Master of Education (Certification) Instructional Leadership

Instructional Leadership Admission Process

Phase I: Graduate School Admission

Unconditional Admission:

To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must:

1. meet the requirements to be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies;
2. have a minimum of three (3) years of successful full time teaching experience or other certified area in the field of education;
3. possess a valid Alabama teaching certificate;
4. provide verification of background clearance/fingerprints;
5. submit an MAT or GRE score.
    

NOTES:

• Candidates must be unconditionally admitted prior to enrolling in any courses in the Instructional Leadership degree program. Candidates who are denied unconditional admission may reapply the following semester. 
• Candidates must earn a minimum of 30 new hours for any master's degree.
• This program is also offered online.

Phase II: Instructional Leadership Portfolio Submission

Candidates must submit a portfolio to the Instructional Leadership Program for review. The portfolio affords a candidate the opportunity to provide valuable information regarding interests, leadership potential, organizational skills, and other qualifications for unconditional admission into the Instructional Leadership Program. The portfolio should reflect quality work desired for aspiring instructional leaders. The contents of the portfolio will be reviewed and scored by at least three (3) members of the Instructional Leadership Admissions Committee. The portfolio is valued at 30 points toward the final score for acceptance into the program. A minimum score of 21 on the portfolio (70%) must be acquired to move to the next step, Phase III- Interview. A copy of the scoring rubric can be found in Appendix A of the application. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered. The portfolio must contain the following components:

1. Instructional Leadership Program Application for Admission form (Form A)
2. A current resumé outlining candidate's professional history as well as education
3. Three Recommendation for Admissions forms (Form B), including one from each of the following:
   
   1. Immediate Supervisor
   2. Colleague
   3. Personal Reference

NOTE: These forms should be sent via US Mail to the following address:

1. A copy of candidate's valid Alabama teaching license/certificate (Form A)
2. Verification of Experience form (Form C)
3. Memorandum of Agreement (Form D) complete with all required signatures as indicated
4. Completed copy of candidate's most recent performance appraisal/evaluation; the professional development component shall be included, if available.
5. Candidate's Leadership Profile which includes the components listed below. The profile should convey a personal and professional history that assists the Instructional Leadership Advisory Council in knowing the person who is applying. To this end, there is not a preferred format or structure. In preparing the profile, the applicant should set the text in a typed, double-spaced format with an expected minimum of three to five pages.
   
   1. brief autobiography of the candidate
   2. a statement of professional goals
   3. a review of the candidate's professional growth and development activities over the past three years which may include formal education at the graduate or undergraduate level, professional development, and/or technical training
   4. a retrospective view of the candidate's leadership experiences over time and across specific areas of leadership; Experiences should be documented by '3' pieces of evidence that the candidate possesses leadership potential; The most recent accomplishments in the area of instructional leadership shall be included, which may include professional presentations, community service, religious organizations, and/or military service are appropriate for this section.
   5. college and university years - reflect on experiences related to becoming an educator to include, but not limited to, organizations, classes, influential persons, etc.
   6. professional experiences - including, but not limited to, experiences in the classroom, chairperson positions, committee involvement, special assignments, project directorship, and/or military experience.
   7. professional or personal honors - including, but not limited to, any honor received that was connected to professional or personal experiences.
   8. professional organizations - including, but not limited to, such experiences as chairperson, officer, committee member, delegate, etc., at the local, state, regional, or state levels.
   9. philosophy of education and Instructional Leadership
   10. reasons for pursuing a Master's Degree in Instructional Leadership

Phase III: Interview

Each candidate that acquires a minimum score of '21' on the portfolio will receive a letter of invitation to participate in an interview with the Instructional Leadership Admissions Committee as a final step in the application process. The letter of invitation will inform the candidate of his/her interview date and time. Interviews may be conducted virtually or on campus. The interview is valued at 18 points toward the final score for acceptance into the program. In the interview process, verbal communication skills will be assessed to determine the candidate's potential as an educational leader. Prior to the interview, the Instructional Leadership Admissions Committee will assess the candidate's written communication skills by reviewing their admissions packet. Statements from the candidate's Leadership Profile may be the basis for questions by committee members. Other questions will include those related to general introductory questions, organizational success, making people better, job effectiveness, and other additional factors for instructional leaders. A copy of the scoring rubric can be found in Appendix A.

Phase IV: Cohort Selection

Utilizing the portfolio and interview rubrics, Admissions Committee member submits individual scores that are averaged to determine the candidate's final score. Copies of the rubrics may be found in Appendix A.

At the conclusion of the interview phase, all scores will be reviewed and candidates will be notified by letter regarding the status of his/her acceptance into the next cohort group. To be considered for acceptance a minimum score of 38 points (80%) must be obtained in Phases II and III. Candidates not selected for the next cohort may schedule a conference with an assigned faculty member to review all scores. These individuals will be eligible to participate again in Phases II and III of the application process at the time the next cohort for the program is being formed.

Program Completion Requirements

The following requirement must be met for successful completion of the Instructional Leadership Program:

1. Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 in all required coursework with no grade lower than a "B" in the certification area courses
2. Receive a passing score on the Praxis II Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision assessment. The Praxis II assessment serves as the comprehensive exam for the Instructional Leadership Program.
3. Receive credit for a general survey course in special education, if not previously earned.

Governance

The Teacher Education Program and the Teacher Certification Program are governed by the Alabama State Department of Education, and the College of Education reserves the right to change requirements in these programs at any time when such changes are mandated by the State Department.