FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 30, 2012
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
aperkins@pa.muw.edu

MUW receives approval redesign of its Educational Leadership Program

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Already known for its success in training teachers, Mississippi University for Women continues to build upon its role in preparing educators as leaders.
The Mississippi Department of Education Licensure Certification Commission recently approved the redesign of MUW’s Educational Leadership Program, which seeks outstanding teachers who have potential to lead schools.

During the 2010-2011 academic year, the Mississippi Department of Education launched a redesign initiative for Educational Leadership Programs in Mississippi that prepares candidates for K-12 administrator licensure. As part of the redesign, each granting institution has been required to submit a redesign proposal for review by an out-of-state consultant with approval required for all continuing programs by May 2012.

MUW’s submitted redesign proposal was approved by the out-of-state consultant in November and by the Mississippi Licensure Certification Commission at its meeting this month to be recommended to the Mississippi State School Board for final approval in February.

Dr. Sue Jolly-Smith, dean for the MUW College of Education and Human Sciences, said, “This redesign is a collaborative effort and utilizes the best practices in educational leadership preparation. We recognize the critical role of the school leader in the overall success of both teachers and students, and are deeply committed to providing quality preparation for the leaders of schools in our region. The program seeks outstanding classroom teachers who aspire to be change agents and exemplary school leaders.”

MUW’s proposal focuses on the following:

• Strong partnerships with area school districts and with exemplary K-12 school leaders
• The equivalent of six months real world internship experiences embedded in coursework
• Use of technology to bring problem-based learning to the administrator candidates, supported by interaction with exemplary K-12 leaders.

 

Dr. Martha Liddell, interim superintendent of education of the Columbus Municipal School District, said, “Columbus School District is extremely fortunate to have a partnership with Mississippi University of Women's Teaching and Leadership Studies. Our partnership over the years has included field experiences for both teachers and aspiring administrators. We are definitely the benefactors as a district of MUW's extraordinary leadership in curriculum and instruction in Mississippi through our partnership.”

Dr. Gearl Loden, superintendent of education of the Amory School District, added, “Great schools have quality teachers and administrators that are instructional leaders. Our partnership will allow aspiring administrators to learn in the classroom and in the field from some of the best school administrators in the state.

“This unique partnership will help future educational leaders to successfully integrate theory into practice. Additionally, our partnership will allow our administrators to model lifelong learning by being able to stay abreast of current educational research and trends.”

MUW’s Educational Leadership Program was approved in 2008 and began admitting candidates during the summer the same year. As a result of the redesign, the entire curriculum, including
realignment of anchors, internship experiences and course offerings, has been examined and restructured.

The redesigned program will begin implementation this summer. For more information, call the MUW Office of Graduate Studies in Education at (662) 329-7365 or email afranklin@edhs.muw.edu.