Program Components
Program Overview | Assumptions | Components | Curriculum | Internship
Internship Experience
Multiple Experiences - The internship experience provides a crucial, practical component to the program. Students are encouraged to serve internships in two different districts and settings (urban, suburban, or rural) at both the elementary and secondary levels.
Mentor Principals - The expertise of mentor principals is vitally important to the program. Frequent discussion and interaction among mentors, students, and faculty provide ongoing professional renewal of all participants. Interns are involved in significant work assignments such as developing a peer tutoring or parent-involvement program, planning and scheduling staff development, supervising education assistants, or mentoring new teachers.
Theory/Practice Link - The innovative program provides many links between theory and practice. Students keep a journal and a log and discuss their experiences during weekly reflective seminars. Curriculum is sequenced to coincide with the public school calendar. Many assignments are based on actual work in the internship site. Through the internship with mentor principals, students experience the practical application of theory and learn about the problems, opportunities, and dilemmas of leadership.