Bulletin Board

EdPA 5374: Leadership for Professional Development, Fall 2007-Spring 2008

This 4 credit graduate course is designed for people interested in the design, implementation, and evaluation of professional development for PreK-12 personnel. The course is grounded in research and focused on effective practices that promote continuous learning and development to increase student achievement. Topics include: standards for staff development practice (systemic and role-specific), reflective practice and designs for professional learning, design and facilitation of group learning, induction with mentoring, and evaluation. The monthly meeting schedule eases travel demands and allows for reflection and application between sessions.

Where will the course be held?

Each year the course is held in a different location in the metropolitan Twin Cities area. During 2007-2008, for the first time, the course will be located centrally at the University of Minnesota, 220 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. The closest parking is at the Church Street Garage or 4th Street Ramp.

How often and when does the course meet?

Class meets once/month during the academic year. Dates for 2007-2008 are: Wednesday, September 12; Saturday, October 13; Wednesday, November 14; Saturday, December 8; Wednesday, January 23; Saturday, February 16; Wednesday, March 5; Saturday, April 12; and Wednesday, May 7.

Who typically enrolls in the course?

Practicing educators from throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, including principals, teachers, teacher leaders, staff development and curriculum specialists, special education coordinators and administrators.

Students enrolled in U of M, College of Education and Human Development graduate programs, such as educational administration and leadership, administrative licensure, and curriculum and instruction programs. Participants do not, however, have to be enrolled in a U of M program to take this course!

This course is required for the graduate level certificate in professional development offered by the University of Minnesota but course participants are not required to enroll in the Certificate program.

What have previous course participants had to say?

• The quality of instruction was comprehensive and prompted a deep level of reflection as an educator. The amount of resources and research-based materials was exceptional. Above all, the passion and enthusiasm portrayed for the value and importance of staff development efforts was outstanding.
• It has been the best course for direction application to my work. Thank you.
• Excellent organization. Clear presentation. Great variety and engaging class activities. Instructor practices what she preaches. Thanks!
• Depth and consistency of feedback is outstanding—like I’ve never experienced as a student
• An unbelievably rich course.
• I have learned more from this class related to my profession than any other course. Well done!
• Excellent course!!! I would recommend this course to any educator.

How do I obtain more information?

To learn more about just this course or about the graduate level certificate in professional development go to: www.cehd.umn.edu/edpa/certificates/professional.html; or, contact: Dr. Jennifer York-Barr at yorkx001@umn.edu .

To enroll contact Dr. Dick Nunneley in the EdPA office: nunne001@umn.edu; or, if you are a current U of M graduate student just add this course to your fall schedule.

EdPA 5322: The School Superintendent, Fall 2007

EdPA 5322—3 credits
Professor: C. Cryss Brunner, Ph.D.

Meetings:

• First class—One (by appointment) face to face interview/tech training session (with some online work) and
• Eight other nights from 4:40 to 8:30
• 3 online classes Tuesdays (9/11, 9/18, 10/2);
• 5 face-to-face classes on Tuesdays (10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6)

Have you ever considered becoming a superintendent? If you think you MIGHT step into a superintendent's shoes someday, you should strongly consider taking this course. Students, teachers, administrators, and acting superintendents are welcome.

This class will focus heavily on individual capacity building. Instructional and technology leadership, transformational leadership, and collaborative leadership, will be addressed, as well the sometimes illusive methods for attaining a position. The class includes experiential simulations that immerse the participant in “real” world dilemmas and situations.

Topics include:

• Authentic communication in various forms

• Authentic participatory decision making

• Attention to differences in career paths

• Power, including the intersection of power and decision making

• Attention to Professional Standards for the Superintendency

User friendly features:

• Participants will meet, by appointment, with Dr. Brunner individually for first class to assess individual needs (and do some online work)—during last week of Aug. or first two weeks of Sept.
• Class meets only 8 times beyond individual first class—3 dates via the Web (no parking hassles) and in the evening

The U of M’s Digital Media Center is interested in the technology used in this class and has asked that data be collected. Students’ experiences and grades in the class will not be altered if they choose not to participate in the study.
 

