Impact Students and Faculty with a Teacher Leader - Education Specialist
Are you an educator who wants to hone your craft and lead within the educational community?
Troy University's Educational Specialist - Teacher Leader program can advance your
skills and expertise in education, paving the way for you to improve instruction and
academic achievement within schools. Whether you want to serve as an instructional
coach, lead within a department or spearhead new educational initiatives, TROY's teacher
leadership program will position you to achieve your goal.
“I highly recommend TROY's teacher leader program. It challenged me and helped me
grow into the educator I am today. It gave me the knowledge and confidence to step
into leadership roles and make a difference in my school and in the lives of all the
students we serve. The online program is flexible and allows you to continue teaching.
The teacher leader program inspired me to get my doctorate in educational leadership
so I can continue to make a difference in education today.”
Dr. Brittany Spillman | Director, Cary Center Collegiate and Community Programs, Auburn University | 2018
graduate, Ed.S. Teacher Leader
Gain a Deeper Understanding of Teacher Leadership
In TROY's teacher leader program, you'll expand on your existing knowledge and skills and learn how to apply them
outside the classroom. Our program will help you learn how to facilitate collective
learning with other faculty and schools, strengthen your school's academic achievement,
and support the professional development of instructional and administrative personnel.
This expertise helps strengthen the impact you can make in your school, allowing you
to support the academic growth of all students.
Develop Teacher Leadership Skills You Can Apply Immediately
From staff development to instructional technologies, you'll learn skills you can
immediately apply to your classroom and school. The Ed.S. degree curriculum prioritizes both theory and practice, encompassing such topics as adult
learning, diversity, communication, research strategies, collaboration with stakeholders
and more. Our courses address real-life scenarios and offer numerous opportunities
to put what you've learned into practice so you can make immediate changes in your
school.
Get the flexibility you need by earning your Ed.S. degree online. For more information about program availability and delivery options, call 1-800-414-5756
TROY's Ed.S. Degree Prepares You to Lead in Numerous Settings
Effective leadership in teaching requires several skills and an advanced understanding of pedagogy, instructional
technology and ways to create engaging learning environments. TROY's teacher leader program equips you with the pedagogical expertise and broad skill set you need to lead in
a variety of situations. Serve on a task force dedicated to solving a problem in your
school. Mentor fellow educators. Shape new curricula and educational programs. Train
new faculty and staff. Regardless of the context, the leadership skills you'll gain
at TROY will help you contribute to educational change and, ultimately, make a difference
in students' lives.
Teacher Leadership Jobs
Educational specialist jobs in teacher leadership can include department- or grade-level
positions, curriculum development, research roles and more.
Faculty Profiles
Dr. Tonya Conner
Dr. Conner serves as the Interim Department Chair for the Department of Leadership
Development and Professional Studies.
Dr. Lisa Etheridge is an Associate Professor in elementary education and serves as
program coordinator for the education specialist programs in TROY's Department of
Teacher Education. Her research interests include co-teaching, teacher leadership,
mentoring and instructional coaching.
Learn more about leadership in teaching and our program.
What is teacher leadership?
Teacher leadership refers to roles educators take on beyond the classroom to improve academic instruction
and student outcomes. Teacher leaders use collaboration and mentorship to help other
educators develop professionally, enhance their teaching abilities and innovate within
their classrooms. Examples of teacher leadership include instructional coaching, curriculum
development, research and data analysis, teacher-led initiatives or departmental/grade-level
leadership.
What can you do with an education specialist degree?
An Ed.S. degree in teacher leadership empowers you to create change at every level of your school, from your classroom
to your department to the overall institution. An education specialist degree of this
type can qualify you for roles as a lead teacher, grade-level chair, departmental
chair, school leadership team member, instructional coach, educational program director
or curriculum specialist. You'll also be able to serve on task forces, conduct research
around challenges specific to your school and help deliver professional development
activities.
What are the admissions requirements for the teacher leadership program?
In addition to the admission requirements for the Graduate Teacher Education Program, candidates seeking admission to the Ed.S. teacher leader program must:
Hold a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Hold a Class A master's Professional Educator Certificate in any teaching field or
area of instructional support
Have a minimum of three full years of full-time teaching experience in a P-12 setting
(demonstrated by providing a supplemental EXP form from each district of employment)
You will also need to provide a portfolio containing the following items:
Three professional letters of recommendation signed and on letterhead (one must be
from the principal and/or immediate supervisor)
A current resume or vita
Evidence of ability to positively affect student achievement and evidence of collaborative
leadership potential. Illustrate this by addressing the following areas in narrative
form:
Personal philosophy and/or theory of teaching and learning
Self-evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses and a plan to address your weaknesses
Personal professional goals
Statements of purpose for pursuing the Ed.S.
Evidence of leadership ability/list of any honors, awards, committee or team service
Successful completion of a criminal background check
How long does the Ed.S. degree take to complete?
While the time to degree varies for every student, the Ed.S. degree can be completed in one year.
Is the teacher leadership program fully online?
Yes, you can complete the teacher leadership program fully online.
Teacher Leadership: Why It's More Important Than Ever
Talk to almost anyone who teaches students in Pre-K through 12th grade and you'll
hear a common theme: Year after year, teaching is becoming increasingly challenging.
The reasons for this vary and include everything from teaching shortages to increasing
class sizes to lack of funding to differences in student learning styles.
