Pathways To School Leadership (PTSL)

Presented by
The University of Mississippi Division of Outreach and Continuing Education’s
Office of Professional Development and Non–Credit Education

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The University of Mississippi’s Division of Outreach and Continuing Education’s Office of Professional Development and Non–Credit Education is partnering with the Community College Foundation to offer candidates an Instructional Leadership Institute as their Orientation to School Leadership (OSL) credit, (approved by (MDE) Mississippi Department of Education) and six (6) hours of Educational Leadership coursework during the candidates’ one–year internship. Upon successful completion of the coursework each candidate will satisfy the MDE requirements to apply to receive their Career–Level Administrator License.

This is an all–inclusive program. Once you are accepted to The University of Mississippi and enrolled in the PTSL Program, you MUST satisfy all the coursework in order to obtain any credit.*

*If an individual has already begun OSL with the MDE, the six hours can be taken once OSL is completed.

*Instructional Leadership Institute (ILI) or OSL must be taken as a part of the program, or completed before the six hours can be attempted.

LOCATIONS AND DATES

Clarksdale (Coahoma Community College - Magnolia Room) Sept. 11-12, Oct. 2-3, Nov. 6, Dec. 11-12
Tupelo (The University of Mississippi - Tupelo Campus) Sept. 9-10, Oct. 7-8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 2-3
Hattiesburg (Pearl River Campus) Sept. 21-22, Oct. 19-20, Nov. 2, Dec. 7-8
Raymond (Hinds Comm. College Career Center) Sept. 14-15, Oct. 21-22, Nov. 18, Dec. 3-4
Gautier (Gulf Coast Campus) Sept. 28-29, Nov. 2, 9-10, Dec. 7-8

WHO CAN APPLY TO THE PROGRAM

Candidates who have completed the one–year MAPQSL internship can apply to the program. They may apply for a five (5) year Entry–Level Administrator License. This is a non–renewable license.

Licensure guidelines require that these candidates complete SEMI Entry–Level (OSL) training and six (6) hours of Educational Leadership coursework to be eligible for Career–Level Administrator License.

PROGRAM REGISTRATION

Registration is a two–stage process that may be undertaken simultaneously: (1) Admission to the University of Mississippi as a graduate student (Non–Degree Seeking) Fall 2009, and (2) Enrollment in the program. The Division of Outreach and Continuing Education must enroll you in the program, but the Division cannot do this officially until you have been admitted to the University as a student (this is your responsibility).

ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

In order to enroll in the program, you MUST first apply to The University of Mississippi. You may do so by applying online at www.olemiss.edu/admissions. You will need to select graduate admission (non–degree seeking). The online registration process is self–explanatory, and, with the exception of the required transcripts, may be accomplished over the internet.

ENROLLMENT INTO THE PROGRAM

You may choose one of these two ways to enroll in the Pathways to School Leadership (PTSL) Program:

Mail: Download the registration form and mail the completed form to The University of Mississippi, Division of Outreach and Continuing Education, P. O. Box 879, University, MS 38677-0879.
Fax: Download the registration form and fax the completed form to (662) 915-5138.

TUITION CHARGES

In the Fall of 2009, tuition for the PTSL program will be $850.50 per 3 hours of credit. As a general practice, we do not process tuition partial payments for our programs. However, we will accept personal checks for payment of tuition. If you wish to pay with a personal check, you may mail your check to the Division of Outreach and Continuing Education (payable to “The University of Mississippi”) along with your registration form, and we will deliver it to the Bursar’s Office where they will process your payment and credit your account.

If you do not choose to pay by check in this way, the Bursar’s Office will direct bill you for the tuition. A “hold” will be placed on your account until your Bursar bill is paid in full. If you fail to pay your Bursar bill, you will not be able to secure a copy of your transcript from the University. If you choose to be billed, it is extremely important that you pay your Bursar bill quickly.

COST OF PROGRAM MATERIALS

Each candidate will be responsible for the cost of the program materials ($1200 per person). These materials will be used throughout the program (Fall 2009 - Spring 2010).* Your Bursar account will be charged or you can pay the Division of Outreach and Continuing Education directly.

*If you have already satisfied the OSL requirement, the materials charge will be $700 ($350 per semester).

SCHOLARSHIPS

No scholarships are available at this time for the PTSL Program.

