The Missouri Leadership for Excellence, Achievement, and Development (MoLEAD) is expanding its program to include a third round of training, as well as a new pilot program with Missouri State University aimed at enhancing instructional leadership among school administrators.

“Quality instructional leadership training is vital to ensure high quality education opportunities for students in schools across the state,” said Deputy Commissioner Margie Vandeven. “Being able to provide even more instructional leadership will only help students more.”

The MoLEAD program combines online and face-to-face training with hands-on experiences and mentoring opportunities to enhance best practices in schools. More than 400 superintendents, principals, assistant principals and teachers have already participated in the first two rounds of training.

Beginning this fall, Missouri State University’s College of Education will pilot a new program called Missouri Institute for Leadership in Education (MILE). MILE will merge MoLEAD standards and criteria with MSU educational leadership preparation program requirements. Those who have participated in MoLEAD will receive credit toward MILE.

"Both school and district leadership are essential to ensure students learn at the highest levels,” said David Hough, Ph.D, Dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University. “Thanks to support from the Missouri General Assembly and a generous donation from the Herschend Foundation, Missouri State University's College of Education is now able to provide the MoLEAD approach as the backbone for the Missouri Institute for Leadership in Education. 'Going the extra MILE' may soon become the most robust, rigorous and practical route to principal and superintendent certification."

MoLEAD  also will be offering a third round of training that is expected to begin in October and will be available in at least seven locations across the state. The training will be supported by state, local and federal funding. The sessions will include 26 days of training.

MoLEAD emphasizes the role of principals as strategic thinkers, instructional leaders and creators of a just, fair and caring culture in which all students meet high standards. It ensures that school leaders can competently and effectively set direction for teachers, support their staffs and design an efficient organization.

“I wish I had experienced this training at the beginning of my career,” said Jennifer Webb, an elementary school principal in the Springfield Public School District. “I’ve had so much rich learning from each of the participants. This training has helped me step out and be that ethical leader that I need to be.”

One of the Department’s goals for the Top 10 by 20 initiative is to prepare, develop and support effective educators. The Top 10 by 20 calls for Missouri to be one of the top 10 states for education by 2020.