The Arkansas Tech University advanced degree programs for K-12 leadership have become the first in the nation to be recognized under new standards approved by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC).
The Arkansas Tech University advanced degree programs for K-12 leadership have become the first in the nation to be recognized under new standards approved by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC).
Dr. Mary Gunter, dean of the Arkansas Tech Graduate College and professor of educational leadership, was recently notified that the Educational Specialist in educational leadership, Master of Education in educational leadership and Master of Education in teaching, learning and leadership degree programs at Arkansas Tech will be nationally recognized by the ELCC through Feb. 1, 2021.
Gunter served on the national research committee that began devising the new ELCC standards in 2006.
“The revised standards reflect the changes that have taken place in school leadership since the first national standards for our disciplines were developed in 1996,” said Gunter. “We have seen changing practices in successful schools, such as the development of professional learning communities, the distribution of leadership and the implementation of new technologies. The new standards are reflective of research concerning school leadership and its effect on student achievement.”
Faculty members in the Arkansas Tech Center for Leadership and Learning (CLL), which is located near Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville and serves as the hub for the university’s graduate programs in K-12 leadership, began a self-study of the Educational Specialist, Master of Education in school leadership and Master of Education in teaching, learning and leadership degree programs in fall 2011.
“The self-study process provided us with purposeful time to examine our programs,” said Dr. Rebecca Shopfner, associate professor of teaching, learning and leadership at Arkansas Tech. “It is a process that is continual, but this was more intensive. We were able to re-visit each course in our curriculums and make any necessary adjustments to bring them in alignment with the new standards. It allowed us to celebrate what we have accomplished together as a team and look to the future.”
Dr. Matt Stephen, who joined the Arkansas Tech CLL faculty in 2011 and serves as an assistant professor of teaching and learning, said the self-study process has made him a better instructor.
“The ELCC process helped me, as a new professor to the CLL and the educational leadership program, to better understand how the curriculum was structured,” said Stephen. “I was able to learn from the people who created the objectives, scopes and sequences for the programs and better understand how our programs are interrelated.”
The ELCC national recognition attained by the K-12 leadership specialist and master’s degree programs at Arkansas Tech came with no conditions from the national peer evaluation committee.
“I’m proud of all of our work on this project,” said Dr. Mona Chadwick, interim department head at the Arkansas Tech Center for Leadership and Learning and assistant professor of educational leadership. “Our faculty members do great things because of their commitment and passion to the field of education. We all went into the teaching profession with that passion, and now as we prepare teachers and administrators we have that same sense of purpose.”
Learn more about the Arkansas Tech Center for Leadership and Learning.
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