As chair of the Ohio Leadership programs, I want to share with fellow Ohio educators the benefits of enrollment in the Master’s in School Leadership with Ohio Principal Licensure program at Concordia University Chicago (CUC). As of last school year, this program enrolled the largest number of principal interns in the state and had a 100% program completion rate.
What does the program encompass?
The Ohio Principal Licensure program at CUC is offered through a partnership between the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) and CUC. This unique partnership merges OAESA’s deep knowledge base of effective leadership practices with a high quality and rigorous, yet flexible, graduate licensure and degree program that is grounded in state and national standards.
OAESA envisions effective, empowered, and passionate educators leading Ohio schools. They live out their purpose to champion and engage administrators throughout their careers. Under the guidance of Dr. Julie Davis, OAESA and CUC offer multiple leadership program options that are precisely tailored to the unique needs of Ohio’s leaders. Since 2007, Dr. Davis and OAESA have pioneered online learning formats for educators. Since its inception, these professional learning opportunities have impacted thousands of educators throughout the nation.
The CUC Master’s in School Leadership with Ohio Principal Licensure program leads the state in student enrollment, and that is not surprising given the solid reputation that this program has earned by producing new leaders that are ready to successfully step into the role of building leader. Districts and schools know that graduates of our program possess the critical skills and attributes for successful school leadership. Specifically, this program empowers educators to:
- Promote the success of all students through developing and implementing a shared vision of learning and programs that support this learning;
- Develop skills in management of the organization, operations and resources for a safe, efficient and effective learning environment;
- Collaborate with staff, boards, students, families and community members in response to diverse educational and community interests and needs while mobilizing community resources;
- Demonstrate integrity, fairness and ethical behavior to aid in the development of a caring and moral school community; and
- Understand and respond to the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural contexts.
The Master of Arts in School Leadership with Ohio Principal Licensure program is designed for active teachers who are aspiring leaders and are interested in becoming a principal or pursuing positions in education that require principal licensure in school districts. Typically, positions requiring principal licensure might include, but are not limited to, curriculum director, special education coordinator, technology specialist and more, dependent upon district-level requirements.
This program includes a rigorous year-long internship as the capstone experience. Serving as principal interns, our students complete comprehensive clinical experiences and engage in authentic leadership projects that are aligned with their school’s focus on the improvement of student achievement. Graduates of our program have the skills, knowledge, attributes and confidence to excel in school leadership positions. Further, through the internship, they have gained invaluable exposure within their districts, and district-level leaders are able to clearly see their leadership capacity due to the unique experiences that are embedded within the internship.
Why should a prospective student choose this program?
While rigorous, the program is also flexible. We assure that our tuition rates are amongst the lowest in the state, as we recognize that busy educators should not have to spend excessive time comparing tuition costs for licensure and degree programs. For those educators who already possess a master’s degree, the Ohio Principal Licensure is also offered as a licensure only option.
This program is offered entirely online, as CUC extends their prestigious 150-year history as a brick-and-mortar institution into the digital world. Due to the online delivery model, students can log on and complete coursework at times that work best for their schedules. We honor the fact that our students are busy professionals whose number one priority is the students and schools they serve; thus, we provide ample support to our students and individualize their experience in order to maximize their professional growth.
I strive to make myself available to answer questions that potential and current students may have at any time. If you would like to discuss your career goals and how this program might be beneficial for you, please reach out at any time. I can be reached at 614-557-9209 or through email at rebecca.hornberger@cuchicago.edu. Thank you for all you do to serve Ohio’s most valuable resource – our students!