This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Local Voices

North Central College offers Teacher Leader master's of education degree, endorsement

North Central College is offering a new Teacher Leader program leading to a master’s degree in education or state endorsement for educators.

The Teacher Leader degree or endorsement is designed for teachers who have a professional education license and want to pursue additional leadership training and responsibilities. Educators who earn a Teacher Leader degree or endorsement may pursue positions as a mentor or coach, lead curriculum standards committees, serve as department or grade-level chairs, lead school improvement initiatives and serve on school leadership teams.

The Teacher Leader program provides a third choice for educators, which results in a Teacher Leader endorsement from the state of Illinois. The College already offers MAEd options for Teacher Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction and an Education Leadership and Administration MAEd with principal endorsement.

Illinois’ Teacher Leadership degree or endorsement provides an opportunity for teachers who have acquired additional leadership training to serve in intermediate leadership roles while maintaining a role in the classroom.

“The Teacher Leader option is perfectly suited for the teacher who wants to explore leadership but is not yet certain about the extent of a role like the principalship,” says Kristine Servais, associate professor of education and coordinator of the College’s master of arts in education program. “Our program encourages teachers to enter through a gateway course that helps teachers define themselves as leaders and the degree to which they wish to lead.”

North Central College’s Teacher Leader program offers flexibility to fit a candidate’s educational standing. Candidates who already hold a master’s degree in education may take 24 credit hours of study at North Central and achieve a Teacher Leader endorsement. Or, candidates may choose to take 33 credit hours of study and earn a Teacher Leader endorsement and a master’s degree from North Central.

Teachers from schools and districts who are formal partners with North Central College may enroll in the first three courses of the Teacher Leader degree or endorsement program at a 50 percent tuition reduction rate. North Central has formal partnerships with five area districts, six high schools, eight middle schools and junior highs, and nine elementary schools.
 
The Illinois State Board of Education on Sept. 6 approved North Central College’s Teacher Leader degree and endorsement program as part of the College’s Graduate Education program. North Central is among the first seven institutions in the state to earn approval to offer this new option for educators.

Founded in 1861, North Central College is an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences that offers more than 55 undergraduate majors and graduate programming in seven areas. Located in the Historic District of Naperville, Illinois—rated by Money magazine as among the nation’s “Best Places to Live”—North Central College is just 30 minutes from Chicago’s Loop. With more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, North Central College is committed to academic excellence, a climate that emphasizes leadership, ethics, values and service, a curriculum that balances job-related knowledge with a liberal arts foundation and a caring environment with small classes. Visit www.northcentralcollege.edu to learn more.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?