Frequently Asked Questions

• Does St. Ambrose offer a master's degree leading to licensure as a school principal?
• How will courses be delivered?
• What Instructional Strategies can I expect and how can I use Blackboard?
• May I complete my field experience where I am currently teaching?
• What role do mentors play?
• What about my Internship?
• How do I apply for admission to the program?

Does St. Ambrose offer a master's degree leading to licensure as a school principal?
If you already hold a valid teaching license, yes, there is a program at St. Ambrose. The courses needed are:

• Visioning and School Administration: The School as a Professional Learning Community (3 credits)
• Legal and Ethical Foundations of Educational Leadership (3 credits)
• Educational Research/DDL (3 credits)
• Leadership in Curriculum I: Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Assessment (3 credits)
• Current Issues Addressing Students with Special Needs (3 credits)
• L.ADM 560/ EDAD 560: Leadership in Curriculum II: Instructional Assessment and the Professional Learning Community (3 credits)
• Personnel Administration and Professional Development (3 credits) (Including submission of request for internship.)
• Sustaining the Professional Learning Community through School and Community Relations (3 credits)
• Elementary/Secondary School Principalship (3 credits)
• Supervision of Instruction and the Learning Environment (3 credits)
• Supervised Internship Field Experience (2 credits)
• Masters Research Project Comprehensive portfolio presentation (2 credits)
• Supervised Internship Field Experience (2 credits)

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How will courses be delivered?
The LSACEL program delivery design anticipates that instructors will use current classroom sites for face-to-face instruction, as well as the (ICN), and the Blackboard systems for course delivery. Further, as technological capacities are enhanced, the use of conferencing software and video streaming applications will continue to be explored.
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What Instructional Strategies can I expect and how can I use Blackboard?
Course offerings will be personalized, sequential; learner centered, and will incorporate principles of constructivist learning and adult learning theory. Theory-to-practice connections will consistently be highlighted through classroom activities that permit active student engagement in the process of learning, and through clinical experiences that are connected to each course. The Blackboard format provides candidates with access to course materials as well as a vehicle to communicate with the instructor, with other members of the cohort, and to submit IRLF documents to LSACEL program faculty.
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May I complete my field experience where I am currently teaching?
Candidates are encouraged to engage in a portion of their field experiences in the building within which they work with a supervising principal who is a successful leader and positive mentor. Therefore, for most aspiring administrative candidates, the mentor selected will be the candidate's building principal. However, in some instances the mentor may be selected from outside the campus with the goal of providing a perspective beyond that of the on-site principal.
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What role do mentors play?
Mentors will be directly involved in monitoring candidate growth, individualization of experiences, counseling, and candidate exit recommendations. Moreover, mentors will team with LSACEL faculty in the selection of clinical experiences which provide candidates with campus based opportunities to demonstrate and strengthen their understanding of the Iowa Standards for School Leaders.
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What about my Internship?
Individuals certifying for the positions of elementary and secondary school principal, and supervisor of special education must meet an internship requirement. The internship experiences may be completed in either a public or private school setting and need not be in the exclusive domain of the public or private school sectors. The program structure of the Educational Administration Internship is designed to provide the candidate with meaningful "on the job" experiences under the joint supervision and counsel of competent experienced professors and school leaders. Provision of appropriate internship experiences requires cooperation between LSACEL program personnel and a sponsoring educational agency.

• Site visits: The LSACEL internship supervisor will visit each candidate in the field at least twice per semester. The purpose of the visits is to discuss candidate progress, satisfactions, problems, and to redirect activities where necessary. Continuing evaluation is made of the placement and its conduciveness to the learning experience. The role of the sponsoring school supervisor/mentor is crucial and must be considered more of a teaching role than a supervising role. The LSACEL internship supervisor and candidate are responsible for arranging the visits and for contacting the sponsoring school supervisor/mentor requesting a conference at the site building.
• Additional Intern Responsibilities
  • Create a seminar presentation illustrating development as a school administrator
  • Create a portfolio illustrating the individuals' development, competence, and opportunities unmet
  • Complete an individual growth plan, for the succeeding year, which addresses opportunities unmet
  • Demonstrate professional behavior
  • Use ethical decision-making
  • Oppose all forms of unethical or illegal discrimination
  • Participate in professional groups
  • Ensure use of the administrators' code of Ethics and Standard Practices
  • Engage in continuous professional growth
  • Develop personal professional growth plans
  • Reflects on own practice
  • Articulate a personal educational philosophy based on reading and research
  • Articulate the importance of public and private schooling in a democratic society

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How do I apply for admission to the program?
You can apply online here. That link will provide you with the application form and other materials which need to be submitted when you are ready to apply.
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