Master of Education Instructional Leadership (IL)

This course equips educational leaders with a comprehensive understanding of literacy instruction, focusing on both content and pedagogy. It explores the progression of literacy development and strategies for fostering a literacy-rich environment that supports all learners. Special attention is given to the foundation of phonics and phonological awareness, as well as identifying and supporting struggling readers. Leaders will also learn to implement literacy screeners and progress monitoring tools to effectively assess and address learner needs. The course emphasizes evidence-based practices, scaffolding techniques, and strategies aligned with grade-level rigor and Tennessee Academic Standards, ensuring all students receive the support they need for success.

This course examines the role of the school adminstrator and instructional leader in responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context in the classroom, school, and local community. It will also address diverse candidate and student needs to ensure the success of all candidates and their students.

This course examines the basic legal and ethical issues in education and included a survey of case law dealing with the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of teachers, administrators, and counselors.

This course examines the law, theory, and practice of local, state, and federal funding of education, budget preparation, and control of funds. Related topics include the function of personnel management, including the hiring and retention of qualified personnel; insurance; and risk management; facility planning, financing, construction, maintenance, and operations; auxiliary services including food service and pupil transportation; and purchasing, inventory, and distribution.

Instructional Leadership (IL – Leading to Initial Tennessee Leadership Licensure) candidates are required to take and pass the SLLA in accordance with Tennessee state licensure and University graduation requirements. Prerequisite: Admission to the Instructional Leadership Licensure Program.

This course will address a topic of interest enriching the existing course offerings and expanding candidate learning and experiences. Topics will be developed by an assigned faculty member as approved by the Dean of the School of Education. The course will be offered as required.

This course focuses on developing a culture and climate of school improvement. Emphasis will be placed on setting a strategic direction for school improvement, organizational alignment, data collection, and analysis. Ed.S. core requirement.

This course is the companion practicum for IL 611, Assessment for School Improvement, which provides field experience in educational settings with an emphasis on promoting the success of all students by establishing a positive school culture, providing an effective instructional program, applying research-based best practices for student learning, utilizing assessment data, and designing comprehensive professional growth for staff. Experience collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data to inform practice, instruction, and assessment is stressed. 

This course provides Educational Specialist candidates a foundation in the federal legal and ethical issues in education. A survey of case laws dealing with the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of teachers, administrators, and counselors. Topics include law of education, ethics, and legal decision making in education; children with disabilities (IDEA) and 504; the federal court system; Title IX; and law, ethics, and the educational leadership connection. 

This course focuses on leadership, the change process, and strengthening and maintaining interpersonal relationships to provide a foundation for improvement in educational programs. 

This course is the companion practicum for IL 652, Leadership for Educational Programs, which focuses on leadership, with an emphasis on leading literacy efforts, managing the change process, and strengthening and maintaining interpersonal relationships to provide the foundation for improvement in teaching and learning in diverse educational settings. The aim of the course is to move from theory to practice by providing emerging educational leaders with craft knowledge, especially in the areas of curriculum, teaching, and learning, while developing a professional vision, mission, and philosophy of school leadership.

This course provides Education Specialist candidates a foundation in the standard financial operating procedures and routines in educational settings in Tennessee. Candidates also develop an understanding of resource management. Topics include, but not limited to, evaluating staff, and liability in the local district, school, and classroom pertinent to students, faculty and staff.

Initial Instructional Leadership Licensure candidates are required to take and pass the SLLA in accordance with Tennessee state licensure requirements. A passing score is required for licensure and graduation. Prerequisite: Admission to the Instructional Leadership Licensure Program

This course explores researched-based strategies to increase student achievement in all student populations. Topics include students in poverty, cultural and social groups, English language learners and special needs learners.