Educational Leadership and Management: School Principal, M.Ed. (PreK-8, 5-12)

Educational Leadership and Management

Graduate Program Chair

Phillip Saisa, EdD

Graduate Curriculum Committee

Nermin Bayazit, PhD
Lyndsey Benharris, PhD
Anne Howard, PhD
Laurie Link, EdD
Margaret O’Hearn-Curran, PhD
Phillip Saisa, EdD
Robert Shapiro, PhD, BCBA-D
Annette Sullivan, EdD

M.Ed., Educational Leadership and Management, Principal (initial)

Program Objectives

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management prepares the candidate to meet the Massachusetts Professional Standards and Indicators for Administrative Leadership as School Principal (PK-8, 5-12). The program offers courses and experience that equip school administrators with the skills and competencies necessary for becoming effective educational leaders.

Program Description

The MEd program in Educational Leadership and Management is designed for candidates to:
•    Develop competencies in managerial skills related to political arenas, personnel, fiscal affairs, acquisition of material resources, diverse publics and pupil populations and organizational change
•    Strengthen, deepen and expand the knowledge base in the field of leadership and management in order to anticipate and to solve current and future problems inherent in the educational system
•    Demonstrate through course work and field-based experiences the knowledge, skills and dispositions that are required to collaboratively lead and manage an educational enterprise effectively and efficiently to improve teaching and learning

Admissions Standards and Criteria

To apply for enrollment in the MEd in Educational Leadership and Management Program, candidates must submit documents as outlined in the Graduate Admission section as well as:

•    Official transcript of an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution, with evidence of a GPA of 3.0 or above (requirement waived if an applicant has a relevant graduate degree from an accredited institution)
•    Evidence of successful passage of the communication and literacy portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL)
•    Three professional references, including the recommendation checklist which scores applicant characteristics and is aligned to the Education Unit Dispositions Assessment
•    An essay that is at standard as assessed with an admissions rubric, which is used across all educator licensure graduate programs

Candidates write an essay in response to one of three prompts:

1.    Tell about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person’s life.
2.    What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
3.    Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping role:

•    Describe the situation as it occurred at the time.
•    What did you do in that particular situation?
•    How did you feel about the situation at the time you were experiencing it?
•    How do you feel about the situation now?
•    What would you change, if anything?

For more information regarding licensure requirements for teacher preparation programs, contact the Educator Licensure Office at (978) 665-3239 or visit their web site at www.fitchburgstate.edu/edunit.

Program of Study

Program Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge of the action planning process through the identification of priority areas through data analysis and the development of action steps aimed at improving student achievement

• Demonstrate the ability to promote a learning environment that is focused on continuous growth

• Demonstrate the ability to apply key aspects of the teacher observation and evaluation process in a practical setting

• Demonstrate the ability to involve families and other key stakeholders in the process of school planning and improvement

• Demonstrate the implementation of anti-racist practices into the process of action planning, teacher evaluation, development of professional learning culture, and family engagement

Total for Degree: 42 credits

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement Course

Prior to completion of the program of study, initial licensure candidates are required to take the Fitchburg State University ESE-approved SEI course, if needed, in order to be endorsed for licensure.  Please note that SEI endorsement occurs following the completion of the program, not before. Please note that the DESE requires that the SEI course include at least 30 contact hours face-to-face to meet their requirements.