The Master's Degree in Education as Teacher Professional Development : Re-envisioning the Role of the Academy in the Development of Practicing Teachers

Accountability for student’s education is a major topic in the news, but what about teacher education? The authors present a plan, supported by research and tested at a large urban campus, for redesigning the master’s degree for practicing teachers program to address standards set forth by the National Board.

Teacher education is under more scrutiny than ever as standards-based education is becoming more and more the norm. Although much literature is available that addresses developing teacher education, no one addresses how to create and develop a master’s level program.  Gary R. Galluzzo, Joan Packer Isenberg, C. Stephen White, and Rebecca K. Fox, professors at the highly regarded Graduate School of Education at George Mason University, present a text to help deans and other professionals develop a master’s level degree program that meets the standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The various sections explain in depth the facets of the program’s design, including how to qualify future students answering the call by the National Board, provide researched evidence around Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning, and lastly, explore what will become the new standards of accountability for teacher education. Using their own experience as they reconceived their own program for a master’s degree for practicing teachers, the authors provide first-hand accounts of their own expectations, outcomes, and continual dilemmas to inspire more discussion how teacher education can improve the quality of teaching in America’s schools.