xxxxÉ«ÇéƬ

Learn to lead schools effectively

The Master of Education in School Leadership and Administration is designed to prepare future school administrators for the complexities of the position within the dynamics of a rapidly changing society. The program is designed to meet Massachusetts Department of Education Initial Licensure requirements for principals / assistant principals.

In classes taught by expert faculty you will gain a thorough understanding of the 4 state-mandated standards for school administrators: instructional leadership, family and community engagement, professional culture, and management and operations. You will then translate theory into practice through hands-on practicum experiences under the personalized guidance of an experienced school administrator in one of the region’s public schools. Your studies culminate in a semester-long, 200-hour practicum that ties together all 4 standards and includes a site-based research project, for which you will identify and address a need relevant to your assigned school.

As you progress through our program, you will record your accomplishments in a portfolio of work that not only demonstrates your successful completion of all program competencies but also helps you to advance your career. Graduates of xxxxÉ«ÇéƬ State’s leadership and administration program go on to rewarding careers in public school systems across the state.

Applicants for admission to the Master of Education in School Leadership and Administration program must have completed a baccalaureate degree program at a regionally accredited institution. To be considered for admission, applicants must possess an initial or professional teaching license in an area other than administration and have been teaching for at least 2 years.

As an alternate route, students who are not currently teaching but who wish to apply for the school leadership and administration license must demonstrate completion of at least 3 full years of employment in an executive management/leadership role. This option can only be used with the approval of the program coordinator (documentation required).

To apply for consideration, applicants must provide the following:

• Graduate school application
• Essay explaining why the applicant is interested in becoming a school administrator, addressing the 4 professional standards for administrative leadership
• Copy of a Massachusetts initial or professional teaching license
• Minimum of at least 2 years of teaching experience; at least 3 years of teaching experience is required to earn the license
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts of all college-level work
• Evidence of passing scores on the Communication and Literacy MTEL exam
• Three letters of reference from professionals who can speak to the applicant’s promise of becoming an effective school administrator, including a letter of support from a school district administrator.

Candidates for the fully online, non-licensure track must possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants must possess a minimum of 2 years of instructional or related work experience in a preK-12 educational setting, and provide 2 professional references.