TO TAKE THE CLASS YOU MUST CONTACT DR. BRUNNER BEFORE REGISTERING.

Registration for fall 2007 has opened.

Students must contact Dr. Brunner at brunner@umn.edu to get permission number to register. Deadline for registration: August 18, 2007.

EdPA 5323: Women in Leadership, Fall 2007

EdPA 5323—3 credits
Dr. C. Cryss Brunner, Ph.D.

Meetings*:

Mondays 4:40-8:30 p.m.

Online classes: 3 Monday nights (9/10, 9/17, 10/1)
Face-to-face classes on campus: 5 Monday nights (10/8 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5)

*This course consists of eight sessions, plus an initial interview (counted as class time) during the last week of August or the first two weeks of September. In addition, students will do some online work before the interview (counted as class time).

What are the hidden and not-so-hidden issues facing women in leadership roles? Why have so few women leaders emerged in education and other fields?

Topics include:

• conceptions of power
• constructions of identity
• female career patterns
• gender discrimination
• inclusive conceptualizations of managerial and leadership theory

In addition to face-to-face class sessions, the course will include online experiential simulations. Developed by Dr. Brunner, these simulations will immerse participants in “real-world” dilemmas and situations, and will assist participants in understanding how their own beliefs shape their behaviors and others' reactions to those behaviors. Technology skills will be enhanced and supported by on-call technology experts.

The U of M’s Digital Media Center is interested in the technology used in this class and has asked that data be collected. Students’ experiences and grades in the class will not be altered if they choose not to participate in the study.

STUDENTS MUST CONTACT DR. BUNNER VIA E-MAIL BEFORE THEY REGISTER. REGISTRATION BEGINS IN APRIL. ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED AND MANY SEATS ARE ALREADY SAVED/FILLED. ACT NOW!

[Please send contact information in your e-mail so your appointment can be scheduled.]

32nd participant group for the Minnesota Site of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP)

Recruitment is now underway for 15 individuals who will comprise the 32nd participant group for the Minnesota Site of the Education Policy Fellowship Program. Details on EPFP, contact information for program coordinators , listing of program alumni (we encourage contact with past participants) and application procedures can be found at www.cehd.umn.edu/edpa/epfp. EPFP is a year-long program focusing on public policy-issues and process as well as leadership development.

A new blog just for school leaders!

LeaderTalk = 7 superintendents, 24 principals, 7 educational administration faculty, and 10 central office / state-level administrators.

LeaderTalk = the first group blog by school leaders for school leaders.

LeaderTalk = the voice of what it means to be a school administrator today and tomorrow.

LeaderTalk is available at www.leadertalk.org or can be received via e-mail. We invite you to check out the blog yourself and hope that you will share this powerful resource with the administrators that you serve and with whom you interact. In the past month alone our contributors have touched on topics as diverse as listening to student voices, education’s hidden messages, RIFing teachers, being a new administrator, student discipline, teacher apathy, and ensuring proper job balance as a busy leader. Important topics + powerful writing = a great resource for practicing and preservice administrators.

Thank you for sharing these wonderful conversations with others. Please note that we are looking for new voices! If you and/or your constituents are interested, we encourage you to click on the link to be a LeaderTalk contributor.

LeaderTalk is a project of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), housed here in the College of Education and Human Development. Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Scott McLeod, assistant professor of educational policy and administration and director of CASTLE, if you have any questions or suggestions about this initiative.

Job openings

Searching for a job in Minnesota education?

• K-12
• Higher Education
• Administrators

Perhaps you are in need of a job, or considering a job change. The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) offers job information online! Check out our job site at: http://mnasa.org/school_jobs

MASA supports an electronic education job listing service. It is called the MASA Jobsite and Applicant Site Online. This jobsite has listings of educational jobs for about 200 of Minnesota's school districts. Job seekers can browse the site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Job hunters can browse posted positions and electronically file their resume materials at no cost. The Jobsite/Applicant site simplifies the hiring process for both candidates and school districts. The Site's search capabilities allow candidates to review positions by vacancy category and geographic location.