On the heels of Thanksgiving Break, it seems like the perfect time to reflect and be thankful for another successful year in the Education Leadership program.

First, our annual Lead-ership conference was

an outstanding success! On October 24, ELDE fac-ulty, staff, candidates and alumni gathered in Merten Hall along with district and site based ad-ministrators for the EDLE Leader Launch confer-ence. During the plenary panel, the assistant su-perintendents from Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, Loudoun, and Fairfax counties shared what their districts look for when hiring potential administrators. Afterwards, EDLE faculty and site-based administrators conducted sessions on re-sume writing, interviewing, professional network-ing, and special education. Part of the newsletter showcases pictures and quotes from participants and presenters. A big thank you to our EDLE office staff, Donna Martinez-Vallejos, Cherie Antonellis, and Nafi Ahsan, as well as our EDLE faculty, who worked tirelessly to ensure the conference ran without a hitch! Once again, the survey feedback was incredibly positive and we are already in the planning stages for next fall. So mark your calen-dars: Next year’s Leader Launch will be on October 22, 2016!

In addition, we’ve had a banner year in terms of recruitment and admissions. This fall, all of our campus and cohort classes were at full capacity! Our on-line program is thriving, with our third co-hort starting in Spring 2016. We have also added a Student Services cohort, which will include area school counselors and social workers. In addition, both Loudoun 11 and the Special Education Lead-ership cohorts will begin in 2016 as well.

In faculty news, we are thrilled to welcome back Dr. Michelle Van Lare to the EDLE program. Many of our recent graduates will remember Dr. Van Lare as a wonderful advisor or professor from EDLE 620, EDLE 618, or EDLE 634. Dr. Van Lare spent the last two years in San Diego, CA with her family and has returned permanently to Arlington. We are so happy to have her part of our EDLE family again!

Several EDLE faculty members and graduate stu-dents attended this year’s University Council for

Educational Administration (UCEA) conference, which was held in San Diego, CA in November. Dr. Scott Bau-er and doctoral candidate Jessica Schwartzer present-ed the paper The Impact of Isolation on New Princi-pals’ Job Satisfaction & Persistence, which focused on how role ambiguity, role overload, social support, and involvement in a coaching program affect new princi-pals’ isolation, and how these variables influence job satisfaction and intention to leave. Dr. Michelle Van Lare presented the paper Repair, Confront, and Model: Examining Relationships to Identify Teacher Leader-ship in a School Change Effort with Yi-Hwa Liou from National Taipei University of Education, and chaired a session on Developing Teacher Leadership. Dr. Robert Smith and Dr. David Brazer presented their new book Striving for Equity: District Leadership for Narrowing Opportunity and Achievement Gaps, which will be released by Harvard Education Press in June 2016. Based on interviews from thirteen longtime superintendents, the book provides an in-depth look at how they made progress toward narrowing the oppor-tunity and achievement gaps in their school districts. Dr. Smith and Dr. Brazer also presented the paper District Leaders' Roles in Striving for System-Wide Improvement. I am also pleased to announce that the EDLE program has submitted an application to be-come or formal member of UCEA. A big thank you to Jessica Schwartzer, who assisted us with the applica-tion process. We believe membership to UCEA will further enhance our position as one of the leading principal preparation programs in the country.

Next year another major conference, AERA, will be right here in Washington, DC. from April 8 – April 12. As the largest education conference in the United States, we would like to encourage our current candidates and recent graduates to attend. It is a wonderful profes-sional learning experience and a great way to earn hours for your internship! For more information please visit: http://www.aera.net/EventsMeetings/ An-nualMeeting/tabid/10208/Default.aspx. We hope to see you there!

This issue of the newsletter also features short inter-views with recent graduates who are in their first year of administration. We are always interested to hear how our graduates are progressing, so please contact us as you move forward in your career! We would love to feature you!

On behalf of the EDLE faculty and staff, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a restful winter break. Have a Happy New Year and we will look forward to seeing you in 2016!

