SWU plays key role in developing Teacher Leader Endorsement
Teachers who are engaged in leadership and wish to remain in a classroom setting have an option available to them though the Teacher Leader Endorsement, facilitated through Southern Wesleyan University’s School of Education, approved by the state legislature and adopted by the State Board of Education.
Southern Wesleyan’s School of education developed this endorsement as part of its master of education degree in classroom leadership. The Teacher Leader Endorsement offers different avenues for educators to provide guidance, whether through peer mentoring of newer teachers or coaching in areas such as technology, according to Dr. Sandra McLendon, dean of the university’s School of Education. Prospective students can either be currently enrolled in the master’s program or they may drop into the core and take the courses, provided space is available.
“Teacher Leaders help move the schools from the top-down concept of leadership that most schools and administrators have used in their organizational structures. In the teacher leader model, leadership becomes distributed among the majority stakeholders – teachers,” McLendon said.
McLendon added that in most instances the trend towards the teacher leadership role is actually initiated at the state level. Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois and Louisiana instituted Teacher Leader positions by establishing criteria for endorsing, certifying, licensing, or credentialing teachers as teacher leaders.
“Several states have embraced the importance of the Teacher Leader concept to assist teacher colleagues to positively impact student learning,” McLendon said. “With the adoption of the Teacher Leader endorsement, South Carolina would be in the vanguard of states that are transforming educators into education entrepreneurs or ‘edupreneurs’ who have a huge impact on the opportunities for South Carolina students.”
For details, visit swu.edu/medcl or call (864) 644-5557 or 1-877-644-5557.
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.