Teacher Leadership, M.Ed.

Contact Information

Program Description

Teacher Leadership prepares teachers for “providing professional development, building a school culture of continuous improvement and becoming change agents while maintaining the role of classroom teacher” (GaPSC Guidance for Educators, May 9, 2012). Graduates of this performance-based program will be teacher leaders who plan and lead professional development; who mentor and coach other teachers; who align curriculum, instruction, and assessment; who model best teaching practices; who analyze data and improve learning through data-informed decision-making; who apply research-based approaches to instructional challenges; and who collaborate with all stakeholders to improve student learning.

The M.Ed. with a major in Teacher Leadership program includes a minimum of 36 hours of study in three areas and a six-month residency. In the residency, the teacher leader candidate develops an Individual Growth Plan (IGP) and a Residency Project Proposal, then seeks out opportunities at multiple settings to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of effective teacher leaders. Candidates present their Residency Project and Capstone Portfolio as evidence of their accomplishment in the areas specified by the Teacher Leadership standards.

Admissions Requirements

Please review the general KSU Graduate Admissions  requirements. 

• Transcripts - Official transcripts from EACH College and/or University you have attended. Must be in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically from the institution directly to ksugrad@kennesaw.edu.
• Clear Renewable Georgia Teaching Certificate 
• Personal Reflections Statement - Can be uploaded into the online application. Should be 1-2 pages and address your professional training and interest, educational beliefs, professional goals, and why you seek to pursue your degree at KSU.
• Mentor Form - This program requires that you have a qualified mentor who meets the GaPSC Mentor requirements at each phase in your program. You can find the mentor requirements and form with instructions on the Graduate Admissions website for this program.
• Employment- Candidates are required to by be employed as teachers or administrators in a traditional public school district, a charter school district, a charter school, or an independent school. By PSC regulation, candidates must be referred for admissions by their respective schools/districts, and Kennesaw State University must hold a Performance-Based partnership with the referring district. 
• Resume or Professional Vitae - Resume MUST reflect at least ONE year of professional teaching or administrative experience prior to admission consideration.
• Interview - An interview may be required. If so, you will be contacted by the program to set up an interview.

Admissions Criteria for Unique Cases

Currently, there are no exceptions to the admissions requirements.

Transfer Credit

There are seven (7) required courses that all Teacher Leadership candidates take in order to prepare them for the Teacher Leadership GACE and initial Teacher Leadership certification. Those courses are not transferable. For additional questions regarding course transferability, please contact the Teacher Leadership program coordinator.

Petition to Graduate

Each candidate for a master’s or doctorate degree must petition to graduate online. For more information, please view the corresponding section in Academic Policies .

Program of Study