Greetings from the EDLE Academic Program Coordinator

INSIDE THIS ISSUT ISSUE

Greetings from the EDLE

Coordinator

1

EDLE Fall 2015 Conference

2

The Global STEAM Class-room Initiative

3

EDLE Graduates on the Move

4

Cohort News 5

EDLE 2016 Graduation Information

5

EDLE Office Reminders

5

CEHD Core Values

6

Volume , Issue

Fall/Winter 2015

Education Leadership

Geo

rge

Mas

on

Uni

vers

ity

Anne-Marie Balzano EDLE Program Coordinator

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

Spring registration deadline for cohort students: January 6th, 2015.

Upcoming SLLA Prep Session on January 29th. Register early, space is limited.

Check out Mason Online for more EDLE information.

On the morning of October 24th, EDLE fac-ulty, staff, candidates and recent graduates gathered at Merten Hall for the annual EDLE Leader Launch conference. Partici-pants were greeted by our wonderful EDLE office staff, given their name-tag and an EDLE flash drive and lanyard, before head-ing into the main lecture hall for breakfast and networking. Dr. Robert Smith moderat-ed the plenary session, which included Dr. Fabio Zuluaga, Assistant Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, Dr. Kimberly Hough, Assistant Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools, Dr. Cintia Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Ar-lington Public Schools, and Mr. Keith John-son, Assistant Superintendent of Prince William County Schools, and Mr. Kevin North, Assistant Superintendent of Alexan-dria City Public Schools. The session fo-cused on what districts look for when hiring potential administrators. Themes included building relationships with stakeholders and community members, flexibility, and innovation. At the end of the session, the panelists fielded insightful questions from participants. Afterwards, participants chose to attend workshops hosted by EDLE facul-ty and local site-based administrators. Ses-sions included:

Featured Presenters:

Kelly Nickerson, Assistant Principal, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School

Gordon Laurie, Principal, Williamsburg Middle School

Andrew Buchheit, Principal, T. Clay Wood Elementary School

EDLE Fall 2015 Conference Page 2

summary of what they are really looking for before you are in the interview pro-cess.

I enjoyed the selection of many person-nel within each of the northern Virginia school districts to not only participate in the panel but the break out sessions. It is always so informative to hear their per-spective and advice on the objective of the break out session. The special educa-tion session was great because take-aways were provided. The interviewing session was great because mock inter-views were held with feedback given to each mock interviewee.

I loved how the environment was inti-mate. I thought the discussions were very informative. I felt that the presenters had a genuine interest in investing in the leadership program and the students/future leaders in our schools. Loved the food!

The plenary session with the collection of Assistant Superintendents was a great opportunity to see the collection of great educators we have leading our area. It was also extremely valuable to receive feedback from administrators regarding their expectations for interview Q and A.

Featured Presenters:

Kathy Bruce, Principal, Bonnie Brae Elementary School

Anthony Terrell, Principal, Rocky Run Middle School

Meg MacGregor, Assistant Principal, Leesylvania Elementary School

John Banbury, Principal, Oakton High School

Featured Presenters:

Michael Parker, Employment Specialist Department of Human Resources,

Fairfax County Schools

Ray Lonnett, Principal, Hutchinson Elementary School

Roberto Pamas, Principal, Holmes Middle School

Joe Thompson, Assistant Principal, Quander Road School

Feedback from both participants and pre-senters was once again overwhelming positive!

Hearing from the Assistant Superinten-dents in regard to what they are looking for, by county, in an administrator was price-less. Rarely is it that easy to get a candid

Presenting Your Professional Self: moderated by Dr. Bev Woody

Tips for a Successful Interview: moderated by Dr. Alan Sturrock and

Dr. Michelle VanLare

Resume Writing: Admin Feedback and Peer Review: moderated by Dr. Richard Monuiszko

Special Education for New Administrators moderated by Dr. Shanna Tackas and

Dr. Susan Wheeler, Loudoun County Schools

FEEDBACK

Above: Plenary session

Above: EDLE conference participants

Above: EDLE conference participants

The Global STEAM Classroom Initiative Page 3

Dr. Pamas’ class. Dr. Atwater was a tre-mendous support. She was teaching my class last summer and was our regional assistant superintendent. I was so very fortunate to see her twice a week and talk to her about this project. My principal encouraged me to talk to her about what we were doing. The project is rooted in a solid research foundation thanks to the experience I received in Dr. Balzano’s class. I learned about implementing cur-ricular changes in Dr. Sturrock’s class. Without the EDLE program, this project wouldn’t have happened.”

