Department of Teaching, Leadership, & Technology

Professors Cook, Williams; Associate Professors Alexiou-Ray, Davis, Raulston, G. Samuels, Smajic; Assistant Professors Hooper, Ploessl, A. Samuels, Steele, Taylor 

Department Contact Information

Dr. Cassie Raulston, Interim Chair
Wills Hall
(205) 665-6345
craulston@montevallo.edu
https://www.montevallo.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-education/teaching-leadership-technology/

Mission

The Mission of the College of Education is to prepare highly skilled, knowledgeable, and continually developing undergraduate and graduate candidates who make informed decisions, use current evidence and research based practices, and promote healthy and equitable communities through careers in counseling, exercise and nutrition science, family and consumer sciences, leadership, teaching, and technology.

Degrees Offered

This department offers three degree options and one certificate option.

Alternative Masters in Education

The Alternative Masters option is designed for students who have an undergraduate degree, but do not hold a teaching certificate. This option leads to a master’s degree plus Class A initial certification.

Professional Educators Masters in Education

The Professional Educators Master’s option is designed for students who hold Class B teaching certification. This option leads to a Master’s degree and Class A advanced certification. Students can complete a Professional Educators Master’s program in their teaching field or in instructional leadership at the Master’s level.

Certification Only

Instructional Leadership, Class A Certification Program (Reduced Hours Option) is designed for students who currently hold a Class A in a teaching field or in another area of instruction support, and who desire to add an additional Class A in Instructional Leadership. The student would be able to earn the additional Class A in Instructional Leadership in 18-21 hours.

Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist option is designed for students who currently hold a Master’s Degree and/or Class A certification. All the specialist programs are recognized degrees by the Alabama State Department of Education for salary compensation. The Instructional Leadership and Teacher Leadership programs also lead to Class AA advanced certification. At this time, the EdS in Instructional Technology does not lead to state certification, but the degree is recognized for salary compensation.   

Admissions Requirements

Additional admissions, retention, and completion requirements listed will be listed in each program’s section.

Teacher Education Program (TEP) Requirements

These requirements are for programs that lead to state teacher certification. 

I. Admission

Admission requirements for advanced degree program that lead to certification vary from program to program (e.g., GPA, interview, essay, and portfolio scores; teaching certificate; years of experience; Praxis test scores). The University’s certification officer verifies program admission documents.

II. Retention

Advising is essential for successful completion of advanced degree programs that lead to certification. Variation from the planned program of study created with an advisor could result in failure to be recommended for certification. Regular consultation with an advisor is needed so that students can be apprised of program revisions that result from mandated changes in State certification requirements. Graduate study is limited to six years. Requests for extensions of this time limit must be approved by the Dean of the College and could necessitate completion of additional coursework or other requirements.

A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 for masters and 3.5 for Ed.S., as well as course grades of C or better must be maintained during graduate studies.

Successful completion of all field, clinical, and practicum experience requirements, program key assessments, and professional dispositions assessments is necessary for retention in the TEP. The Teacher Education Program Handbook, published annually by the Office of Teacher Education Services, describes more specifically the current TEP retention requirements.

III. Internship or Residency

Successful completion of a full semester, full-time internship is required for State certification in the Alternative Master’s degree program. The College, in cooperation with area school systems, has developed a comprehensive program of pre-internship field and clinical experiences in a variety of school settings. These experiences require extensive involvement in schools outside of class. Transportation is the responsibility of the student.

Successful completion of embedded field-based assignments is a required component of the Professional Educators Master’s degree and Teacher Leadership program. Both the School Counseling program and the Instructional Leadership program may include practicum, internship, and residency experiences.

IV. Certification

Upon completion of a graduate degree in an approved program, a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 for masters and 3.5 for Ed.S., and a passing score on the comprehensive exam, portfolio, or edTPA are required. As applicable to the program, passing scores on Praxis and/or basic skills exams are required prior to certification. Eligible candidates may be recommended for Class Alt A, A, or AA certification in the State of Alabama. Candidates must complete an application for Alabama Certification. Instructions for completing the certification form are available through the Office of Teacher Education Services. The appropriate fees (money order or cashier’s check made payable to the Alabama State Department of Education or receipt of online payment) must be submitted with the application for certification. The application for certification, fee payment, and the candidate’s transcripts are forwarded to the State Department of Education. The University cannot recommend any candidate for certification that has not satisfied all Alabama and UM requirements for admission to and completion of an approved program. Students have five years after their program completion date to apply for certification.

Courses in Teaching, Leadership, & Technology

• Courses of Instruction  

Programs

• Collaborative 6-12, Alternative, M.Ed.
• Collaborative K-6, Alternative, M.Ed.
• Elementary Education, Alternative, M.Ed.
• Elementary Education, Professional Educator, M.Ed.
• Instructional Leadership, M.Ed.
• P-12 Art Education, Alternative, M.Ed.
• P-12 Art Education, Professional Educators, M.Ed.
• P-12, Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Alternative, M.Ed.
• Secondary Education, Alternative, M.Ed.
• Secondary Education, Professional Educators, M.Ed.

• Instructional Leadership, Ed.S.
• Instructional Technology, Ed.S.

• Teacher Leadership, Ed.S.

• Instructional Leadership, Reduced Hour Option for Certification