CLU offers session on master's program

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - March 1, 2012) California Lutheran University will hold an information session on its new Central Coast-based master's degree program in educational leadership from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22.

The session will be held in the Orcutt Union School District Instructional Media Center at 500 Dyer St.

The innovative Educational Leadership program will begin in May at CLU's new Central Coast Learning Center located in the Orcutt district's administrative office. Applications for the first cohort are currently being accepted.

Through the accelerated one-year program, which has been approved by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges, students can earn a master's degree in educational leadership and a preliminary administrative services credential while working full-time. Classes will combine online and classroom instruction. Students will take classes on the Orcutt campus during four weekends of each of the four 11-week terms.

The CLU Graduate School of Education has established partnerships with Central Coast school districts to provide students with field experience. Assignments require students to identify challenges currently facing the districts and to research solutions. The program focuses on implementing creative solutions to the problems administrators encounter daily.

Faculty with experience in the field and local school administrators will serve as mentors. Moving through the program with a cohort, students will also benefit from contact with fellow working professionals.

The program will train students to serve as principals, directors and superintendents as well as in other leadership positions in teaching, higher education and nonprofit administration.

Program director Victoria L. Kelly has extensive experience working with local districts and researching ways administrators can improve academic achievement. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Santa Barbara/California State University, San Luis Obispo Joint Doctoral Program.

The launch of the Central Coast program marks the first time that CLU has offered classes north of Ventura County. The university also offers the Educational Leadership Program on its main Thousand Oaks campus.

To RSVP for the information session, contact Andrea Kendrick at 805-493-3124. More information is available at http://www.callutheran.edu/orcutt.