Earning a Teacher Leader Endorsement can open doors of opportunity at both the building and district levels. Completed coursework qualifies for continuing education credits and can be applied to other advancement programs. It also fulfills one of the requirements to obtain a Lead Professional Educator License, the highest licensing credential a teacher can achieve in Ohio.
Continuing Education Requirements for Ohio Teachers
The Ohio Department of Education grants five-year professional teaching licenses. To renew a license, educators must:
- Complete six semester hours of coursework related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure or
- 18 continuing education units (CEUs) or
- Other equivalent activities related to classroom teaching and/or the area of licensure
The Teacher Leader Endorsement from Youngstown State University (YSU) not only qualifies for continuing education credit, but also gives teachers the opportunity to stay current with new topics and teaching methods, perfect existing skills, and develop new ones. The Teacher Leader Endorsement program is more than just a checkmark on a list of license renewal requirements. It is effective preparation for a variety of educational leadership roles.
Lead Professional Educator License in Ohio
Many experienced teachers aspire to positions of leadership but have a desire to remain in the classroom. As a Lead Professional Educator in the state of Ohio, you can serve as an integral part of the school improvement process as a Teacher Leader while continuing to meet the needs of your own students.
The Lead Professional Educator License is the highest educational licensing credential awarded in the state of Ohio. This five-year license requires a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution. Applicants must have either a five-year professional teaching license, a senior professional educator license, an eight-year professional teaching certificate or a permanent teaching certificate. In addition, applicants must have completed nine years of successful teaching experience, five years of which must be under a professional/permanent license/certificate or Senior Professional Educator License. Completing the Teacher Leader Endorsement program at YSU will fulfill one criterion to obtain the Lead Professional Educator License.
For more details on the requirements to apply for a Lead Professional Educator License in Ohio, see the information on the state’s administrative code web page.
Becoming a Teacher Leader
Youngstown State University offers a fully online program for working professionals who want to add a graduate-level Teacher Leader Endorsement to their credentials. The program consists of four courses, each with field work opportunities, for a total of 12 credit hours. It can be completed in as few as six months and will provide you with the qualifications you need to lead large and small groups of students, teachers, and administrative staff in various educational settings.
This program is ideal for teachers and support staff, such as curriculum directors and counselors, who want to acquire these leadership skills while continuing to work. As an added benefit, some of the credit hours can be applied toward a Master of Science in Educational Administration at YSU.
Endorsement Details
The YSU Teacher Leader Endorsement includes a course about instructional leadership within the classroom and beyond. The course explores both formal and informal leadership. Another course focuses on building the capacity of adult learners in their own professional development. To mentor others, lead professional development sessions, serve on building or district leadership teams, and participate in professional learning communities, participants will study current theories and research in social cognition, human development, interpersonal relationships, group processes and motivation.
Participants will also study culturally responsive teaching and learning to effectively collaborate with faculty, administration, families, and community members and partners. A course on data coaching and decision-making prepares educators to use data to catalyze and support improvement in K-12 schools. Using multiple data sources to identify areas that need improvement, determining how to conduct analysis, monitor progress, and demonstrate success to stakeholders is explored in the course “Data Coaching and Decision-Making.”
The Beeghly College of Education’s educator preparation programs at Youngstown State University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Learn more about Youngstown State University’s online Teacher Leader Endorsement program.
Sources:
Ohio Department of Education: How to Renew a Five-Year Professional or Associate License
