Guidance on Leadership Strategies in the Educational Sphere
The University of West Alabama's Online Education Specialist (EdS) Instructional Leadership Program is designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary for leadership positions in educational settings.
This comprehensive program focuses on developing leadership and administrative competencies, preparing candidates for roles such as principals, assistant principals, curriculum coordinators, and district administrators. The curriculum emphasizes leadership theory and practice in educational environments, curriculum development and instructional design, school administration and organizational leadership, educational law, policies, and finance, data-driven decision making and accountability, supervision and evaluation of staff, and strategies for improving student learning and school culture.
One of the key features of the program is the one-on-one mentoring, which allows students to build networks and develop better leadership skills. Students are linked with a mentor, who provides guidance and support throughout the program.
The program also prepares educators to provide leadership in special education programs or school psychology and create educational pathways for students with diverse abilities. This aligns with the program's goal to ready graduates for impactful administrative careers in education.
Effective instructional leaders inspire action, set examples, and help teachers and instructors achieve individual and collective goals. These practices include setting a vision for ambitious instruction, upgrading curriculum and resources, creating systems for data-driven instruction, providing equitable access for interventions, developing systems for professional development and collaboration, and offering coaching to teachers.
Instructional leaders also manage curricula, budgeting, scheduling, empower teachers to be leaders, and ensure that school responsibilities are shared equitably.
The program can be completed in as few as one or two years, making it an attractive option for educators seeking a post-master's-level education and a Class AA Professional Certificate.
To identify and employ the best instructional practices, instructional leaders rely on research to ensure effectiveness. The program focuses on improving instructional programs and preparing leaders for roles that impact student learning.
The quality of leadership affects individual student and school success. Effective instructional leaders have great communication skills, are effective planners, trustworthy, competent, adept at team building and collaboration, optimistic, and encouraging.
Parent and community support is a vital part of building a support structure that teachers and students can rely on. The program does not specifically mention community engagement, but it is likely that it is integrated into the curriculum or emphasized in the mentoring and practical field experiences.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) provides annual reports on Math and Reading Assessments for students in grades 4 and 8, known as "The Nation's Report Card." Test results from NAEP have shown a downward trend in recent years, highlighting the need for effective instructional leaders to inspire action, set examples, and help teachers and instructors achieve individual and collective goals.
UWA's online EdS in Instructional Leadership prepares education professionals for administrative leadership through a curriculum focused on leadership theory, instructional improvement, organizational management, and practical skills essential for running educational institutions successfully.
The University of West Alabama's online EdS in Instructional Leadership program emphasizes online education and learning, equipping educators for leadership positions by focusing on instructional design, leadership theory, and practical skills. Effective instructional leaders, prepared by this program, engage in activities such as setting a vision for ambitious instruction, creating data-driven instruction systems, providing equitable access for interventions, and offering coaching to teachers for improved learning.
