This course prepares prospective school administrators in the personnel components of the profession. From analysis of positions to recruitment, selection, induction, retention to termination, current and past court cases are used to understand the historical and legal responsibilities of administrators in today's educational personnel climate. Readings, case studies, presentations, papers, field experience and group activities will be utilized.
- Teacher: Tina Taylor
Effective educational leaders need to be able to work with and through others. Through the activities in this course, the student will develop and apply various leadership, visionary, interpersonal, and supervisory skills. The development of these skills will enhance the students’ ability to problem solve and communicate information to diverse types of stakeholders as consumers of the latest research on a topic. Through practice, students will become familiar with the various online research sites that specialize in leadership and educational research.
- Teacher: Ranna Raval
This course is designed to provide students with the necessary technical skills required for the classroom teacher of the twenty-first century. The course will orient students to contemporary frameworks for technology education and introduce students to technology based tools and media that support instruction, extend communication outside the classroom, enhance classroom management, and perform administrative routines more effectively.
- Teacher: Monica Johnson
Students will study generic and their institution’s test, attendance, and graduation data to discuss and describe possible paths to improvement. This course is designed to move leaders from “I think” solutions to “the data suggest” solutions. Students will practice “real world” decision-making to meet the standard: “High Performing Leaders plan effectively, use critical thinking and problem solving techniques, and collect and analyze data for continuous school improvement.” Students will personalize their study to meet the needs of their charter, public and traditional private Montessori schools.
- Teacher: Elena Rosemond
Students will explore various educational theorists such as Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Frobel, Montessori, Dewey, Piaget, and Gesell. Developmental Learning Theory, Behavioral Theory, Cognitive Theory, Holistic Theory, and Maturation Theory will be explored as students compare and analyze educational philosophies.
- Teacher: Julie Small
This required core course, a blend of both online and in-person class time, offers a thorough historical and philosophical examination of Montessori's view of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of human life and development. A prerequisite or co-requisite to all other courses, this course introduces the program’s rigorous standards in writing, discussing, and presenting.
- Teacher: Debbie Couldrey
This class will explore professional development strategies for teachers. Like young students, teachers move through different stages of professional development. The students will use reflective methods of actively conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating. They will discuss and understand five major aspects of guide’s professional growth – intellectual, physical, didactic, moral, and spiritual.
- Teacher: Kara Siegel
This course will examine eight key elements of what Montessori called Total Reading as it is taught in Montessori programs. These are Creating a Literacy Culture; Emergent Literacy; Working with Words and Grammar; Penmanship and Creative Writing; Passing from Writing to Reading; Oral Language, Vocabulary, and Fluency; Speaking; and Listening and Viewing. Each of these will be examined in terms of importance, and applicability. Special attention will be paid to materials and methods for implementing these areas in Montessori classrooms.
- Teacher: Debbie Couldrey
This course will allow participants to integrate foundational principles and strategies for leadership in the school that transcend classroom teaching. This will build on all of the learning that has been achieved throughout the master’s program. Specific areas to be addressed include application of leadership skills specific for a lead teacher, level lead, committee head, curriculum coordinator, board member, having a student teacher or practicum student, leading parent meetings and education sessions, and leading regular materials practice sessions or other peer coaching and instruction. The students will also learn to enlist parent support for their leadership management efforts. A framework for fostering cooperation, social skills, and a sense of community is generated, and guidelines for peace education are included.
- Teacher: Angie Franklin
This required core course, a blend of both online and in-person class time, offers a thorough historical and philosophical examination of Montessori’s view of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of human life and development. A prerequisite or corequisite to all other courses after EDU 7020, this course introduces the program’s rigorous standards in writing, discussing, and presenting.
- Teacher: Jasmine Williams
This course will provide an in-depth study of adult education theory and the evolving practice as they relate to education pedagogy, andragogy, and heutagogy. The planes of growth, including the biological, physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, shall be discussed from conception through the lifespan. The emphasis will be on theory to practice as they relate to individual perception and practical application of development principles across career paths, higher education, and into professional development. Topics will include adult and traditional learning, self-directed learning, transformative learning, experiential learning, motivation theory, cognitive development, and critical thinking.
- Teacher: Gerardo Leal
This course explores a foundational overview of peace psychology principles focusing on the nature, cause, intervention, and prevention of the determinants of peace. Students will analyze how peace psychology can be applied to a variety of interpersonal settings, and to promote conflict resolution and create non-violent social environments.
- Teacher: Elena Rosemond
This course provides an introduction to research methods and exposition. Students will acquire fundamental skills in developing and conducting research through the creation of an effective research question, how to write a review of the literature, and develop an understanding of the principles of quantitative and qualitative research methods. In addition, students will gain an understanding of principles of data analysis, interpretation, and presentation of results.
- Teacher: Julie Small