This initiative was purposefully designed to link 5th grade students at CES with “typical” 5th grade students in Costa Rica. Having studied her sophomore year as an undergraduate student at the University of Costa Rica, Kelly has friends in Costa Rica who enthusiastically supported and facili-tated the partnership. In June, a team from CES visited the Costa Rican Embassy in Washington, D.C. and found a support-ive partner in Ambassador Macaya and his staff. From there the project gained mo-mentum and support from FCPS Instruc-tional Services and administration.

This year students at CES will work with their Costa Rican peers in the virtual classroom to identify, research, and solve environmental challenges that are com-mon to both school communities. Through this process, students will learn with and from their peers overseas. This collaborative, student-driven STEAM set-ting provides an authentic context for global learning while fostering digital and ethical global citizenship in all students. Thanks to Kelly’s innovative efforts, the

students at CES will take part in a truly collaborative and groundbreaking learning experience!

On October 14th, Costa Rican Ambassador Roman Macaya Hayes visited CES for the Global STEAM Classroom Initiative Kick-Off event, and taught the 5th grade stu-dents about Costa Rica. He then greeted the students at the partner schools in Costa Rica through Google Hangouts. CES students told their Costa Rican peers about their classes, and then said good-bye with a saying Ambassador Macaya taught them, “Pura Vida.”

How One EDLE Student is Transforming Education Returning to graduate school will not only yield an administrative endorsement for Kelly Baugh, a student in the Region North 13 cohort; but, it also provided an opportunity to bring together her forma-tive educational experiences, the content she was learning in the EDLE courses, and the goals of the Fairfax County Public Schools Portrait of a Graduate in order to open a window to the world for students at Centreville Elementary School. The Global STEAM Classroom Initiative (GSCI) is an innovative program born from an EDLE course assignment, and designed to prepare and equip students with the skills they will need to succeed in tomor-row’s workforce. It combines STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and inquiry-based learning, focused on environmental is-sues within a virtual global classroom. As Kelly explained, “The EDLE program really made this initiative possible. What I learned in my course supported the de-velopment of the project from start to finish. I used information from the first class I took with Dr. Woody on leadership – building support from within the build-ing. I created the first draft of the idea for the grant proposal I needed to write for

On November 3, both Dr. Farnoosh Shahrokhi and Dr. Scott Bauer were honored at the annual Human Resources Outstanding Achievement Ceremony for their incredible contributions to the Mason community. GMU President Angel Cabrera was on hand to present the awards. Dr. Shahrokhi was given the Supporting Well-Being & Embracing Living Life Award (SWELL), which recognizes an outstanding supervisor who closely lives, promotes and supports the merits of a happy, healthy life at Mason, home and in the community. Dr. Bauer was presented with this year’s Distance Education Faculty Award. Funded by the Office of Distance Education, the award is given to both a faculty and a staff member whose efforts support quality online course offerings at Mason. Congratulations to them both!

EDLE Faculty Honored at Mason’s HR Outstanding Achievement Ceremony

Above: Scott Bauer Above: Farnoosh Shahrokhi

EDLE Graduates on the Move Page 4

structural, understand human resource, be political, and symbolic. I feel learning the philosophy of this framework and applying it through internship and other coursework prepared me for this position. However, I am thankful that my professors at George Mason continually reiterated how much on-the-job training there will be, because they were right.

Organizational Theory and Leadership was a great kickoff to the program. Again, it laid out the foundation and philosophy neces-sary to be successful within the other cours-es. Dr. Bauer was also an incredible profes-sor. Using Research to Lead School Improve-ment was the most rigorous and demand-ing, and not surprisingly extremely benefi-cial. Learning the critical steps to school improvement and then applying that knowledge through the internship was cru-cial. Also, knowing these steps was benefi-cial when it came time to interview for a position as an educational leader.

