Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Teacher Leadership

Total Credit Hours: 30          Degree Format: Online
The Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership is an advanced degree that prepares educators to meet the GaPSC Teacher Leadership standards providing a foundation for effective collaboration with students, parents, and colleagues. These standards are related to curriculum and instruction, assessment, and a school culture that fosters excellence in teaching and learning, modeling best practices in instruction, working with others to design assessments, and using data to work with colleagues in collaborative efforts to improve instruction for all students. By completing this online degree and passing the appropriate Georgia content assessment, candidates will be eligible for the new P-12 Service Certificate in Teacher Leadership (Level 6 certification).

 

Program Advisor: Ms. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-249-2786

Department of Teacher Education Website

General information about this program (Majors & Degrees)

For more information on the Education Specialist ED.S in Teacher Leadership click this link

ADMISSION DEADLINES

  • Fall Semester: July 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)

Apply Online

Official transcript from your master's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • A cumulative graduate GPA of 2.75 or higher is required.
  • EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
    • Must hold a clear renewable (Induction, Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional Teaching certificate, leadership certificate, service certificate at the bachelor's level 4 or higher.  Individuals with certification from states other than Georgia must provide documentation of the appropriate certificate.  Eligibility will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Superintendent Recommendation

  • Submit the Superintendent Recommendation for Enrollment and Support document. The document should provide verification that your school superintendent or superintendent's designee:
    • Supports your decision to pursue the degree
    • Recommends you for participation in this program
    • Agrees to provide the necessary resources for successful completion of the degree requirements, including time and access to teachers and stakeholder groups so that candidate can  observe, mentor, conduct research, and provide professional learning, among other things.

Distance Learning Exemption of the VSU Medical Form

  • The VSU Medical Form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence 

(For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)

  • This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
  • This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
  • Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
  • Check out a complete list of accepted documents and residency information here.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Additional Requirements

  • Applicant must be an employed teacher or employee of an educational agency and able to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in a classroom.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.
  • Call Us: 229-333-5694 
  • Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
  • Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Advisor: Ms. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-249-2786.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. No more than 9 semester hours of post-master’s academic work may be transferred from another institution into the program.  Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission by the department upon entry.  To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.
  2. The maximum time allowed for completion of the education specialist degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the student’s major professor and the Dean of the Dewar College of Education and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
  3. To graduate from this program, a student must have a cumulative institutional graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

  1. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences:
  2. Students admitted Fall 2011and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points.
  3. Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below “C” (“D”, “F”, “WF”,“U”) will be dismissed from the program. One grade below a "C" results in a warning.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page

Total Credit Hours: 30          Degree Format: Online
The Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership is an advanced degree that prepares educators to meet the GaPSC Teacher Leadership standards providing a foundation for effective collaboration with students, parents, and colleagues. These standards are related to curriculum and instruction, assessment, and a school culture that fosters excellence in teaching and learning, modeling best practices in instruction, working with others to design assessments, and using data to work with colleagues in collaborative efforts to improve instruction for all students. By completing this online degree and passing the appropriate Georgia content assessment, candidates will be eligible for the new P-12 Service Certificate in Teacher Leadership (Level 6 certification).

 

Program Advisor: Ms. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-249-2786

Department of Teacher Education Website

General information about this program (Majors & Degrees)

For more information on the Education Specialist ED.S in Teacher Leadership click this link

ADMISSION DEADLINES

  • Fall Semester: July 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)

Apply Online

Official transcript from your master's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • A cumulative graduate GPA of 2.75 or higher is required.
  • EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
    • Must hold a clear renewable (Induction, Professional, Advanced Professional, or Lead Professional Teaching certificate, leadership certificate, service certificate at the bachelor's level 4 or higher.  Individuals with certification from states other than Georgia must provide documentation of the appropriate certificate.  Eligibility will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Superintendent Recommendation

  • Submit the Superintendent Recommendation for Enrollment and Support document. The document should provide verification that your school superintendent or superintendent's designee:
    • Supports your decision to pursue the degree
    • Recommends you for participation in this program
    • Agrees to provide the necessary resources for successful completion of the degree requirements, including time and access to teachers and stakeholder groups so that candidate can  observe, mentor, conduct research, and provide professional learning, among other things.

Distance Learning Exemption of the VSU Medical Form

  • The VSU Medical Form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence 

(For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)

  • This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
  • This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
  • Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
  • Check out a complete list of accepted documents and residency information here.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Additional Requirements

  • Applicant must be an employed teacher or employee of an educational agency and able to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in a classroom.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.
  • Call Us: 229-333-5694 
  • Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu 
  • Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Advisor: Ms. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-249-2786.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. No more than 9 semester hours of post-master’s academic work may be transferred from another institution into the program.  Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission by the department upon entry.  To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.
  2. The maximum time allowed for completion of the education specialist degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the student’s major professor and the Dean of the Dewar College of Education and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
  3. To graduate from this program, a student must have a cumulative institutional graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

  1. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences:
  2. Students admitted Fall 2011and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points.
  3. Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below “C” (“D”, “F”, “WF”,“U”) will be dismissed from the program. One grade below a "C" results in a warning.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page

The Graduate School
  • Converse Hall
    Suite 3100
    1500 N. Patterson St.
    Valdosta, GA. 31698
  • Mailing Address
    1500 N. Patterson St.
    Valdosta, GA 31698
  • Phone: 229.333.5694
  • Office Hours:
    Monday-Thursday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
    Friday: 8 AM - 3 PM