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Education Leaders Program

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HomeProgram AreasPre K-12Education Leaders Program

Education Leaders Program

Enhance your organizational, pedagogical, and community-engagement leadership skills to create a culturally responsive school environment that supports all students and staff.

For education leaders in the Primary, Secondary, and College sectors, The Education Leaders Program is accredited as OISE CPL’s Principal’s Qualification Program, which offers two distinct phases: 

Phase One: Building the Foundations of Leadership
(Formerly Principal’s Qualification Program, Part 1)

  • Three 7-week online courses, taken sequentially. 
  • Develop your leadership philosophy. 
  • Learn methods for cultivating meaningful community relationships. 
  • Gather tools for leading and managing in various situations. 
  • Engage with global education professionals, including OCT educators. 
  • Receive an OISE CPL Certificate of Completion from the University of Toronto. 
  • OCT Certified Educators will also earn the Principal’s Qualification Program, Part 1. 

Phase Two: Nurturing Sustainable Leadership
(Formerly Principal’s Qualification Program, Part 2)

  • One 14-week online Professional Learning Fellowship (PLF). 
  • Advanced, self-guided study with support from facilitators, resident experts, and peers. 
  • Refine your professional inquiry and build a leadership action plan. 
  • Compile a personal leadership toolbox of resources and strategies. 
  • Engage with global education professionals for broader insights and perspectives. 
  • Receive an OISE CPL Master Certificate of Completion from the University of Toronto. 
  • OCT Certified Educators will also earn the Principal’s Qualification Program, Part 2. 

Important Note:

  • OCT Educators in Ontario must complete both phases to obtain Principal’s Qualifications Part 1 and 2.
  • OCT educators with Principal’s Qualification Part 1 from another provider need only complete Phase Two. 
  • Non-OCT professionals may choose to complete one or both phases based on their needs. 
  • Seasoned education leaders may opt for Phase Two only. 

For pre-requisites and more details, visit the individual course pages linked below. 

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What You'll Learn

Upon successful completion of the Education Leaders Program, you will be able to: 

Phase One: Building the Foundations of Leadership (PQP1) 

  • Define and implement your school leadership philosophy and style. 
  • Communicate a shared vision and mission with clear goals and expectations. 
  • Build strong relationships with students, families, staff, and the community. 
  • Create a collaborative, supportive, and safe school culture. 
  • Oversee school mission, goals, and staff to improve student learning. 
  • Support staff development and recognize achievements. 
  • Assess and improve instructional strategies and curriculum. 

Phase Two: Nurturing Sustainable Leadership (PQP2) 

  • Develop a leadership framework to guide and motivate people. 
  • Track goals, timelines, and budgets for accountability. 
  • Foster a growth and innovation mindset for staff development. 
  • Integrate social justice and anti-racism into school leadership and operations. 

Who Should Enroll in this Program

Phase One Pre-Requisites:

No formal prerequisites, except for Ontario Certified Educators (OCT). See individual course pages for details.

Phase Two Pre-Requisites:

Completion of our self-reflection questionnaire, current CV, and at least five years of progressive work experience.

OCT Certified Educators must have completed Phase One or PQP1 through another AQ provider and have an approved Practicum Proposal, prior to starting Phase Two.

Common Professions

Domestic and International Teachers

Administrators

Aspiring Principals

School Leaders

Teacher Leaders

Governance Members in International Schools

Program Overview

Upon successful completion of Phase One, you will receive a Certificate of Completion (OCT Certified Educators will also receive the PQP Part 1 Additional Qualification). Upon successful completion of Phase Two, you will receive a Master Certificate of Completion (OCT Certified Educators will also receive the PQP Part 2 Additional Qualification).

Program Length

Can be completed in 12 - 24 months

Format

Online Asynchronous with recommended Synchronous sessions

Class Size

Under 30 Learners

Course Duration

Phase One: 21 weeks
(7 wks/course)
Phase Two: 14 weeks

Effort

Active Engagement
Phase One: 125 hours
(42 hrs/course)
Phase Two: 125 hours

Total Investment

Phase One: $1095 ($365/course)
Phase Two: $1298
TOTAL = $2393
All courses HST Exempt

Phase 1 (Take All 3)

Learn how to create meaningful relationships within your community that will help build effective, innovative learning environments that support student and staff success.

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Explore the important role you’ll play in leading your school’s vision and mission, and its organization, operation and resource allocation.

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Explore all aspects of the critical role you’ll play as the leading ‘agent of change’ at your school to improve and advance student achievement and success.

