Educational Leadership Program Steering Committee (ELPSC) Minutes

September 22, 2009

Attendees: Vincent Anfara (presiding), Lynn Cagle, Edd Diden, Ken Green, Constance Honorable, Rebecca Isaacs, Toni McGriff, James McIntyre, Sonja McNeely, William Scott Maddox, Chuck Puglisi, Ginger Teague, Vicki Violette, Nicole Wilson, and Christine Ziegler

• Vince Anfara welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Dr. Lynn Cagle who is the Associate Dean of CEHHS and the first Director of the Graduate School of Education.

• Dr. Cagle discussed the new Graduate School of Education which consists of three

departments: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department, Theory and Practice in Teacher Education Department, and Educational Psychology and Counseling. It took approximately 2 ½ years to establish the Graduate School of Education in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, with the official start date as July 1, 2009. We received a grant from the Niswonger Foundation for approximately $330,000 to help with the funding of the principal preparation redesign in the Education Leadership and Policy Studies Department.

• Those in attendance present were asked to introduce themselves. An ELPSC binder was given to the superintendents/directors of schools and others attending the meeting. We currently have 22 schools systems that have memorandums of understanding with The University of Tennessee, the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. A list of the representatives from the counties who have signed the memorandum of understanding was provided in the binder. Vince Anfara asked that if there is a mistake on the list or the name needs to be changed to please contact either Nicole Wilson, Ginger Teague, or Vince and corrections will be made. If there are no objections, the counties that we have partnership agreements with and the representatives will be listed on the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies website under a special link to the Educational Leadership Program Steering Committee. Information about the upcoming meetings, past meetings, minutes, upcoming events, and other important notices will be posted on the special link. The website will be a place for everyone to check for information regarding the steering committee. Vince will send an e-mail with the website address to everyone. The group will have another meeting sometime in the spring. The Steering Committee will meet twice a year.     

• This year celebrates 60 years of Educational Administration at the University. Orin Graff was the founding professor who started the Educational Administration and Supervision Program at The University of Tennessee. He was the first to admit an African American doctoral student into the College of Education and that doctoral student graduated with a degree in Ed Administration in 1959. He also admitted some of the first women into the field of Educational Administration. A video presentation of the department’s 60th year celebration was shown. Posters and tee shirts celebrating the 60th celebration were given to everyone and if individuals need more posters, you may contact the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department.   

• The Niswonger Foundation granted us approximately $330,000 and with that money we have been able to finance many of the redesign features of our principal preparation program. Vince discussed some of the new initiatives of the Principal Preparation Program since January, 2009. Practitioner partners work in each course in the classrooms with an ELPS faculty member. The practitioners are paid a stipend of $1500 a semester by the Niswonger Foundation. He encouraged everyone, if they know of someone who is interested in being a practitioner partner, to contact him.

• Community visits were discussed. Three days each semester students have the opportunity to visit (with permission of their school districts) detention centers, boys and girls clubs, full-service schools, and other community-based organizations that are connected to schools. Substitute teachers are provided for the students and the expenses are paid for by the Niswonger Foundation. The decision allowing students to be released from their classroom responsibilities on these days is completely up to the principals and superintendents/directors of the schools/counties/districts.

• Our Master’s students are involved with district-based research projects where they go out to the schools and collect data. Some of the pilot districts include Alcoa Schools (spring 2009) and Oak Ridge Schools (fall 2009). After the data are collected, the reports and recommendations will be shared with the schools. Students involved in district-based research helps give them a better sense of collecting data and solving/addressing school/district issues. This activity gets us back to our historical roots since the survey methods course was one of the first courses started back in 1949 by Professor Orin Graff.

• The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is based in Atlanta and a lot of modules have been designed by SREB to help in the redesign of principal preparation programs. The faculty in the ELPS department is going to training sessions at SREB to be professionally developed in these modules.

• Vince shared that the advice from the principals/superintendents is very valuable as we engage in the work of redesigning our principal preparation program. The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department is preparing leaders for their schools and their input is important. Comments and suggestions are welcomed, please contact Vince.

 

• Sonja McNeely discussed her position as the Coordinator of Communications, Public Relations, and Recruitment. Her position was created to build bonds with the schools/districts. This position is funded by the Niswonger Foundation.

• Small groups were developed to brainstorm “skills and knowledge that principals need to be effective in the 21st century.” These items will be utilized in a curriculum revision project that will commence in late October/early November and ultimately change the content of our syllabi and the design of our internship. All the ideas from the brainstorming sessions will be typed and shared with the group.

• Lunch was provided and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted, Ms. Constance Honorable Administrative Supervisor, ELPS