Of course, internship was probably the most important. The experience, high expectations set through its guidelines, and the guidance of Dr. Balzano set me

up for success as an educational leader.

More knowledge of the special education processes. In many counties in the area and around the country, assistant princi-pals are assigned the duties of the build-ing designee. As a general education classroom teacher, I was not exposed to this aspect of educational leadership. More background knowledge would defi-nitely have better prepared me.

Which courses/assignments in particular did you find most helpful and why?

Dan Birch finished the EDLE program in Summer 2015. He currently holds the position of Assistant Principal at Kate Wal-ler Barret Elementary School in Stafford VA.

I was very lucky to begin my career as an educational leader in a high achieving school with an incredible sense of team and shared decision making. Being part of that team concept is definitely what I enjoy the most.

One aspect of the EDLE program that I feel impacts my job daily is the application of the four frames of leadership. Meaning, as assistant principal I am asked to be

In what ways do you feel the EDLE pro-gram helped you shape your leadership?

What aspects of your new position do you enjoy the most?

Above: Dan Birch

What is the one thing you wished you knew before entering administration?

“Learning the critical steps to school improvement and then applying that knowledge through the internship was crucial. Also, knowing these steps was beneficial when it came time to inter-view for a position as an educational leader.”

-Dan Birch

Nicole Clemente fin-ished the EDLE pro-gram in the Summer of 2015. She currently holds the position of Assistant Principal at Widewater Elementary School in Stafford VA..

My new position has provided the oppor-tunity to work with many talented and pas-sionate teachers. This wonderful team is inspiring and motivated to impact every aspect on their students’ lives. Having the opportunity to create relationships with over 800 children and know that my school is making a difference in their lives is very moving.

The cohort experience that George Mason offered was the best decision I made. My

In what ways do you feel the EDLE pro-gram helped you shape your leadership?

What aspects of your new position do you enjoy the most?

Above: Nicole Clemente

colleagues and professors were a support system, network, and my encouragement. Each person I crossed paths with taught me something important. The courses offered throughout the duration of the program provided real-life experiences and covered major areas of becoming an effective lead-er. The professors allowed the cohort to alter and help drive the topics of conversa-tion to areas that were important to schools today. I believe in collaborative leadership, and feel the EDLE program and cohort shaped my daily practice.

While I took away valuable information from each course, there were a couple courses that were beneficial to my needs. Leading Schools and Communities was the first course I took and was really powerful in identifying the roles you play as a leader. We manage, make decisions, work with a variety of people, and lead our schools sym-

Which courses/assignments in particular did you find most helpful and why?

bolically. The course, Using Research to Lead School Improvement, was addition-ally a course where I had the opportunity to build a School Improvement Plan from the start. As a school leader, we strive to improve our instructional practices daily and the course allowed for us to venture and experience this with a school built team. The overall internship experience itself was also a wonderful journey. My advisor at George Mason and mentors pushed me in directions to help me grow

“As a school leader, we strive to im-prove our instructional practices daily and the course allowed for us to ven-ture and experience this with a school built team. The overall internship expe-rience itself was also a wonderful jour-ney. My advisor at George Mason and mentors pushed me in directions to help me grow and build my leadership capacity. The variety of activities that I experiences in my internship have prepared me to be an effective leader. “

-Nicole Clemente

Continued.. Page 5

and build my leadership capacity. The variety of activities that I experienced in my intern-ship have prepared me to be an effective leader.

From as far back as I can remember, I was always driven to become an administrator. The opportunity to work with children, teachers, specialists, and other professionals is what makes this position simply the best. I new the demand would be high. Having said this, allocating time to all the needs and demands within a school is not something I could have ever prepared for. In terms of coursework through George Mason, adding special education courses would be beneficial since this is a major role as an assistant principal.

EDLE 2016 Graduation Information

For candidates who plan to graduate in Spring 2016 with a Masters degree, the

graduation application is now available on Patriot Web. Before applying to graduate, please make sure to complete a degree audit through Degree Works to ensure all

requirements have been met. If there is a problem with your graduation application, the Registrar’s Office will send a message to your Mason email account. Be sure to check your Mason email regularly and if you are notified of a problem, please ad-

dress it promptly. Commencement is scheduled for May 14, 2016.

