Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Academic Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

MBA in Education Leadership (MBAEL)


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Program Director

Dan Pavletich
Office: RO1-E
Phone: (414) 277-2486
Email: pavletich@msoe.edu

MSOE’s Rader School of Business created the MBA in Education Leadership program. This innovative program is targeted at teaching professionals, principals, and vice principals with a minimum of three years of PK­-12 teaching experience who wish to advance in school leadership roles.  On successful completion of the program, qualified participants receive both a Master of Business Administration and Wisconsin State Principal Licensure. 

The program is also recommended for K-12 administrators and business managers who wish to enhance their leadership skills through a specialist MBA. The program, which serves the needs of public, private, charter, and choice school emerging leaders, blends the best of leadership development, business, and educational administration. Two key themes woven through the program are the elimination of the global student achievement gap through better school leadership, and the development of school cultures that support positive character education.

The MBA in Education Leadership is a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction approved program for principal licensure (5051) that offers educators an alternative to traditional Master of Education Administration degree programs. Students may also add the Director of Instruction (5010) and School Business Administrator (5008) licenses by enrolling in additional course work. The program is based on a school partner model that involves existing school leadership and MSOE program faculty in the definition of field projects that will advance important school initiatives and provide an authentic embedded learning experience for students.

Program Faculty

Dr. Ruth Barratt, Andy Chromy, Mindy Davies, Dr. Paul Hudec, Tabia Jones, Nick Kohn, Patty Kramer, Dr. Jessica Moe, Curt Mould, Dr. Kelly Ottman, Dan Pavletich, Tony Spence, Chris Thompson

Admission Requirements

Admissions to the MBA in Education Leadership program is rolling throughout the year. Cohorts begin in the fall and spring of each year. In addition to meeting the general graduate admissions requirements, all candidates for the MBA in Education Leadership must meet program-specific requirements, which are listed in the Graduate Admission Requirements  section of this catalog.

Program Educational Objectives

At MSOE, program educational objectives refer to what graduates of the MBA in Education Leadership program are expected to achieve within several years of program completion:

  • Rise to significant leadership positions in PK-12 education
  • Direct innovative educational initiatives and formulate policies using sound analytical skills and evidence-based practice
  • Lead educational change efforts to raise the achievement of all students, with a particular focus on eliminating and preventing the global achievement gap in PK-12 education
  • Demonstrate the on-going integration of effective leadership traits and ethical principles into personal and professional personas
  • Build and sustain relationships among diverse constituents, stakeholders, and policy makers that foster a culture conducive to high student achievement
  • Develop the next generation of teachers who will continue to pursue global excellence in student achievement
  • Manage school environments to foster student achievement, realize staff development, and nurture the public trust while creating and sustaining an ecology that fosters positive character formation
  • Influence and enact Wisconsin school law and education policy to enhance the learning environment

Student Outcomes

The student outcomes refer to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and dispositions that program graduates will possess at the time of program completion. These are organized into the broad categories shown below that align with the Wisconsin Administrator Standards and enact two key themes within the program: elimination of the global achievement gap (8) and character formation (9).  All program graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate understanding and competency in teacher standards
  2. Lead by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared by the school community
  3. Lead by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to pupil learning and staff professional growth
  4. Ensure management of the organization, operations, finances, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment
  5. Collaborate with families and community members to respond to diverse community interests and needs and mobilize community resources
  6. Act with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner that models strong character for the school and community
  7. Demonstrate an understanding, respond to, and interact with the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts that affect schools and learning
  8. Apply evidence-based leadership practices to identify and resolve barriers to student achievement and eliminate achievement gaps
  9. Identify, develop, and sustain a school and community culture that supports character formation

MBAEL Additional Licensure Course Work


The MBA in Education Leadership (MBA EL) program offers the opportunity to earn multiple Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction licenses. The MBA EL program, which includes principal license (DPI license #5051), also offers the opportunity for students may enroll in the Director of Instruction (DPI license #5010) and School Business Administrator (DPI license #5008). 

Director of Instruction


The Director of Instruction program will develop essential skills for curriculum restructuring, planning and implementation at the school site. Three essential processes, curriculum development, assessment and instruction, will be considered with respect to relevant theory, research, and practice. Additionally, students will understand theories and strategies that address the needs of the diverse population that composes today’s classrooms. Included in this program will be diversity issues, planning techniques, effective teaching strategies, differentiated instructional and assessment strategies, motivational concepts, and informal and formal assessment practices, deepening an understanding of curriculum, instruction and assessment by integrating theoretical and research course work with practice. Students conduct an action research project and lead efforts that contribute to progress on a School Improvement Plan in the areas of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

School Business Administrator


Students will study key financial concepts, identify financial decisions and learn to analyze an organization’s status using accounting methods, financial tools and techniques. Engage in budgeting and financial reporting techniques, inventory control, purchasing, capital project planning and debt service management. Additionally, students will develop knowledge in the management of school operations, food services, school transportation and plant maintenance. Designed for prospective school business administrators, this program includes management concepts and techniques and the skills needed in collective negotiations and contract management in the public schools. The program will deepen an understanding of the school business administrator roles and responsibilities by integrating theoretical and research course work with practice and reflection on development as a school business leader. Students will conduct an action research project and lead efforts that contribute to progress on a financial and operational process in a school district or consortium.

Graduate Business Certificate for School Leaders


The Graduate Business Certificate for School Leaders  offers educators an opportunity to learn fundamental business concepts. It’s a shortened program that requires students to participate in five essential courses to equip them to be catalysts for change in their school and district. At the end of the program students have the option to enroll in the MBA Education Leadership Program to receive their MBA and endorsement for the 5051 WI Administrative license.

Final Portfolio


All candidates for the MBA in Education Leadership will create and maintain a portfolio of their work that clearly demonstrates their competency and achievement of the student outcomes. As they progress through the program, key work products and observational notes will be added to the portfolio, which will be maintained in digital format. Additional information regarding the portfolio will be provided to admitted students.

Course Calendar


The course calendar can be reviewed by contacting the MBAEL office.

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