Educators go back to school to improve local schools
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019
MANHATTAN — About 100 educators in several Kansas school districts and eight educators in the Osage Nation in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, are strengthening their local schools by participating in master's degree-level academies hosted by the Kansas State University College of Education.
The academies build and enhance local leadership capacity by merging theory and practice within the context of the mission, goals, priorities and challenges of the school districts where the educators — now graduate students at K-State — work, said Jerry Johnson, professor and chair of the college's educational leadership department.
Currently, six academies and one cohort are in operation and are headed by faculty from the educational leadership department:
• The Topeka USD 502 academy and the Shawnee Mission USD 512 academy are led by Rick Doll, associate professor and executive director of the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute.
• The Geary County USD 475 academy and the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383-Wamego USD 320 academy are led by Mary Devin, professor.
• The Salina USD 305 academy and the Dodge City USD 443-Garden City USD 457 academy are led by Donna Augustine-Shaw, associate professor.
The Osage Nation cohort, based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is led by Alex Red Corn, assistant professor and Osage Nation citizen.
As partners, district and university leaders plan a delivery structure that embeds state and national leadership standards within the context of the district's objectives and needs. In its second decade of implementation, this preparation model is widely recognized for successfully preparing both teacher leaders and administrators.
Educators must meet university admission requirements and be selected by their district based on demonstrated leadership potential. The district's involvement continues throughout the program via a liaison who facilitates the application of knowledge and skills within the district and co-designs/co-delivers instruction. Other district leaders participate as guest instructors on relevant topics, ensuring that students acquire knowledge and skills that are of immediate and longer-range benefit to the district.
More information is available at coe.k-state.edu/edlea/docs/EDLEA-Partnerships-brochure.pdf.
