COE: MEd: Educational Administration | School Leadership Preparation
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Be more than a leader, be a Change Agent

The Master of Education in Educational Administration/School Leadership is intended for educators interested who don’t just want to be a leader--they want to be a change-agent. Fulfilling Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements for school principal licensure, this innovative program is based on current research and best practices in leader development. It is designed to prepare highly effective administrators who engage in reflective practice, drive gains in student achievement and development, create equitable and efficacious school cultures, and utilize strategic planning to organize adults and continuously track progress toward goals. Participants are prepared to meet any challenge facing school leaders today.

Students admitted to the program become members of a cohort that begins study in the fall semester. Those who continuously enroll complete the degree in two years. This program consists of 33 credit hours and is rich in field experiences. The second year of the program features a minimum of 300 hours of residency experience as a school leader. Principals in area schools and UMSL faculty members provide mentorship and coaching throughout the program. Residency assessments track progress toward the goal of becoming a highly effective leader.

Master of Education (MEd)

Contact Advisors:

Marty Woytus & Susan Johnson

116 South Campus Classroom Building (SCCB)
p: (314) 516-5930

Deadline to Apply:
March 1st

News

Slide 1 Culture, Citizenship, Service: Graduate Student Develops School Leadership Philosophy During Year-long Residency
Michelle Cooley’s colleagues describe her as “a passionate educator” who is steadfast in her belief that quality education is a right for all children – and that all children need and deserve positive role models they can see themselves in.
Slide 2 Leadership Graduate Named White House Fellow
Under his leadership, schools achieved significant gains in literacy and attendance, outperformed the district’s graduation rate, and decreased suspensions.
Certifications:
DESE Elementary Principal (Grades K-8) Certification
The College of Education will recommend you to the Missouri Department of Elementary/Secondary Education for initial administrator certification at the completion of the Masters of Educational Administration degree program if you have met all state requirements, including at least two years of qualified teaching experience, and you have successfully passed the State Principal Assessments. For dual certification, elementary and secondary, you may take additional courses to obtain the other certification. To ensure that you have met all state requirements, please contact your advisor. Applicant must initiate the certification process by completing their individual profile on the DESE website. UMSL is then notified to send the recommendation and transcripts.
DESE Middle School Principal (Grades 5-9) Certification
If you have been granted initial principal certification, the College of Education will recommend you to the Missouri Department of Elementary/Secondary Education for additional endorsement for middle school administration certification when you have completed additional courses for the middle school program. To ensure that you have met all state requirements, please contact your advisor. Applicant must initiate the certification process by completing their individual profile on the DESE website. UMSL is then notified to send the recommendation and transcripts.
DESE Secondary Principal (Grades 7-12) Certification
The College of Education will recommend you to the Missouri Department of Elementary/Secondary Education for initial administrator certification at the completion of the Masters of Educational Administration degree program if you have met all state requirements, including at least two years of qualified teaching experience, and you have successfully passed the State Principal Assessments. For dual certification, elementary and secondary, you may take additional courses to obtain the other certification. To ensure that you have met all state requirements, please contact your advisor. Applicant must initiate the certification process by completing their individual profile on the DESE website. UMSL is then notified to send the recommendation and transcripts.
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Overview

The M.Ed. in education administration is designed for individuals interested in becoming a school leader. A total of 33 hours are required for graduation. Students will be admitted and will progress through the program in a cohort.

Prerequisites

Teaching Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ successful PK-12 teaching experience in a school system. This may include experience from another state, and private, public, parochial, independent or charter schools.

Grade Point Average: The minimum GPA for regular admission is 2.75 in each of the three GPAs. Students with GPAs below 2.75 but above 2.50 are eligible to be admitted on restricted status. In this case, newly admitted graduate students must earn a 3.00 GPA in their first 12 credits of course work to continue study.

Enrolling in Courses

You must be admitted to the Graduate School before you can register for courses. You can call OASIS to make an appointment with an advisor who will help you register for your first semester (314-516-5937). Thereafter, you will be assigned a faculty advisor and that faculty advisor will assist you for the balance of your program.

Graduation

Students must apply to graduate at the beginning of the semester in which they are to graduate. Submission deadlines may change, but are relatively early in the semester. To apply, you must submit an Application for Graduation (M4) to your advisor.

Certification

Specific certification instructions can be found on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website . Students should be aware that they must pass the following exams for initial principal certification:

Checklist
Plan of Study
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Patricia Corum, Ed.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor

Dr. Patty Corum is an educational consultant who works with school administrators and teachers on teaching quality, focusing mostly on effective evaluations, observations and meaningful feedback.  She has worked in the urban, suburban and rural settings across the State of Missouri.  Prior to this, Dr. Corum served almost thirty years in K-12 education as Deputy ...
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Vanessa Garry, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Vanessa Garry is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), St. Louis, Missouri and holds K-12 principal and superintendent certification. She earned her Ph.D. and Ed.S. degrees in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the UMSL. Dr. Garry teaches graduate s...
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Thomas Hoerr, Ph.D.
Scholar In Residence

Tom Hoerr led schools for 37 years, taught for eight years, and worked for two years as an intern in the SLPS Division of Evaluation and Research. He has written five books and 140 articles/chapters. His most recent book is The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Students Need. He has presented around the world on multiple i...
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Amy Johnston,
Sr. Educational Leadership Coordinator

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James Shuls, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

James V. Shuls earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including: Phi Delta Kappan, Social Science Quarterly, The Rural Educator, Educational Policy, Education Economics, and the Journal of School Choice: International Research and Reform.