Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (ISC) - Teacher Leadership for School Improvement

The Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in Curriculum & Instruction is a degree designed to meet the needs of practicing and aspiring professionals, who already hold a master’s degree in an appropriate field, to serve various functions in established and emerging educational activities. Teachers can and do transform classrooms, schools, and communities. The Teacher Leadership for School Improvement (TLSI) program is designed to empower teachers by enhancing their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the areas of teaching, research, leadership, and advocacy. TLSI is an award-winning, job-embedded online program for full-time practicing PK-12 educators. The curriculum constantly adapts to and includes new research and best practices to meet the needs of students and communities that our talented graduate students serve. Through this program, a full-time practicing educator may choose to earn a Master in Education (M. Ed.) or Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in Curriculum & Instruction. Throughout the TLSI program, educators document evidence of their growth in instructional expertise, practitioner research, and teacher leadership as they implement what they are learning in coursework. The intent of the TLSI program is for educators to develop and grow as: Master Teachers A master teacher takes responsibility for all learners. A master teacher designs and delivers high quality instruction for his/her students, and continuously evaluates outcomes using a variety of measures and methods in order to refine and adapt teaching practices to meet the needs of learners. Teacher Researchers A teacher researcher systematically studies his/her own teaching practices on an on-going basis. This involves the analysis of multiple data sources to inform instructional decision-making in order to maximize successful outcomes for students. Teacher Leaders and Educational Advocates A teacher leader assumes formal and informal leadership and mentoring roles within and beyond the school community and serves as an advocate for students and families. These leadership functions serve to improve educational outcomes and improve the effectiveness of the professional community.