Union College News

Union's Teacher-Leader Program is Awarded Approval

Union College received the nod last week to offer a program that will prepare its master's in education candidates to become field-based researchers examining educational practices which increase student achievement.

The program is officially called the Master of Arts in Education: Teacher-Leader. The Teacher-Leader program replaces other master's programs in the state that have now been closed for elementary, middle and secondary education. Those who are currently enrolled have until January 31, 2013, to complete their programs. Those who have been grandfathered in, however, need not be concerned about experiencing pitfalls in required coursework. According to Union College President Edward de Rosset, "The college will provide for them through to completion." Union will begin enrolling candidates for the Teacher-Leader program this summer for the fall 2011 semester.

Through the Teacher-Leader program, candidates are prepared to lead their classrooms in several ways: through assessment-driven approaches for curriculum and instruction; through clinical experiences that reflect current research, including in Professional Learning Communities (PLC's); through Response to Intervention (RTI) teams; and through integration of immerging technologies.

As part of the Teacher-Leader design, Union College has entered into Memoranda of Agreement with multiple school districts across the state to provide diverse learning opportunities, including clinical placements for its Teacher-Leader candidates.

Current Union College master's programs in Reading and Writing, Special Education, and all Rank I programs are not affected by the Teacher-Leader program.

Kentucky's Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB), the governing body for postsecondary teacher preparation programs, approved Union's Teacher-Leader program at its March 7 meeting. During the meeting, the board noted Union College as being "a role model of collaboration with EPSB to develop its Teacher-Leader proposal" and applauded Union's "efforts to include career and college readiness development within its program structure." Union officials agree and hope to use this as a springboard toward future growth.

"Union College continues to explore new program areas that people in our region are interested in and need," said de Rosset. "We hope to offer an Educational Specialist program (Ed.S.) in the near future."

With this, final approval from the EPSB on March 7, Union has now completed its full reaccreditation process for all programs, including the Teacher-Leader master's program.

 

March 31, 2011

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