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The University of Tampa (UT) announced a partnership this week with Hillsborough County Public Schools that will provide Hillsborough educators interested in taking leadership roles a path to pursue either a certification in educational leadership or a master’s degree in educational leadership.

According to the agreement, the partnership is intended to “increase the supply of effective school leaders in public schools in the state of Florida and to produce school leaders who are prepared to lead Florida’s diverse student population in meeting high standards for academic achievement.”

UT’s Level I Educational Leadership program has been approved by the Florida Department of Education that it is competency-based and aligned to the principal leadership standards that lead to the Level 1 Educational Leadership State Certification. Its Master of Education in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.-EDL) is a cutting-edge degree program that engages candidates in experiential tasks directly aligned with the Florida Principal Leadership Standards and the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE). The program caters to working professionals by offering flexible scheduling options such as traditional, weekend, remote and hybrid instructional models.

Colleen Beaudoin, chair of the Department of Education, said this is a unique and exciting opportunity for Hillsborough teacher leaders. “UT is offering high-quality flexible options for teachers who want to earn a master’s degree, as well as for those who already have a graduate degree and need only the additional coursework for their certification,” she said. “UT’s Department of Education is committed to providing quality programs and working with our community partners.”

For the certificate in educational leadership, qualified Hillsborough County teachers will:

• Be able to enroll in courses embedded in the UT M.Ed.-EDL program that meet the appropriate competencies and skills required for the Level 1 Educational Leadership State Certification.
• Be admitted as UT M.Ed.-EDL non-degree seeking students and will be charged the university graduate degree tuition rate.

For the master’s degree in educational leadership, qualified Hillsborough County teachers will:

• Be admitted as matriculated students into the degree program.
• Be guaranteed admission into the UT M.Ed.-EDL program, granted they earned an education bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Council for the Association of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

"This partnership will allow our district to continue developing effective instructional leaders for our diverse student population while providing a pathway for educators within Hillsborough County Public Schools to achieve their career goals. This opportunity will most importantly increase the number of highly-qualified leaders who will contribute to student success in the 7th largest school district in the nation,” said Superintendent Addison Davis.

UT’s education programs, including the M.Ed.-EDL, are reviewed and approved by the Florida Department of Education. The department is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).