Cohort News

The EDLE program is proud of the valuable partnerships we have built with our surround-ing school districts and the role we play in advancing the leadership capacity of our part-ners. The success of this year is a great example of our fruitful collaboration with our part-ners. As a result, we have successfully recruited three cohorts for spring 2016, Student Services Regional Cohort 1, Special Education Leadership Regional Cohort and Loudoun County Public School Cohort. We will be recruiting for two cohorts for fall 2016, a new Regional North cohort that will be housed in FCPS and a new PW cohort. For more infor-mation on up-coming cohorts contact Dr. Farnoosh Shahrokhi at fshahrok@gmu.edu.

As a friendly reminder, the EDLE office will be closed from noon Friday, December 18, 2015—January 3, 2015. The office will reopen on Monday, January 4, 2016 at 7:30am. Also, George Mason is offering a 15% tuition discount for Virginia educators not already receiving a cohort discount. The discount must be applied for each semester and will not be given until you have registered for classes. If your application is approved by Decem-ber 18, then any discount will be automatically reflected in the printed tuition bill that George Mason sends you via postal mail. If your application is approved by January 3, then any discount will be automatically reflected on your online tuition bill. For more information, please visit: http://cehd.gmu.edu/tuition-discount-for-virginia-educators

EDLE Office Reminders

What is the one thing you wished you knew before entering administration?

Above: Fairfax Campus by Creative Services

Above: EDLE Graduation Ceremony by Creative Services

Above: TEA Students by Creative Services

Above: EDLE Faculty and Staff

CEHD Core Values

In the context of an enduring college-

level and university-level commit-

ment to teaching, research and ser-

vice, the College of Education and

Human Development also holds the

following core values:

Collaboration

Collaboration is an important human

activity that involves shared respon-

sibility in promoting healthy, pro-

ductive lives and educational success.

We commit ourselves to work toward

these goals in genuine partnerships

with individuals, families, communi-

ty agencies, schools, businesses,

foundations, and other groups at the

local, regional, national and interna-

tional levels.

Ethical Leadership

In all professions represented by the

college, leadership is an essential

component denoting ability and will-

ingness to help lead professional

practice to higher levels. We commit

ourselves to practice ethical leader-

ship through deliberate and system-

atic attention to the ethical principles

that guide all leaders in a moral soci-

ety.

Innovation

We have a history of creating dynamic,

innovative programs and we are dedi-

cated to continue creating innovative

approaches in all areas of our work.

We commit ourselves to seeking new

ways to advance knowledge, solve

problems, improve our professional

practice and expand on our successes.

Research-Based Practice

The best practice in any discipline is

based upon sound research and profes-

sional judgment. We commit ourselves

to basing our instruction, scholarship

and policy recommendations on well-

established principles that, wherever

possible, emerge from research and

reflection on its implications for pro-

fessional practice.

Social Justice

Social justice embodies essential prin-

ciples of equity and access to all oppor-

tunities in society, in accordance with

democratic principles and respect for

all persons and points of view. We

commit ourselves to promoting equity,

opportunity, and social justice through

the college's operations and its mis-

sions related to teaching, research, and

service.

George Mason University EDLE Program Office

Thompson Hall Suite 1300 4400 University Drive, MSN 4C2

Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-993-3633 Fax: 703-993-3643

Dr. Anne-Marie Balzano EDLE Academic Coordinator

Phone: 703-993-5699 alohse@gmu.edu

Dr. Farnoosh Shahrokhi EDLE Outreach Coordinator

Phone: 703-993-2009 fshahrok@gmu.edu

EDLE Vision

The Education Leadership Program is dedicated to improving the quality of

pre-K-12 education through teaching, research and service. Candidates and practicing administrators engage in course work devoted to experiential

learning, professional growth opportunities, and doctoral research

that informs practice. We educate exceptional leaders who act with integrity as they work to improve

schools.

E D U C A T I O N L E A D E R S HI P P R O G R A M C ON T A C T

I N F O R M A TI O N