ACADEMIC CREDIT

Through The University of Mississippi’s Division of Outreach and Continuing Education, The Pathways to School Leadership (PTSL) Program will provide each candidate with the OSL training in addition to the six (6) hours of educational coursework needed to satisfy the guidelines; making the candidate eligible to receive a Career–Level Administrator License by May. The OSL training will take place over five (5) eight (8) hour days plus online activities. The six (6) hours will begin in September each year at sites selected by the Mississippi Community College Foundation.

DESCRIPTION OF COURSES

OSL Training
The Instructional Leadership Institute is designed to increase the capacity of school leaders to improve instructional practices. The work focuses on what school leaders need to know and be able to do in order to provide the guidance and direction of sustained instructional improvement. The Institute pays particular attention to the vision for and the beliefs about students’ capabilities; distributed leadership; analysis and use of data to drive improved instructional practice, effective practices in literacy and mathematics instruction; promoting knowledge through learning communities; and sustaining improvements through leadership and systems thinking.

The Institute includes five days of classroom activities, supplemented by several hours of independent reading and online work in preparation for class and time for journaling personal thoughts and reflections.

The application activities, complementing the core knowledge gained in the Institute, include diagnostic tools, a case study, a close textual reading, small and large group discussions, gap analyses and assessments, and follow–up actions designed to improve instruction in the classrooms. Participants will be provided with a National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) handbook on Instructional Leadership, several texts (including Building Professional Learning Communities by DuFour), and a CD of relevant materials to prepare for each day of the institute. Pre-work is required and must be completed in order to continue with coursework.

Instructional Coaching (3 HOURS) - FALL
The Instructional Coaching course is designed to help principals and school leaders learn to coach faculty members to embed standards–based education deeply into the systems and practices of their schools. As part of a state’s or a district’s reform strategy and professional development plan, coaching on instruction is one of the most effective means of fostering improvements and realizing results. Participants practice how to coach others in “learning how to learn” through relationships, collaboration, and commitment, with a focus on increasing the quality and effectiveness of classroom teaching.

Beginning with a research foundation on the principles of teaching, learning, curriculum, and good instructional practice, the first day of the Institute explores how to become an effective instructional coach and introduces a five–step process adopted by the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL).

As a result of the course, participants will understand the effects of instructional coaching on teaching and learning, implement the five steps of instructional coaching in a variety of coaching situations, practice using effective coaching skills and tools, and generate ideas and action steps for incorporating a coaching culture in their schools.

Educational Leadership (3 HOURS) - SPRING
This course is designed to help principals and school leaders to be effective instructional leaders in this crucial area of literacy. The aim is not to turn the principal into an expert, but rather to enable the principal to recognize the key elements of best practice in the field of literacy. The course will discuss how principals play a major leadership role in ensuring that literacy is highly valued in the entire school community.

As instructional leaders, principals must become more conversant with the essentials of teaching literacy, learn to recognize best practices including an understanding of their own reading delivery system, and assess the quality of instruction by engaging in conversations with students and looking at their work.

Also included in this course is instruction to enable the participant to recognize the key features of effective safety net programs in literacy, so that he or she can exercise leadership, if necessary, in the development of effective safety nets to ensure that all students are literate, no matter what level of literacy they had when they entered that principal’s school.

Students will be engaged in learning about the latest research–based literacy approaches for young children with application to struggling readers in middle and high schools. They will also be engaged in discussions of several major reading assessments to strengthen their understanding about the range of literacy expectations of students.

This course will also cover school law. In this section of the course each student will study current laws that will assist him or her in leading a school that emphasizes high student achievement. The study will cover but is not limited to safe schools, protecting the rights of students and staff in the school, and employment practices.

CANCELLATIONS

If you are unable to attend the PTSL for which you have enrolled, it is important to notify our office of this at least five (5) business days prior to the first day of class. Participants who withdraw from the program in this way may be able to receive a full refund of their tuition payment from the Bursar’s Office. After this time, however, a full refund of tuition cannot be guaranteed.

Contact Information

Dr. Susan Rucker, Director
Institute for Education and Workforce Development
Phone: (662) 915-2707 or (662) 701-8150
Email: srucker@ncee.org

Mary W. Leach, Program Coordinator
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
Phone: (662) 915-7847
Email: mleach@olemiss.edu

Mail: Post Office Box 879, University, MS 38677
Fax: (662) 915-5138