Liderança Educacional Cristã (MA)

Course will provide comprehensive liberal arts overview of major issues in leadership perspectives and theories as reflected in the works of leading researchers and theorists. From a Christian perspective, the students will examine profiles of exceptional leaders to identify their humanity and what characteristics (personal traits and skills) provide effective leadership of schools and educational programs. Examination of theory underlying leadership style will enable the identification of a personal leadership style.

Examines from Christian perspective how leadership practices with moral dimension built around purpose, values, and beliefs can transform a school into an outstanding organization marked by commitment, dedication and service. Through theological lens, students examine how transformational leaders respond to situations they encounter and reflect on how their own moral values and ethical understandings enable principled decision making. Use of case studies that represent situations often faced by educational leaders are significant instructional strategy in this course.

Course explores the nature and function of supervision relative to being a leader of leaders, which can be a challenge. Steps to develop collegial supervision are studied with an emphasis on planning, organizing, and evaluating leadership. Course will explore the transition from supervising of teachers to managing and supervising administrators and other campus leaders. Retention and evaluation of staff will be examined. Students will be introduced to entrepreneurial structures and the process of building a school culture of innovation along with cultural diversity.

Based on the theology of the 16th Century Reformation, this course introduces the student to the concept of a world and life view (weltanschauung) and sketches the main framework of a Christian worldview, fostering reflection as to its principal implications to the field of education, to leadership in education and to the challenges faced to a Christian school. Elements of biblical and philosophical theology, and the tradition of reformed thought are considered as a background throughout the course.

Case studies and problem-based learning are used to address challenging issues encountered by leaders. Students develop personal skills and confidence using leadership theories and strategies introduced in LEA 701. Through a case-study and problem-based learning approach, major issues and perspectives of leadership are examined with emphasis on problem-solving, consensus building, conflict resolution, ethics, and building relevant community connections from a biblical worldview. Participants will study how to work with governing boards, solve financial issues, foster collaboration, student achievement, and school improvement.

Course provides administrators with tools for effectively navigating curriculum. Identifies and implements effective instructional strategies and utilizes appropriate performance measures for assessing instructional resources and commitments that drive instructional decisions. The course will also develop strategies for the integration of faith and learning within and across the curriculum. The co-curricular environment will be examined to provide holistic learning within the school. The class will work as an administrative team comprised of leaders in varying roles in order to understand the relationship between leadership and assessment to explore content from those perspectives.

A leader must possess those skills and understandings that best enable one to work with other adults. Course focuses on ways to manage change to build a strategic campus culture. Topics include personnel searches, interviewing, staff selection, teacher induction, professional development, policymaking, teacher contracts, promotion, dismissal, and conflict management. Course also addresses strategic thinking and the process of enlisting support for creative, positive change along with interpersonal dynamics.

Discussion of the most influential educational theories in the contemporary pedagogical scenery, with emphasis on the Brazilian school system, presenting a biblically oriented critical analysis of these theories, and how they reflect on leadership practices, both in the classroom as well as in management and philosophical orientation of Christian schools.