Master of School AdministrationThink – Value – Communicate – Lead

Abstract

The Department of Educational Leadership engaged in the Think, Value, Lead, Communicate (TVCL) Matrix development to discuss and evaluate whether the re-visioned Master of School Administration (MSA) program was preparing candidates to be effective principals. Core faculty in the MSA program met biweekly during the summer and fall of 2013 in order to answer the question: “What should ECU MSA graduates know and be able to do?”

TVCL: A Framework for Curriculum Mapping

The TVCL Matrix focuses on student learning and serves as a framework for curriculum mapping to ensure positive learning outcomes. The MSA faculty learning community used TVCL to map curriculum at the program level to answer the question: what should the MSA graduates know and be able to do? The faculty’s first non-negotiable was the review of irrefutable evidence that MSA graduates had applied leadership theory and school administration skills to improve schools through Service Leadership Projects (SLPs). Next faculty described their vision of what graduates would look like in principal jobs. A list-group-label strategy provided categories for curriculum mapping. Faculty reviewed course syllabi, student work samples, accreditation evaluation data, program evaluation reports, SLPs, site supervisor data, and personal teaching experiences in the curriculum mapping process.

TVCL provided an opportunity to devote time to curriculum mapping of the MSA program and concentrate on student learning outcomes.

The TVCL process was faculty driven. They found that the experience was refreshing and energizing because it was a unique opportunity to discuss teaching and learning.

Department of Educational Leadership Faculty Learning Community Members

Marjorie Ringler, Associate Professor and MSA Program CoordinatorKermit Buckner, ProfessorBill Grobe, Associate ProfessorHal Holloman, Associate Professor

Findings:

•MSA program clearly conveyed the values listed on the TVCL Matrix

•Course content was closely linked with application and practice opportunities through service learning projects. These service learning projects are called Service Leadership Projects (SLPs) in the ECU MSA program.

•Some leadership theories were being taught in several courses at the same level of knowledge while there were some leadership theories that needed to be added to the MSA curriculum.

MSA Program Improvements:•MSA Curriculum monthly meetings will follow the TVCL process

•Each course will have a common syllabus that includes the core body of knowledge. Each syllabus will be discussed and revised on a yearly basis

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Learning Community TimelineSummer 3013 TVCL Matrix Discussions - biweeklyFall 2013 Finalized TVCL MatrixSpring 2014 Wrote Case Study for Publication &

Presentation at TVCL Conference, Greenville, NC

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EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP LEARNING MATRIX

MASTER OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION / PRINCIPAL PREPARATION PROGRAM

THINK: OUR CANDIDATE WILL UNDERSTAND AND APPLY …

CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE: School Improvement Positive Impact on Student

Learning and Development Teacher Empowerment & Leadership

LEED 6902

Strategic Leadership for 21st Century Schools

LEED 6908

Instructional Leadership for Teaching and Learning

LEED 6906

Human Resource Leadership for Professional Growth

Educational Leadership Theory Instructional Supervision Theory Human Resource Theory

Organizational Change Theory Curriculum Theory

LEED 6903

Statutory requirements for school improvement

LEED 6903

Personnel laws and planning policies

LEED 6903

Fair and equitable implementation of district and state evaluation policies

Organizational Management School Culture and Safety Community Involvement and Engagement

LEED 6905

Managerial Leadership for Complex School Organizations

LEED 6909

Cultural Leadership for Systemic School Improvement

LEED 6904

External Development Leadership for Cultivating Partnerships

Organizational Management Theory School Safety Community Involvement and Engagement Theory

Systems Theory Professional Ethics Communication Theory

School Fiscal Management School Culture

LEED 6903

District and state policy and law related to student conduct.

LEED 6903

School and class management laws LEED 6903

Legal parameters of school board operations and function Parent and students rights FERPA, IDEA, Section 504, ADA, etc.

THINK: OUR CANDIDATE WILL UNDERSTAND THE CORE BODY OFKNOWLEGE AND APPLY …

Setting Instructional Direction LEED 6901

Judgment LEED 6901

Organizational Ability LEED 6901

Written Communication LEED 6901

Knowledge of Self LEED 6901

Political Savvy

Emotional Intelligence

Teamwork LEED 6901

Sensitivity LEED 6901

Results Orientation LEED 6901

Oral Communication LEED 6901

Developing Others

Creative Thinking

VALUE:OUR CANDIDATES WILL EXPERIENCE AND BENEFIT FROM …

Service Learning

Candidate Centered Learning

Irrefutable Evidence Based Learning

Authentic Outcomes for Stakeholders

Service Leadership

Caring Relationships

Ethical Behavior

COMMUNICATE: TO WHAT DEGREE DOES THE PROGRAM REQUIRE STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS…USE THE LANGUAGE OF LEADERSHIP

Non-verbal Verbal Written Electronically

LEAD: OUR GRADUATES WILL DEMONSTRATE SERVICE LEADERSHIP AS…

Reflective Problem Solvers

Culturally Competent Communicators/Leaders

Ethical Change Agents

Service-minded Collaborators

Strategic Innovators