Master of School Administration Think – Value – Communicate – Lead

1. Master of School Administration Think – Value – Communicate – Lead Abstract The Department of Educational Leadership engaged in the Think, Value, Lead, Communicate (TVCL) Matrix development to discuss and evaluate whether the re-visioned Master of School Administration (MSA) program was preparing candidates to be effective principals. Core faculty in the MSA program met biweekly during the summer and fall of 2013 in order to answer the question: “What should ECU MSA graduates know and be able to do?” Department of Educational Leadership Faculty Learning Community Members Marjorie Ringler, Associate Professor and MSA Program Coordinator Kermit Buckner, Professor Bill Grobe, Associate Professor Hal Holloman, Associate Professor Learning Community Timeline Summer 3013 TVCL Matrix Discussions - biweekly Fall 2013 Finalized TVCL Matrix Spring 2014 Wrote Case Study for Publication & Presentation at TVCL Conference, Greenville, NC j TVCL: A Framework for Curriculum Mapping The TVCL Matrix focuses on student learning and serves as a framework for curriculum mapping to ensure positive learning outcomes. The MSA faculty learning community used TVCL to map curriculum at the program level to answer the question: what should the MSA graduates know and be able to do? The faculty’s first non-negotiable was the review of irrefutable evidence that MSA graduates had applied leadership theory and school administration skills to improve schools through Service Leadership Projects (SLPs). Next faculty described their vision of what graduates would look like in principal jobs. A list-group-label strategy provided categories for curriculum mapping. Faculty reviewed course syllabi, student work samples, accreditation evaluation data, program evaluation reports, SLPs, site supervisor data, and personal teaching experiences in the curriculum mapping process. TVCL provided an opportunity to devote time to curriculum mapping of the MSA program and concentrate on student learning outcomes. The TVCL process was faculty driven. They found that the experience was refreshing and energizing because it was a unique opportunity to discuss teaching and learning. • Findings: • MSA program clearly conveyed the values listed on the TVCL Matrix • Course content was closely linked with application and practice opportunities through service learning projects. These service learning projects are called Service Leadership Projects (SLPs) in the ECU MSA program. • Some leadership theories were being taught in several courses at the same level of knowledge while there were some leadership theories that needed to be added to the MSA curriculum. • MSA Program Improvements: • MSA Curriculum monthly meetings will follow the TVCL process • Each course will have a common syllabus that includes the core body of knowledge. Each syllabus will be discussed and revised on a yearly basis • .