Northwest RESA Alternative Leadership

Overview

Northwest Georgia RESA's Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership program (APEL) is a non-degree preparation pathway designed to prepare individuals to serve in education leadership positions in P-12 schools and school systems in Georgia. This program is for individuals with advanced degrees but did not graduate from a traditional leadership preparation program. This program aims to equip districts and schools with highly qualified and experienced leaders who can acquire the skills and dispositions to impact teacher efficacy and student growth positively.

The program consists of two Tiers of preparation, each spanning a twelve (12) month residency period. During each Tier, candidates will experience guided experiences in authentic leadership situations designed to expand the participant's knowledge and skills related to the Georgia Leadership Standards and the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL Standards). Candidates must complete Tier 1 before entering Tier 2; however, eligible candidates may apply for admission to either Tier 1 or Tier 2 or both through RESA. Candidates have three years to complete Tier I while holding non-renewable certificates. An additional three years may be used to complete Tier II certification, although candidates must hold renewable performance-based leadership certificates while completing this Tier. Upon completing this program, RESA will recommend that the Georgia Professional Standards Commission award program complete Georgia Leader certification, but not a degree.

Program Structure

This Tier I-Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership program begins each year in July with a week-long summer workshop where candidates are introduced to the program's modules, course software, and participant portfolio requirements. Additionally, each participant will have experiences in the Georgia's Code of Ethics for Educators, leadership models, community mapping, data analysis, and educational law for Georgia's school leaders. Participants work through eight modules applying new knowledge and skill through job-embedded tasks designed to provide each participant the opportunity to develop the dispositions necessary to lead P-12 schools effectively. Mentors provide additional support to program participants in Individual Candidate Support Teams. The role of this team is to provide structured supervision and guidance in determining appropriate assignments and tasks. At a minimum, the candidate support team shall be composed of a trained P-12 school-based leader and LUA mentor/coach, and the RESA alternative leadership program coordinator.

In this program, participants will complete each module by collecting artifacts and analyzing why each module's standards are essential to P-12 school leadership. Additionally, participants will complete several data projects and individual presentations, which are assembled and shared in a culminating Capstone experience in June, the last month of the program.

Program Admission

The needs of each district drive the work of RESA and admission to this program; therefore, recruitment, identification, and selection of potential candidates will rest mainly with incumbent school and district leaders. Districts are encouraged to make recommendations based on the candidate's history of ability and performance, certification, and positional needs (at district or school level).

Only those candidates meeting the following criteria will be considered eligible for entry into this program:

In accordance with the 505-3-.76 program rule, Tier 1 Program Admission:

Non-educator candidates seeking admission to a Tier I program must:

  1. Receive from an LUA an offer of employment and recommendation for admission to the program and assurance that the candidate is available one-half day or more each day to work in a leadership position;

  2. Hold, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from a GaPSC-accepted accredited college or university;

  3. Document five (5) or more years of successful leadership experience and related leadership training, preferably in an executive management, supervisory, or leadership role;

  4. Provide references documenting evidence of successful performance in a leadership role;

  5. Exhibit professional leadership dispositions through an assessment, developed and/or adopted by the educator preparation provider; and

  6. Provide evidence of experience in engaging employees in organizational development or professional learning opportunities.

Candidates currently employed as educators and seeking admission must:

  1. Receive the recommendation of a Georgia LUA for participation in the program and assurance that the candidate is available one-half day or more each day to work in a leadership position;

  2. Hold a GaPSC Level 5 or higher professional certificate; candidates who also have national board certification, the Teacher Leadership endorsement, Coaching or Teacher Support and Coaching endorsements are ideal;

  3. Provide evidence of successful teacher leadership experience;

  4. Exhibit professional leadership dispositions through an assessment, developed and/or adopted by the educator preparation provider;

  5. Provide evidence of experience in engaging colleagues in professional learning opportunities; and

  6. Provide evidence of successful teaching.