Licensure Only

The Instructional Leadership (Licensure) concentration is designed to prepare candidates seeking licensure as beginning administrators under the Tennessee Learning Centered Leadership Policy. More information concerning the leadership redesign can be found at http://www.tnelc.org/. Candidates completing the K-12 Instructional Leadership concentration must successfully pass the Praxis SLLA Exam (required for the ILL-B License - Test Code 6990) to obtain both the M.Ed. degree and licensure. Approved Instructional Leadership preparation programs are required that all candidate applicants hold a current Teacher's License, have a minimum of two years of successful education working experience, and submit a confidential application portfolio that contains the following:

Admission Criteria

Forms are provided for the following:

Verification of work experience—documenting at least 2 years
SLLA Praxis Requirements letter
District Support Letter
Medical Vaccination Exemption

Other Required Documentation:

Copy of past 2 teacher evaluations (TEAM or other district evaluation)
Verification of clear background check from employer
Current resume
3 letters of recommendation
Copy of State Literacy Training certificate (Reading 360)
Names and emails of 3 references to complete leadership disposition survey—These do not have to be the same references who wrote the letters of recommendation but should hold a leadership position in the school/system where you teach.

Writing Samples:

Using assessments in your classroom (topic provided)
Personal statement of career goals and how the preparation program will assist you in reaching stated goals
Evidence of collaboration, cooperation and relationship building, especially in relation to student achievement
Philosophy of leadership

Portfolio Completion Requirements

To earn an advanced degree in Instructional Leadership or to complete a leadership program leading to licensure, a candidate must:

Develop an Evidence Portfolio documenting the competencies necessary to satisfactorily perform at the ILL-B level
Pass the SLLA
Give an in-person portfolio defense (See below.)
Candidates will defend their portfolio as a body of work containing evidence of their mastery of the TILS. Products of courses and practica must be aligned with the TILS. Faculty members will ask questions to evaluate the quality of your mastery of the standards. Candidates will schedule their Portfolio Defense at the end of their program completion.
Prepare a power point briefing.
Prepare portfolio in a three-ring binder.
Prepare to defend your work.

Candidates enrolled in the M.Ed. program will be engaged in assessments that are based on ISSLLC and TIL standards underlying the core curriculum for instructional leaders. The continued development of the portfolio throughout the M.Ed. program will afford candidates opportunities for reflection and self-evaluation. The portfolio should serve as a way to highlight expertise and competence that will be used to gain future employment as a K-12 administrator. To complete the program, licensure-seeking candidates must complete an oral defense of their portfolio in the last semester of work. The defense of the portfolio, and its artifacts, shall function as the comprehensive exam for all leadership candidates seeking the ILL-B Administrative License.

Total Credit Hours: 18

In order to complete a licensure only track, please contact the M.Ed. Program Director.

Licensure: Candidates for a Tennessee Administrator's license must pass the state-required exam to be qualified for a license, and as a requirement to complete the Master of Education in Instructional Leadership program. Exam requirements periodically change. Candidates must consult the Tennessee Department of Education and Educational Testing Service websites for a list of current licensure exams.