Masters Degree in Teacher Leadership

The first cohort of the Masters Degree in Teacher Leadership completed a year of study with a summer field experience at Newark museum. By all accounts, the program is well on its way to setting a new standard for teacher leadership in New Jersey.

 The new Masters Degree Program is a collaborative project of Montclair State University, NJEA, and the Center. This master’s degree program includes courses in leadership skills, contemporary professional development experiences, and instructional strategies. Graduates of the program will be prepared to assume leadership roles in the development of professional learning communities in their schools. 

The overarching goal of the program is to provide practicing teachers with the requisite knowledge, skills and dispositions they need to remain in the classroom and actively engage with their profession, their peers, and the community in an ethical manner as leaders in teaching, learning and professional development.

Patty McGee of Harrington Park and Lara Siegel of Chatham share their expertise to create a teaching unit on the Battle of Gettysburg		Courtney Washington of Montclair and Adrienne Ross of Demarest designed an interactive lesson about Mount Vesuvius.

Photos: Northern New Jersey teachers in the first teacher leader cohort participated in a summer field experience at the Newark Museum.

Rave Reviews

Teachers in the Northern New Jersey cohort are beginning their second year in the program – to rave reviews.  

Teacher leadership is a journey that one takes with critical friends. It is filled with pathways that lead to self-discovery and professional growth. Courtney Washington, Montclair

The MSU Master of Teacher Leadership Cohort Program has enabled me to be a more proficient and successful educator because it has challenged me to explore and test my educational knowledge and prepare me to be a future teacher leader. Denise Allen, Old Tappan

What a wonderful opportunity to work with a cohort of dedicated teachers who together are working toward a common goal. Professors and other university and district officials have been quite supportive of the program.  Adrienne Ross, Demarest

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and implement cutting edge skills and knowledge in my classroom and school. The program is rigorous and richly rewarding. Debbie Gabrielsen, Leonia

Montclair State University and NJCTL is looking into the possibility of setting up additional cohorts in Burlington and Mercer Counties. Interested persons are encouraged to visit the Montclair State University website for additional information, including a list of tuition and fees, and an online application or contact Monica Taylor (taylorm@mail.montclair.edu) or Jennifer Goeke (goekej@mail.montclair.edu). 

To learn more about teacher leadership and its impact on school improvement, see "Leadership for Student Learning: Redefining Teacher Leadership", from the National Task Force on Teacher Leadership.

ATTACHMENT: Deb Eldridge article from Review magazine