Cultivating New Leaders
The Department of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies in the Goodwin College of Education welcomes students to the Master's of Arts in Community and Teacher Leaders program. Northeastern Illinois University believes in the power of academic excellence, community and access to opportunity. By preparing students with the skills they need to succeed, they too carry these values into the work they do. Through our academic programs, dedicated faculty and flexible day, evening and weekend classes, students learn to lead in and outside of the classroom and community.
Students have three options or tracks. Students can earn:
- a master’s degree;
- a master's degree with a Teacher Leader Endorsement;
- or only a Teacher Leader Endorsement if students already hold a Master’s degree and professional educator license in Illinois.
Master of Arts in Community and Teacher Leaders Program
The Master of Arts in Community and Teacher Leaders (MACTL) is designed to develop knowledge and skills to foster reflective, collaborative and transformative leaders in both community and school settings. Students will learn to harness the collective knowledge of community members and educators to have a positive impact on community and school success in both traditional and non-traditional settings. Instructional strategies include research, inquiry, analysis, and evaluation as well as digital literacy and technology skills.
MACTL has three tracks. Students complete the master’s program in 30 credit hours or their Teacher Leader Endorsement in 15 hours of coursework in one of the following tracks:
M.A. in Community Leader Track
This provides knowledge and skills that foster leadership in ethical and culturally sensitive public engagement; acknowledges and considers the complexities of local and global communities; and leverages community assets to promote social justice. Student must have and undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or recognized international college or university. This track does not lead to a teaching endorsement.
M.A. in Teacher Leader Track
This provides knowledge and skills related to leadership, mentoring and professional development; promotes school culture that focuses on student learning; uses data to improve educational outcomes; and builds collaborative relationships with stakeholders. Students must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or recognized international college or university. Students must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License. This track leads to a Teacher Leader Endorsement recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Teacher Leader Endorsement Track
The Teacher Leader Endorsement (only) track builds upon one’s own classroom experience, knowledge, and skills to further develop leadership and mentoring capacity that may be used in leadership roles school or district-wide (but not in the capacity of a school principal). The program builds leadership skills by using research and data to improve educational outcomes, by increasing digital literacy and learning, and by fostering collaborative relationships within the school and community. These leadership skills will help to promote the understanding of diverse student populations in schools so as to develop personal and school-wide success that will ultimately improve the classroom, curriculum, student learning, and school culture.
This track leads to a Teacher Leader Endorsement recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education. Students must have a master’s degree from a regionally accredited university and hold a current Illinois professional educator license. Students complete the endorsement in 15 credit hours of coursework within three semesters.
View Teacher Leader Endorsement
MACTL and Teachers Union PartnershipS
The MACTL program is excited to announce a partnership with Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and North Suburban Teachers Union (NSTU), which reduces tuition for those members who are enrolled in either the Master of Arts in Community and Teacher Leaders degree or Teacher Leaders Endorsement program. Learn more about the MACTL and Teachers Union partnership.
Need More Information?
To learn more about the master’s degree or Teacher Leader Endorsement, please contact our program coordinator at mactl@neiu.edu or fill out our Request Information form below.
