New Masters programs promote school leadership
A new Master in School Leadership program will assist teachers
Ninety Victorian government school teachers have been selected to participate in Monash University's Faculty of Education's new Masters in School Leadership suite of courses for 2011.
The Master in School Leadership suite of courses has been developed in close partnership between the Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Childhood Education's (DEECD) Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership and Monash University, to provide aspiring school principals and school curriculum leaders with the knowledge, skills and confidence to pathway into senior roles in schools.
Two of these Masters courses, specialising in Literacy and Numeracy, commenced at Monash on February 21, with an intake of 30 new students each. The new intake for the Master in School Leadership will commence March 16 with a further 30 new participants.
Professor John Loughran, Monash University's Dean of the Faculty of Education said the Master in School Leadership programs will extend and complement the existing teaching skills of teachers and allow them to broaden their career opportunities.
"This unique program that has been initiated by the government for state school teachers will enable teachers to develop relationships with other leading practitioners and form communities of practice; learn management skills through application of theory into practice, establish an ethic of leadership that is grounded in respect, care and professional support for self and others; and develop alliances within school, local, regional and professional communities," Professor Loughran said.
Each of the teachers enrolled in the Numeracy and Literacy Masters program will complete a total of four postgraduate level units focusing on leadership in literacy and/or numeracy in part time study mode over two years. The teachers will learn under the guidance and expertise of leading literacy, numeracy and educational leadership academic staff at the Faculty of Education.
Government school teachers enrolled in the courses have their tuition fees sponsored by DEECD.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker and Professor John Loughran welcomed representatives from the Victorian Government, Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership and the first students of the 2011 course as part of the official launch on Monday, 21 February 2011 at Monash University's Clayton campus.
The Master in School Leadership suite, including the Specialisations in Literacy and Numeracy, is one outcome of the close and collaborative relationship the Faculty of Education at Monash University and the Victorian DEECD have shared for a number of years. In partnership, a number of joint projects have been delivered including joint research and a range of professional development programs for principals and aspiring school leaders, as well as teachers in various educational disciplines.