The focus of this course is to address factors that affect student learning, model instructional strategies that meet different learning styles, systems thinking, and provide multiple opportunities for student learning. Strategies and programs to identify and address the needs of gifted and talented students, supervision strategies of instruction to improve student achievement, and alternative/multiple methods of assessment. An in-depth analysis of collaborative lesson planning by staff including lesson study will be investigated. There will be a conceptual understanding of reading and mathematics instruction pre-K-12 provided. Coaching to improve continuous improvement along with mentoring methods will also be studied and addressed. Prerequisite: admission to the Director of Instruction or Superintendent licensure programs. Restricted to students in the Director of Instruction or Superintendent licensure programs.

Students will gain an understanding of leadership theory and its application to the principalship. Participants in this course will also examine the relationship between leadership and learning, the value of learning communities, decision processing and decision making, and systematic planning. Site based related activities will be included in this course. Prerequisite: admission to the educational leadership program.

Field-based projects addressing each of the state administrator standards will be developed, implemented, and analyzed by the student. Evidences will be provided in the student program portfolio and will become part of the professional development plan. Prerequisite: admission to the Educational Leadership program. Restricted to students in the principal licensure program.

Field-based projects addressing each of the state administrator standards will be developed, implemented, and analyzed by the student. The practicum student will have the support and guidance of a school principal and/or an appropriate administrator and a Viterbo University faculty member. Evidences will be provided in the student program portfolio and will become part of the professional development plan. Prerequisite: admission to the Director of Instruction or Educational Leadership program.

This course involves field-based projects addressing each of the state administrator standards and guidelines for a director of special education and pupil services. The activities will be determined by the student and assigned local mentor with input from the university practicum advisor. Evidence will be provided in the student portfolio, along with their reflections. To start the course the student will provide a prospectus (plan) of the kinds of activities and the approximate number of hours spent on each activity, aligned to the standards. Prerequisite: admission to the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services licensure program. Restricted to students in the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services licensure programs.

Managing the financial resources of the school district is a major responsibility of the school business administrator. This class will review the principles associated with sound financial management: principals of school financing, preparing school budget, evaluate and the communication of the budget, working with the board, and standards of accounting.

This course will provide an understanding of the day to day functions of a school business administrator and support staff duties. Concepts that will be reviewed: purchasing systems, local-state-federal budget processes, accounting-auditing and financial reporting.

This course complements Financial Resources I and build upon the basic concepts that need to be understood and applied as a school business administrator. Concepts to be covered include: inventory management, zoning and dispersal of property/buildings, insurance coverage and risk management.

The focus of this course is on the knowledge, skills and disposition a school business administrator needs in order to facilitate, operate and manage in an efficient manner the ancillary services of; transportation, property purchasing, facility planning, food service and risk management policies.

Theory and practice will be reviewed as it relates to human resources in the school district. Areas to be covered will be; personnel and benefits, professional development, labor relations, employment agreements and work environment. Reviewing the legal issues related to risk management, contracts, negotiation, etc., will be reinforced during this course.