Dr. Vicki Petzko, Director and Academic Unit Leader
(423) 425-4542 or email at Vicki-Petzko@utc.edu
The program in School Leadership offers three concentrations, Principal Licensure, Reading Specialist and Teacher Leadership. The program is appropriate for aspiring principals and supervisors and for teachers who wish to exercise leadership from within the classroom or while on a special assignment.
Principal Licensure program requires 33 graduate credits and is appropriate for experienced, licensed teachers who aspire to become school assistant principals or principals within the next five to ten years. The program is grounded in instructional leadership, based on the Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards (revised 2009) and includes a 450 hour field experience requirement, which can be completed while still teaching full time. Successful completion of the program experience and a passing score on the required state exam will qualify a student for a Tennessee endorsement as a beginning principal/supervisor.
The Reading Specialist concentration requires 36 graduate credits and is designed for teachers who seek to deepen their insights into the acquisition of literacy skills at all grade levels, gain additional instructional and assessment strategies, and work with other teachers in the improvement of their professional competencies in the area of literacy. Completion of the program, along with three years successful teaching experience and a passing score on the required state exam will qualify a student for a Tennessee endorsement as a ‘Reading Specialist’.
The Teacher Leadership Concentration requires 33 graduate credits and is appropriate for teachers and others in education who wish to exercise leadership from the classroom or a special assignment. A teaching license is not required but experience working in a school is strongly recommended. This concentration is designed to meet the growing needs for teacher leadership and a broad base of instructional leadership in PreK-12 schools. It is designed for teachers who want to remain in the classroom and exercise leadership through school-wide collaboration, mentoring new teachers, departmental or grade-level leadership, leading professional development, and the improvement of curriculum and instructional strategies. Nine credits of electives and choice of a literacy course allow the student to focus on areas of special interest as a teacher leader. It does not lead to a special TN endorsement.
Admission
For all concentrations, applicants must initially meet admission requirements to the Graduate School as listed under Admission Requirements.
Specific requirements for admission and completion of each program follow:
