EDUC 743 Executive Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction

A primary responsibility of the school superintendent or assistant superintendent is the use of strategic planning to improve the scope and success of all institutional programs. This includes evaluation of instruction and the development of quality instructional personnel through divisional leaders. Superintendents must have specific leadership skills, dispositions, techniques, and processes to oversee the smooth operation of the school system as well as a knowledge base in program assessment, instructional strategies, motivational psychology, and learning styles to assess and develop quality instruction for student learning. This course focuses on a holistic approach to collegial supervision and administrative evaluation.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate is required to create a thread of at least 300 words in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. In addition to the thread, the candidate is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads and each reply must be at least 150 words. Each thread must incorporate at least 2 scholarly citations and each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly citation. The candidate will complete the various discussion thread assignments in collaboration with other course candidates. The topics and requirements for the assignments vary according to the applicable readings for the modules/weeks assigned. Any references used must be cited in current APA format. (CLO: A, C, D, E)

School Administration Practicum for Licensure Candidates Assignments (Licensure Candidates Only)

Only licensure candidates must complete the practicum in order to earn a passing grade in this course. The minimum required number of hours for district-level/superintendent candidates is 50 hours. During this course, the candidate will complete practicum hours in an accredited school or school district. The form submissions are non-graded assignments; however, they are required for licensure candidates to pass this course. (CLO: B, C, D, E, G)

Quiz: Field Experience Management (FEM)

This quiz ensures licensure candidates have submitted the online Field Experience Management (FEM) form for their Practicum.

School Administration Practicum for Licensure Candidates: Field Experience Summary (FES) Assignment

Upon completion of the practicum, the candidate will submit the FES via Canvas.

School Administration Practicum for Licensure Candidates: Field Experience Assessment (FEA) Assignment

The onsite mentor will complete the FEA in LiveText’s Field Experience Management (FEM) program. Specific directions explaining how the mentor will complete the FEA in LiveText will be emailed to the candidate.

Reflective Journal Assignments (3)

For each entry, the candidate will reflect on the assigned module: week’s Reading & Study material and describe how he/she would translate theory into school district practice in response to the situation presented in the provided prompt. (CLO: C, D, E)

Reflective Journal: Technology Implementation Assignment

This paper must be at least 300 words. The narrative needs to connect to the course texts/videos and include an integration of biblical principles.

Reflective Journal: The Purpose of School Assignment

There is no length requirement for this assignment. However, the candidate must address each question with a substantive paragraph that connects his/her views to the information presented in the course texts/videos and include an integration of biblical principles.

Reflective Journal: Superintendent/Board Relationships Assignment

There is no length requirement for this assignment. However, the candidate must address each question with a substantive paragraph that connects his/her views to the information presented in the course texts/videos and include an integration of biblical principles.

Action Research Project Assignments (4)

This assignment is required for all candidates. Licensure candidates may count hours completing this project as part of their required 50 field hours

The Action Research Project is the course benchmark assignment for EDAS 743. The assignment provides an opportunity for the candidate to role-play a district superintendent while conducting a research project in collaboration with a building principal or assistant principal. The action research follows observation cycle design as the candidate and volunteer collaborate to (a) identify an area of professional development for the participating administrator related to the improvement of school function that ties to improving student achievement, (b) propose and implement an action strategy to improve the role of the principal or assistant principal as the building leader for student achievement, (c) evaluatively reflect on the progress of the plan and adjust implementation based on data gathered by the candidate during three field observations and post conferences, (d) evaluate the results as a foundation for further professional development of the volunteer, and (e) reevaluate. The span of this project covers six weeks of the course’s eight-week time period. The complete project details are provided in the assignment section in Canvas. For assessment purposes and to verify progress, candidates complete four assignments:

Action Research Project: Part 1 – Proposal Assignment

After the candidate locates a volunteer principal or assistant principal who is willing to work with him/her on this project, the volunteer is to identify a short-term initiative to develop and launch. The initiative can include improving a previously launched initiative that is in need of revision; it could be a new initiative to improve the school climate and thus impact student learning; or it can focus on developing the administrator’s leadership skills to improve leadership effectiveness and thus impact student learning. The candidate must submit a written proposal for instructor approval that includes:

1. background information,
2. rationale for the project,
3. a research question, and at least 1 learning standard from the candidate’s state’s curriculum standards that aligns with the proposed project. (CLO: A, B, D, E)

Action Research Project: Part 2 – Literature Review Assignment

The purpose of the literature review is to connect the inquiry to what experts in the field have published.  The candidate must use at least five academic journal articles, books, or other research-based sources in crafting a four-page literature review. The candidate will provide a cohesive narrative that explains the topic of study and the results of previous research. (CLO: E, F)

Action Research Project: Part 3 – Update Assignment

The candidate will provide a brief summary of the work completed to date. The candidate will report on:

1. a brief summary of the observation(s) and post-observation conference(s) completed to date (at least 1 must be finished at this point),
2. action steps yet to be completed that will lead to timely submission of the finished project, and problems he/she is encountering, if any. (CLO: A, B, D, E)

Action Research Project: Final Assignment

The candidate will submit a finalized version of the project, completing each of the prescribed elements in the grading template. (CLO: A, B, D, E, F, G)

Policy Analysis Assignment

The candidate will review his/her school district policy manual to locate policies that indirectly or directly apply to diversity concerns in the school system. A copy of one policy from the school policy manual must be submitted and analyzed in a substantive assessment of at least 300 words. In the analysis, the candidate must articulate the value of the policy in helping leaders address cultural diversity issues as they seek to build a collaborative school district environment. References must be cited in current APA format. (CLO: D, E)

Quiz: Final

The exam will cover the Learn material for all modules. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, have unlimited time, and contain 4 essay questions. (CLO: C, D, E)