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Phase 2 (Take 1)

The Nurturing Sustainable Leadership Professional Learning Fellowship provides a facilitated learning process aimed at seasoned school/education leaders who are interested in pursuing a self-designated project related to expanding and enhancing their skills as innovative, strategic, and effective school leaders within the K-16 space.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The program is geared towards professionals that are:  Domestic and International Teachers, Administrators, Aspiring Principals, School Leaders, Teacher Leaders and Governance Members in International Schools.  If you are unsure whether this program is right for you, please reach out to us via e-mail at oise.cpl@utoronto.ca and one of our representatives would be happy to help support.
One of the big advantages in taking our Education Leaders Program is that it is designed to prepare you in a realistic and professional manner so that you feel confident entering your leadership role. It is rooted in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)’s evidence-based Ontario Leadership Framework – introduced in 2006 by Professor Kenneth Leithwood – and grounded in both current research and pedagogy. The program integrates many practical elements to prepare you for the challenges and responsibilities that come with a position of this caliber.    The practical elements of this program consist of many case-studies that mirror real-world scenarios that can take place in school settings. With the course facilitator and peers, you will engage in rich discussions to unpack case-studies and learn how to respond and address them in various ways. As you engage in these activities, you will also be developing a Personal Leadership Resource Archive, which will comprise of a variety of tools and resources to help support your leadership design, development and implementation. Built into the program is space for reflective practice, so that you may consider and develop a strong leadership ethos and approach, which will then translate into your practice as a leader. Rooted in a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach, choice is built into the program and included assessments so that you can align your projects and learning to strengthen specific skills and meet the needs of your specific work context. The globalized audience of the Education Leaders Program will allow you to work and learn from your peers, gathering insights into various education spaces and contexts from around the world, thus further informing your own professional development and practice.
The program has two distinct phases: Phase One – Education Leaders: Building the Foundations of Leadership. This comprises three foundational courses, each 7 weeks in duration for a total of 21 weeks. The three courses in Phase One must be taken in sequential order, as shown below: Course 1: Shared Leadership: Building Relationships and Engaging Communities. Course 2: Organizational Leadership: Developing and Implementing a Shared School Vision. Course 3: Instructional Leadership: Creating an Effective School and Student Learning Experience. Phase Two – Education Leaders: Nurturing Sustainable Leadership. This is an OISE professional learning fellowship – an advanced, self-guided study to work through your own applied inquiry that takes place over 14 weeks.  OCT Educators seeking their Principal’s Qualification in Ontario must complete both Phase One and Two. Education professionals who are not affiliated with the Ontario College of Teachers may choose to complete one or both phases depending on their needs. Advanced education leaders may opt only for the Phase Two Professional Learning Fellowship.
Please navigate to Course 1 - Shared Leadership: Building Relationships and Engaging Communities course page for a full breakdown of the Phase One pre-requisites.
Please navigate to the Nurturing Sustainable Leadership fellowship course page for a full breakdown of the Phase Two pre-requisites.
Upon successful completion of Phase One – Education Leaders: Building the Foundations of Leadership 3-course program, you’ll receive an OISE CPL Certificate of Completion from the University of Toronto.   OCT Certified Educators will also earn their Additional Qualification: Principal’s Qualification Program, Part 1 (which will be reflected within their OCT Certificate of Qualifications).   Upon completion of Phase Two – Nurturing Sustainable Leadership Professional Learning Fellowship, you’ll receive an OISE CPL Master Certificate of Completion from the University of Toronto. OCT Certified Educators will also earn their Additional Qualification: Principal’s Qualification Program, Part 2 (which will be reflected within their OCT Certificate of Qualifications). 
The Certificate of Completion is the official recognition that you’ve completed an advanced professional learning program consisting of 14 weeks. The goal of Phase One is to enhance your organizational, pedagogical, and community-engagement leadership skills, and build your capacity to foster a culturally responsive school environment to support the success of all of your students and staff.
The Master Certificate of Completion is the official recognition that you’ve completed an advanced professional learning program consisting of 14 weeks. The goal of Phase Two is to build leadership capacity for those within the K-16 space. Learners will be exploring and defining their leadership and developing strategies and tactics to animate their leadership within this space.
You have the option to take Phase One, separate from Phase Two. Alternatively, you may take Phase One followed by Phase Two, however, there are specific pre-requisites that must be met in order to take Phase Two. Please see the "What are the pre-requisites for Phase Two of the program?" in our FAQs for more information.
Phase One: $365 per course / 3 courses = $1095. Phase Two: $1298. Total: $2393. This program differs from traditional professional learning in that it is the first of its kind. Phase One of The Education Leaders Program is designed to provide you with an actionable framework that enhances your organizational, pedagogical, and community-engagement leadership skills. It also builds your capacity to foster a culturally responsive school environment to support the success of your students.  Phase two of The Education Leaders Program is an opportunity for you to identify an idea and/or problem to be solved, to learn and be guided by process facilitators who can help Fellows (Learners) identify solutions.    The price of the program reflects the quality of the facilitation staff, the supports provided and the advanced level of the program. 
This program is not currently eligible for OSAP funding.
There isn’t direct financial assistance available from the University of Toronto, however, you may explore external financial assistance, such as, but not limited to, the examples below: Better Jobs Ontario, Canada Training Credit, Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities, Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit, Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG), or the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF).
Payment plans are not available at this time.
The Master Certificate of Completion is not equivalent to a master’s degree. The program is designed to support the professional development and growth of professional learners.
As a Continuing Education unit, OISE CPL offers non-credit courses/programming. As a result, The Education Leaders program does not lead to degree granting credits.
The Education Leaders program does not currently grant advanced standing, nor does it reduce the number of credits required for the completion of a master’s degree.

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