The Teacher Leader Master’s Program is engaging, convenient, and designed to meet the needs of practicing teachers. Courses are seven weeks in length. Course content incorporates classroom, school, and/or district data, making it practical and relevant for todays’ teachers. There are two certification options for this program:
Option 1: Master of Arts in Education with Rank II (30 credit hours)
Option 2: Master of Arts in Education with Rank 1 (30 credit hours)
Admission Criteria
Admission to any graduate teacher education program is not equivalent to admission to candidacy in the Master of Arts in Education: Teacher Leader Program (TLP). Additional information on admission criteria is available in the Graduate Teacher Education Handbook.
General Admission
Before an applicant can be enrolled in any graduate teacher education course he or she must:
- Complete an online application to the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP).
- The applicant must submit a completed and signed character and fitness questionnaire contained in Section III of the CA-1.
- The applicant must present a signed Administrator Agreement with the principal of the school of employment. If the applicant is not actively employed within a P-12 school, he/she must have a signed Administrator Agreement designating a classroom/teacher partner with whom the applicant can collaborate to complete all required clinical experiences before being admitted to the program.
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work sent directly from the credit-granting institution to the Admissions Office at the University of Pikeville. (Up to 6 hours of transferred credits are allowed.)
- Have, on official transcripts, a minimum, non-rounded cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from the degree-granting institution (or a 2.6 prior to 2012) and a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all relevant graduate level coursework.
- The applicant must sign an acknowledgement form stating that he/she can access the online GTEP Handbook.
- The applicant must submit a copy of his/her P-12 statement of eligibility or an initial certificate earned by completion of an approved program through an approved educator preparation provider in Kentucky; or, for out-of-state applicants, a statement of eligibility or an initial certificate issued by the Education Professional Standards Board per 16 KAR 5:020 and earned by completion of a program through an approved educator preparation provider. (The Certification Inquiry from the EPSB Website demonstrating P-12 certification will also be acceptable evidence.)
- If the applicant’s first language is not English, he/she must provide evidence of English proficiency (i.e., TOEFL score of 80 on the iBT or 550 on the PBT).
- The applicant must submit a copy of minimum Kentucky passing scores on Praxis exams required for certification area, which can be indicated by a Statement of Eligibility (SOE) or Teaching Certificate issued by the state of Kentucky.
- The candidate must review and sign a declaration to uphold the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Personnel defined in 704KAR20:680.
- Agree to uphold the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE).
- The applicant must demonstrate appropriate characteristics of a teacher leader by receiving no level 1 (Rarely or Never) ratings on each section and a positive final recommendation on the Evaluation for Admission to the Graduate Teacher Education Program, that includes sections on professional qualities, critical thinking, communication skills, creativity, and collaboration. (Three are required.)
- The candidate must complete a pre-self-assessment of the Teacher Leader Model Standards during EDU-510.
- The applicant must have a signed statement indicating understanding and commitment to developing the expected professional dispositions. ▪ (Please see the Graduate Teacher Education Handbook for more information.) Applications and required forms are available online at https://www.upike.edu/apply/tlp/
Admission to Candidacy
An applicant must first meet the requirements to enroll in the Graduate Teacher Education Program. After twelve hours of approved graduate coursework, the applicant may apply for admission to candidacy. The following will be completed as a part of the first 12 hours.
To apply for candidacy, he or she must:
- Obtain a GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the first 12 hours of relevant, transferable, educational graduate coursework. Submit an approved professional growth plan based on the Kentucky Framework for Teaching.
- Have no ratings at the ineffective level on the teacher partner assessment of the Teacher Leader Model Standards.
- Must attain a score of 3 or better on each of the professional dispositions identified on the Candidate Dispositions Inventory as assessed by graduate education faculty.
- Be approved for admission to candidacy in the TLP by the Graduate Teacher Education Committee. (Please see the Graduate Teacher Education Handbook for more information.)
Classification Policy
All applicants in the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) may only take 12 hours before application to candidacy is required. Once admission to candidacy requirements is met, the applicant will be considered a candidate for the Master of Arts in Education: Teacher Leader Program Degree (TLP).
Transfer Policy
No more than six semester hours of graduate coursework may be transferred to the University of Pikeville to be applied for credit toward the Master of Arts in Education: Teacher Leader Program. These hours must be completed in a state or nationally accredited teacher education program, be acceptable substitutions for required coursework for the University of Pikeville Teacher Leader Program, and the applicant must have earned a “B” or better for any course to be considered transferable.
The University Registrar will determine the transferability of any course completed at another institution. Any transferable coursework must be at graduate level and must have been completed within the last three years prior to admission to the Graduate Teacher Education Program. (Applicants must request a review of graduate coursework that they wish to transfer.
Academic Advisor
Each applicant in the University of Pikeville Graduate Teacher Education Program is assigned an advisor from within the Graduate Teacher Education Program who will guide him or her in completing educational goals, including requirements for the degree.
Orientation
All initial applicants will be provided with information at the beginning of their first semester on how to access UPIKE email, Canvas, library resources, and the Graduate Teacher Education Handbook. They will also learn how to contact their academic advisor.
Graduate Course Load
Students may enroll on a part-time or full-time basis. Full-time status in the Graduate Teacher Education Program requires enrollment in six semester hours of graduate level coursework. A maximum of twelve hours may be granted with special permission by the Dean of the PCOE. All courses are designed for adults who are employed full-time.
Good Standing
The applicant or candidate must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate level course work to be considered in “good standing.”
- Repeat Policy: Courses may be repeated twice without special approval.
- Withdrawal Policy: An applicant or candidate wishing to withdraw from a course must consult with his or her graduate advisor. Withdrawal becomes effective only when an official notice has been presented to the University Registrar. Anyone who wishes to withdraw from the University must submit a completed “Withdrawal Form” to the University Registrar.
- Probation and Suspension Policy: When an applicant or candidate’s GPA falls below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, he or she will automatically be placed on academic probation for one semester during which the GPA must be raised to the required 3.0 level. If the GPA is not successfully raised after one semester of probation, the applicant or candidate may be officially suspended from the program. If an applicant or candidate is officially suspended from the Graduate Teacher Education Program, he or she must remain inactive for one semester before re-applying for admission.
- Readmission Policy: An applicant or candidate may be inactive for up to one year for any reason except official suspension without reapplying for admission. The applicant or candidate will be required to complete a readmission form from the graduate education office and must attend the Campus Orientation.
Exit Criteria
The Master of Arts in Education: Teacher Leader Program requires successful completion of thirty semester hours of graduate level coursework. In addition, candidates must meet the following exit criteria:
- Complete an application for graduation.
- Complete 24 semester hours of TLP coursework at the University of Pikeville with a minimum, non-rounded GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in graduate-level coursework.
- The candidate must complete the University of Pikeville Teacher Education Unit and Program Operations Survey.
- The following will be completed as a part of EDU 570:
- Score a 2 or better on the EDU 570 presentation of research results.
- Complete a post self-assessment of the Teacher Leader Model Standards.
- Have no ratings at the ineffective level on the Teacher Leader Model Standards (TLMS) for the Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) as assessed by the teacher partner and school administrator based on classroom observations and performance products.
- Attain a score of 3 or better on each of the dispositions identified on the Candidate Dispositions Inventory as assessed by the teacher partner and school administrator.
(Please see the Graduate Teacher Education Handbook for more information.)