 Overview
Program Description
Coursework
Sample Summer Course Schedule
Academic Year Requirements
Graduate Study in Liberal Arts
Requirements for Admissions
Application Procedure
Financing Your Degree
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Overview
The Leadership Academy is a challenging and meaningful program that offers selected
candidates the opportunity to develop the knowledge
and skills necessary to lead independent schools in
America and abroad. It allows educators to pursue
studies over the course of two intensive summer sessions
and undertake site-based research projects and practica
at their school of employment during the intervening
year. A capstone project is completed
after the second summer. The program draws prominent faculty from throughout the university including Columbia University School of Law and the School of International and Public Affairs as well as Teachers College.
Candidates are selected from among sitting administrators and aspiring school leaders in independent schools. Because there is considerable collaboration with the sponsoring school, Leadership Academy students must be endorsed by their respective Heads of School. Sponsoring schools are asked to consider granting some release time to allow students to do research and practica during the academic year. In some cases, schools also agree to help fund the student's degree program or fund forgiveable loans..
Successful completion of the 18-month program leads to a 32-point Master of Arts degree, or a 60-point Master of Education degree for those who have already completed graduate work in a teaching discipline or another field of study relevant to school leadership. Up to 30 points of transfer credit may be accepted.
Click here to view the face book for the 2007-2009 cohort
Click here to view Frequently Asked Questions
Download a program brochure in PDF
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Program Description
The Leadership Academy couples intensive academic summer course work at Columbia Teachers College with site-based requirements to offer candidates the opportunity to combine rigorous academic study with hands-on investigation and application.
Coursework is enhanced by group projects, guest speakers and visits to area schools. The prescribed curriculum has been designed around four core principles of effective leadership:
- The centrality of education and education leadership in promoting social justice and diversity;
- The need to nurture learning among all members of the school community, students as well as adults;
- The importance of collaboration and team work in school effectiveness;
- The use of reflection to improve practice;
Site-based projects and practica are designed to provide the student with experiential learning in the context of his/her own school and to offer residual benefits to the sponsoring school. Effort is made to enhance schools through research projects and by creating meaningful practica in the academic year between summer sessions.
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Core Courses
School Choice and Privatization
Philosophy of John Dewey
Research Methods
School Finance
Law and Educational Institutions
Ethical Issues in School Administration
The Leadership of Private Schools
Curriculum and Cognitive Development
Supporting Teaching and Learning
Marketing
Courses may change as the program is designed to meet the emerging needs of school leadership. |
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While this aptly reflects a sample class schedule, activities and outside speakers are designed to augment the student's experience throughout the program.
The six-week summer sessions run from late June to the end of July. Each term is three weeks long. Students are expected to complete assignments prior to their arrival on campus and to complete course projects subsequent to the final scheduled class meeting.
Sample Schedule
8:30am-11:30am Law and Educational Institutions
Lunch
12:30pm-3:30pm Finance |
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Academic Year Requirements
Research Project
As part of the research course, students work in small groups to choose a topic of importance to them, to their schools, and to the independent school sector at large. They develop a plan for research to be carried out over the course of the upcoming academic year. Throughout the year, each student gathers data and communicates electronically with group members and with the project director. Findings are presented during the second summer of coursework with the accompanying paper to be shared with both the research professor, project director and sponsoring school.
Practicum Requirement
During the academic year, students pursue practica in administrative areas of their respective schools. Practica may include work in finance curriculum, development, college guidance, admissions, and/or marketing. Though there are endless possibilities, practical tasks may include: balancing a budget, researching prospective school donors, overseeing and/or participating in the admissions process. All students are required to keep a journal in response to their experiences. Those holding senior administrative positions generally focus on a particular area of their current job in order to track their thinking, planning, action and results in deliberate ways. Instructors for the practicum are school heads, each is responsible for six students.
Capstone Project
During the fall semester following the second summer session, students undertake a final project to complete their requirements. This research and writing-based project requires students to demonstrate their new-found understandings about education leadership.
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Graduate Study in Liberal Arts
Students wishing to augment their studies at Teachers College by deepening their knowledge in a particular academic discipline may pursue advanced graduate study at Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences over additional summers. Successful completion of 12 points of coursework, chosen with the guidance of an academic advisor, will result in the award of a Columbia University Certificate of Professional Achievement in the Liberal Arts.
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Recent Students in the Leadership Academy
The students listed below invite you to contact them about their experience in this program:
Cathy Abrams
Florida
cabrams@gulfstreamschool.org
Kevin Cook
Victoria, Canada
kcook@smus.ca
Kate Dabney
Rhode Island
kbdab@yahoo.com
Margaux D'Auteuil
New York
mdauteuil@friendsseminary.org
Mark Devey
Pennsylvania
devey@ea1785.org
Jonathan Eades
Texas
jeades@ehshouston.org
Peter Koehler
California
koehlep@campbellhall.org
Caroline Lenox
Massachusetts
clenox@winsor.edu
Bryan Smith
Tennessee
bsmith@mccallie.org
Gillian Toledo
Michigan
gtoledo@cranbrook.edu
Tonia Whyte Potter-Mal
Ottawa, Canada
white@elmwood.on.ca
(please include a subject line that identifies you)
Deborah Williams
Washington, D.C.
dwilliams@cathedral.org
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Requirements for Admissions
Candidates must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, or its equivalent from another country. To be eligible for the Leadership Academy the candidate must have the endorsement of the sponsoring Head of School and a minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience.
All applicants are required to submit GRE or MAT scores. Applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must provide proof of English language ability (TOEFL, IELTS, CPE). Previous academic accomplishments, job performance as determined by recommendations from administrators and students, leadership potential and character are considerations in student selection.
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Application Procedures
To request an application packet or speak with someone in more detail, please contact:
Teachers College, Columbia University
Office of Admissions
525 West 120th St.
146 Horace Mann Hall, Box 302
New York, NY 10027
212-678-3710
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions
The priority deadline for Leadership Academy applications is November 1st. Applications are accepted up until the final deadline of January 15th.
Please note: The next Leadership Academy cohort will begin in June 2009. To contact the Klingenstein Center directly, please e-mail klingenstein@tc.columbia.edu or call 212-678-3156.
The application for admission packet contains information about Teachers College's offerings of scholarships and grants, loans, student employment, and the application procedures for student aid. Generous scholarships are available.
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Financing Your Degree
Financial Aid
The Teachers College application for admission packet contains information about the college's offerings of grants, loans, and the application procedures for student aid. Applicants must meet the priority deadline to be considered for student aid. Inquiry about any of these options may be directed to the Teachers College Office of Admission (see above).
Scholarship Opportunities
Students admitted to the Leadership Academy degree are eligible to apply for scholarship aid awarded by the Klingenstein Center. Funds are dispersed directly to the Office of Student Accounts to supplement the cost of tuition.
To apply for scholarship aid, you must have filed a FAFSA form and submit:
- a copy of your most recent tax return
- a cover letter briefly stating your need
These materials should be sent directly to:
Leadership Academy Scholarships
The Klingenstein Center
Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street
204 Zankel Building, Box 125
New York, NY 10027
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Summer Institute
