Our ED.S. in Teacher Leadership Can Help You Reach New Heights
Are you a teacher with a master’s degree who wants to advance your career, but you don’t want to become an administrator? The Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership degree program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota may be ideal for you. As a Lasallian Catholic university, we provide academic programs with faith-based principles to promote ethical and compassionate leaders. Here, we explore how our Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership program can help you continue your education and advance your career.
What Is an Ed.S. Degree?
An Ed.S. is an Educational Specialist degree, which is a postgraduate degree between a master’s and a doctorate. It helps current educators enhance their skills and knowledge in education, allowing them to advance their careers. Ed.S. programs typically involve practical research and the completion of a thesis to significantly further your knowledge in the field of education.
About Our Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership Degree
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers Ed.S. degrees through our School of Education. Our latest offering is an Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership, which provides continuing education opportunities for experienced teachers with a master’s degree in education or a related field. It is designed for those who want to increase their salary and gain additional coursework to be teacher leaders, but don’t want to complete the required 320 hours of field experience needed to become licensed administrators.
Completing this program can help teachers boost their earning potential and obtain higher leadership positions, including:
- Instructional coaches
- Peer evaluators
- Curriculum team leaders
- Department chairs
- Additional teacher leader roles
This program can be completed in one-and-a-half years and has two start times per year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership Program Curriculum
The Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota provides ongoing graduate education specifically designed to help current teachers grow as educational leaders and develop specific skills in teacher leadership. By combining core Ed.S. courses with specialized courses for teacher leadership, students learn topics such as:
- Virtue and character elements of leadership
- Cultural competence
- Fostering flourishing cultures in schools
- Making ethical decisions
- Skills and strategies for working with adults
- Handling behavioral interventions
Students in this program also receive specialized training in various roles as teacher leaders. This program is taught in a hybrid method online with synchronous sessions. Students meet 2 hours per week in virtual meetings and the remaining time is spent in online coursework. The core classes are taught by faculty who are current or retired administrators, while the specialized courses are taught by practicing educators in leadership roles.
Students in this program also participate in our required annual day-long Summer Institute, which allows them to connect in person with faculty and peers while listening to inspirational speakers from around Minnesota. The Summer Institute is held on the Minneapolis campus in the University Center from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and meals are provided. Learn more by reading about the admission requirements for this program.
What Makes This Program Unique?
This program is unique for several reasons, but the main one is the opportunity it provides for teachers, who want to advance on the pay scale and in their careers but don’t necessarily want to become licensed administrators. There are other institutions in Minnesota that prepare teachers to become principals or other licensed administrators, but our program allows teachers to advance on the pay scale for the same credit cost as a Master of Arts in Education, without the need for the required field experience.
This program also stands out because of the Summer Institute experience, which provides professional and personal fulfillment for educators. At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we also believe our Lasallian Catholic mission and identity differentiate us from other institutions that don’t teach through a faith-based lens. By combining an in-depth curriculum with faith-based principles, we empower learners to lead ethical lives of service and leadership and thrive in their careers.
Apply to the Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership Program Today
If you’re a teacher who wants to advance your knowledge and earning potential and obtain a leadership role in education, apply to the Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. This unique program lets you boost your salary and opportunities for leadership in ways that aren’t typically available. To learn more about this program or the course catalog, request more information today and connect with a counselor.
