Saint Xavier University first in Illinois to grant new Teacher Leader Endorsement

Currently only Program to offer Illinois State Board of Education Teacher Leader Endorsement

Chicago (July 24, 2008) Saint Xavier University is the first institution in the state of Illinois to receive approval from the Illinois State Board of Education to offer a new endorsement for certified teachers. Saint Xavier is currently the only school in the state to offer the Teacher Leader Endorsement, which will be valuable for teachers who wish to take leadership roles in their schools.

The new Teacher Leader Endorsement can be granted to graduates of the SXU field-based Master of Arts in Teaching and Leadership Program who have a standard or master certificate, at least two years of leadership experience at their school, and coursework in a certified, endorsed, or highly qualified content area. Experience as a leader of a curriculum committee, participation in a school improvement team, and other leadership roles can be documented with a letter from the school principal.

SXU has provided the MATL Program at locations across Illinois since 1991. More than 6,000 graduates from more than 300 school districts have earned this degree.

“SXU has brought this cohort program to more than 55 locations across northern Illinois, including the suburbs of Chicago as well as towns as far-flung as Rockford, Rock Falls, Rock Island, Galesburg, Peoria and Bloomington, among others,” said Tim Halloran, MATL Program Director. “We are very pleased that this respected program is the first in the state approved to
offer this new endorsement for teachers with a standard or master certificate.”

In May, Saint Xavier conferred 379 MATL degrees. There are currently 550 students enrolled with more sites starting in August. Information about the MATL Program is found at http://www.sxu.edu/soe/gr_teaching.asp.

For more information about the application process for this new endorsement, contact Larry Sondler, Director of Teacher Certification at Sondler@sxu.edu or Tim Halloran, Director of the MATL Program Halloran@sxu.edu.

Below find Illinois communities where Saint Xavier student groups are currently studying or have already graduated from the MATL Program:

Arlington Heights
639 graduates in the AH area since 1995. 33 of them received their degrees in May 2008.
Current students in the MATL Program: 51

Galesburg
47 graduates in the Galesburg area since 1995. 15 of them received their degrees in May 2008.

Geneseo
Current students in the MATL Program: 20. Eleven of them will graduate in May 2009.

Grayslake
599 graduates in the area since 1995. 37 of them received their degrees in May 2008.

Current students in the MATL Program: 55
LaSalle
109 graduates in the area since 2000. 12 of them received their degrees in May 2008.
Current students in the MATL Program: 12

Melrose Park
Hundreds of graduates in the area since 1995. Current students in the MATL Program in Melrose Park: 12

Orland Park
656 graduates in the Orland Park/Tinley Park area since 1993. 37 of them received their degrees in May 2008.
Current students in the MATL Program: 42

Peoria
517 graduates in the area since 1995. 38 of them received their degrees in May 2008.
Current students in the MATL Program: 49

Rock Falls
78 graduates in the area since 2002. 13 of them received their degrees in May 2008.
Current students in the MATL Program: 15

Rockford
557 graduates in the area since 1992. 41 of them received their degrees in May 2008.
Current students in the MATL Program: 84