Instructional Coaching, M.Ed.

The Instructional Coaching Master’s program fosters teacher leaders with a contemporary focus on learning, leadership and professional development. Master’s candidates in the program will complete seven required core courses with an emphasis on student and teacher growth, change dynamics, professional development planning, coaching, advocacy, and teacher leadership in the school environment. Two additional electives are selected from courses that can apply towards a Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS1) or English Language Learner (ESL) endorsement or students may choose a special topic course.

The program is designed to maximize the candidate’s potential to continue studies for endorsements and certification beyond completion of the Master’s program:

• Completion of the 34 credit Instructional Coaching Masters program will make the candidate eligible for the Illinois teacher leader endorsement.
• Twelve credit hours from the program can apply towards North Central’s Masters in Educational Leadership with principal endorsement, should a candidate wish to continue studies at NCC within the required time frame.
• Six credit hours in electives can be taken towards the 9 credits needed for an LBS1 endorsement (which can apply towards a Learning and Behavioral certification) or towards the 15 credits needed for the ESL endorsement.

The program is aligned to the Teacher Leader Model Standards, the Illinois Council of Instructional Coaching standards (8.2018) and the Danielson Framework. It requires that each candidate in the program develop a standards-based portfolio that reflects their growth and development as a teacher leader as well as instructional coaching competencies. MEDU 500  is designed as the entry point for the program and Instructional Coach Capstone (MEDU 697 ) is designed to be the capstone course.