How to Get a Masters in Instructional Leadership + No GRE Online Degree!

Instructional leadership is a critical part of effective school leadership. Educational professionals who focus their careers on instructional leadership strive to ensure that every student is getting the best quality education possible every day.

Doing this requires that instructional leaders acts as leaders to improve teaching quality, which should lead to more effective student learning over time.

Effective instructional leadership, which you can learn if you earn a master’s degree in this field, is based upon these core beliefs:

  • Good instructional leadership is focused on learning for both students and teachers. It is learning that is measured by improving instruction and the quality of learning that the student experiences.
  • Effective instructional leadership resides with a leadership team, and the principal has to be an effective leader of the leaders.
  • Public practice and reflective practice culture is necessary for good instructional leadership.
  • Instructional leadership effectively addresses socio economic, cultural, linguistic and learning diversity in the school and community.
  • Instructional leadership is focused upon the proper management of people and resources.

A professional with this master’s degree will be able to work in these fields:

  • Training and development manager: Responsible for planning, directing and coordination of programs that will enhance the knowledge and skills of workers in an educational organization. Companies must rely on these professionals to offer education to employees so that they can stay competitive in the business world. You will be responsible for teaching training initiatives and will manage staff and budgets for a corporation, most likely.
  • Instructional coordinator or manager: You will oversee curricula for schools and also will manage and enhance standards of teaching. You will need to develop new materials of instruction and effectively coordinate how they are provided to the students. Later, you will need to assess how effectively the curricula are teaching students. Also, conduct observation sessions of teachers as they teach in their classrooms. You also will serve as a leader of new teachers and teach them any new curricula the school is using
  • Teacher: Many teaching professionals will use their instructional leadership master’s degree to be a more effective teaching professional. Being able to use your leadership skills to lead a team of teachers can be very important for improving the effectiveness of education for many children.

Why Earn a Master’s in Instructional Leadership?

Professionals who earn a master’s degree in instructional leadership can enjoy a rewarding educational career leading a division, school or school system. You also can use this degree to enhance your in class teaching skills.

Experienced educational professionals often choose to earn this advanced degree because of the greatly enhanced career possibilities they can enjoy in the educational field.

Many educational workers with this master’s degree may eventually move into the following roles:

  • Principal
  • Curriculum manager
  • Program administrator
  • Superintendant
  • Department chair

Further, if you decide to stay in the classroom environment, you also could move into a senior teaching role with this master’s degree, and become a leader or manager of a group of teachers.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into a master’s program in this field, you will need to meet requirements such as these:

  • 0 GPA
  • GRE scores may be required
  • Official college transcripts from your bachelor’s program
  • Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field
  • 3 recommendations
  • Statement of purpose

Curriculum and Courses

You can earn a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from Saint Leo University that will expand your leadership skills inside and outside the classroom. Students who graduate from this program will gain more knowledge of instructional practice, technology and theory so that they can work in educational leadership in their school or district.

This program is often chosen by experienced educators to enhance their leadership skills so that they can transition into higher paying leadership positions in their educational system.

You will study the following areas in this master’s program:

  • Curriculum development, evaluation and implementation
  • Instructional and assessment strategies based upon unique research
  • How to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
  • Effective instructional theory and practice
  • Law in the public schools
  • How to effectively manage educational change

This program can be completed entirely online in a self paced program, or in a cohort model where you will take your classes at fixed times with other students.

Saint Leo University has been named one of the best colleges in terms of value by US News and World Report.

Career Outcomes and Job Titles

You may have one of the following job titles after you have completed your degree:

  • Principal
  • Teacher
  • Assistant principal
  • District administrator
  • Instructional coordinator
  • Director or supervisor
  • Dean of students or faculty
  • College provost
  • University registrar

Job and Salary Outlook

  • Principal — Job growth for principals will increase by 6% by 2024. This is about as fast as average when compared to all occupations. It is believed that the enrollment for students will increase in much of the US by 2024. There will be more schools opening in certain parts of the country to deal with the higher demand. You will need to look at which parts of the country are seeing the most growth to enjoy the highest job demand. Budget constraints in parts of the US that are declining in population could reduce the number of available principal jobs. The median salary is $90,400.
  • Instructional Coordinator — This field will experience a growth rate of 7% by 2024. This is about as fast as average. It is likely that growth in employment will occur as schools are trying to improve curricula and how effective teachers are providing an education. Instructional coordinators are needed to offer better training and leadership to teachers as curricula is being improved. This job is developing a very important leadership role as there is greater emphasis on school districts proving that they are providing a good education. The median pay in this field is $62,200.
  • Training and Development Manager — This job will experience 7% growth in the next several years, which is an average growth rate. There are more private companies that are seeing more competition today. They want retain good employees and get as much from them as they can. This means that they are being trained more so that they can enhance their job skills in an affordable way for the company. Technology is getting better, and training and development managers are required to boost training program quality and provide leadership to these programs so that they provide maximum value for companies. Median income for this position is $102,000.

Scholarships and Grants

  • School Superintendent’s Association: This organization provides a Educational Administration Scholarship that can be used for a student who is studying instructional leadership.
  • East Carolina University: This university offers a master’s program in school administration as well as instructional leadership. It also offers several scholarships for students who are studying master’s programs in education.

Resources

Additional Resources