GACE for Teacher Leadership will lead to eligibility for an upgrade of the candidate's teaching certificate to a S-6 certificate. A Teacher Leadership Portfolio and On-line Teacher Leader Network will assist candidates as they transform into highly effective teacher leaders prepared to meet today's challenges. Other support elements include coaches, candidate support teams, and individual growth plans. The Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership program is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. PROGRAM GOALS -To prepare the candidate to serve in teacher leadership roles in grades P-12 while modeling best practices in pedagogy and serving as a mentor and coach for other educators -To expand theoretical and practical knowledge of teachers with an understanding of the social-cultural, legal, political, and philosophical forces that influence the school environment -To develop extensive proficiency in research methods, advanced instructional practices, initiating change within the school system, and developing colleagues TEAM FOCUSED APPROACH TO LEARNING Throughout the program a Mercer faculty member is assigned to each student in a coaching capacity. In addition, each student is also partnered with a mentor who is based in his or her home school. This Candidate Support Team (CTS) will work with the student directly in the school setting. The CTS (student, faculty coach and in-school mentor) work together to further develop the student's knowledge and practice as a teacher leader. PROGRAM DELIVERY MODEL The Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership program may be completed in four semesters (approximately 16 months). Classes are delivered fully online on a year-round calendar. Two face-to-face seminars are required per semester in the Fall and Spring (no seminars are scheduled during the Summer semester). Seminars are scheduled on Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and are held on the Atlanta campus. Faculty are available for individual meetings as needed. Online components of the program are completed in Blackboard, Mercer's course management system. 2013 Cohort '13 - '14 Saturday Seminar Schedule Seminar 1 - August 17 Seminar 2 - November 16 Seminar 3 - January 11 Seminar 4 - March 22 Seminar 5 - TBD Seminar 6 - TBD PROGRAM OF STUDY Professional Studies ……………………….……… 27 hours Residencies …………………….…….…………… 3 hours (Program includes three 1-hour residencies) TOTAL…………………………………………… 30 hours

Format:

Hybrid

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

SACS, NCATE

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

Applicants must hold a master's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on all graduate work attempted, and possess or be eligible for a master's level certificate in an appropriate field. Applicants need a completed application, $30 application fee, a copy of master's level certificate, official transcripts of all college work attempted, documentation of minimum 3 years of successful teaching experience, recommendation from applicant's school district, recent official test scores on either the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). GRE target scores: 147 Verbal, 143 Quantitative, and 4.0 for Writing. Old format GRE: 900 for Verbal and Quantitative sections and 4.0 Writing. Miller Analogies Test: 406. Test scores are not the sole criteria; applicants with scores lower than the target may apply but will need to provide compelling evidence of potential to complete graduate level coursework.

International Requirements:

International applicants should consult the university catalog for additional requirements.