Educational Policy and Leadership

Overview

Using a systems approach to understanding leadership, the curriculum combines rigorous and relevant coursework with real-world experiential learning.

The Educational Policy and Leadership program offered by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is designed to develop educational leaders who understand the urban environment and the community in which schools exist. Program participants receive a firm foundation of knowledge and skills in order to meet the demands and expectations of school administrators - all within a systems approach for transforming schools within an urban community.

The Educational Policy & Leadership program is grounded in the belief that PK-12 educational leaders must work alongside other community institutions, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and business and industry, for the well-being of our community's students and families. Twenty-first century urban education leaders must understand the full array of challenges and the interactive and systemic nature of the institutions and organizations they serve.

The Educational Policy & Leadership program meets the requirements for Nevada School Administrator Endorsement and the Nevada Program Administrator Endorsement.

Learning Objectives

Creating and Sustaining a Focus on Learning

• Planning for school improvement

• Monitoring student performance

• Providing opportunities for teacher reflection

• Short and long term planning to facilitate student achievement

Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Continuous Improvement

• Setting expectations for teacher and student performance

• Developing teachers through observation, feedback, and professional development

• Gathering and analyzing data relative to student learning

• Considering diversity of learners, e.g. ethnicity, abilities, and socioeconomic status

Creating and Sustaining Productive Relationships

• Creating environment that respects all stakeholders

• Establishing opportunities for discourse among stakeholders for decision making

• Creating communication processes for partnering with teachers and students

Creating and Sustaining Structures to Support an Effective School

• Aligning curriculum, instruction, and standards

• Allocating resources and developing structures to support school goals for student learning

Managing Human Capital

• Collecting data related to teacher performance

• Using teacher performance data to support effective instruction

• Developing leadership capacity among teachers

Self-Reflection and Professional Growth

• Using feedback from various sources to improve leadership practices

• Seeking opportunities for continuous growth in leadership

Professional Obligations

• Modeling and advocating fair and equitable treatment of all students and their families

• Modeling integrity and honesty while respecting confidentiality

Family and Community Engagement

• Involving parents, families, and community in policy implementation and program planning

• Involving parents, families, and community in school improvement efforts

• Connecting students and families to other social service and community agencies as needed