In the ELDA program, aspiring and existing administrators acquire the skills and competencies they need to be highly successful in leading continuous instructional improvement. The customized leadership credentialing program and tailored professional development include a continuum of University coursework, experiential learning, and reflective practice.

• Aspiring Leaders Program (Preliminary Administrative Services Credential) is a two year, 24-unit program combining university coursework, district mentoring and professional development, and personalized apprenticeship to an exemplary principal. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to apply for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential in the state of California and may apply coursework toward a master's degree.
• ELDA Summer Institute and Spotlight on Education Series each provide a range of opportunities to meet, learn from, and engage with top educational leaders.
• ELDA Forums are networking groups for alumni principals, vice principals, and superintendents to share, discuss, and problem-solve the issues that arise from the administrator’s personal or professional life.
• World Educational Leadership Link (WELL) Project is part of ELDA's global learning initiative, grounded in a framework for collaboration to support academic achievement for all students.
  
  
  
  

Carlos Ramirez, ELDA Student in the News

On Saturday April 10, ELDA Student Carlo Ramirez was featured in a San Diego Union article written by staff writer Maureen Mcgee.

Carlos, an Early Literacy Support Teacher at Twain High School in Linda Vista saw the need for an activity that would motivate and engage students, give them a sense of belonging and school pride, and a way to get to know students on a more personal level. The team, named FC Mark Twin, has been a great success and has allowed many students to open up to Carlos and to practice their English Language skills more willingly.

Carlos’ love for soccer goes back to his own teenage years, when he joined a soccer team at Colina Park. Carlos’ coach from those years, Ricky Franchi, states that “Carlos was a natural leader and seeing what he is doing with Twain Soccer, it’s like a full circle thing”

Carlos will complete his course work for the ELDA Aspiring Leaders program at USD in July when will earn the Tier I Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, and then will go on to earn an M.A. in Leadership Studies. We at ELDA have observed Carlos’ leadership skills from the first day of classes, and we wish him great success in the future.

ELDA Recognized as exemplary principal preparation program by Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education
On February 19 2010, 1200 deans and faculty of schools of education convened at the annual conference of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan discussed the importance of our nation providing outstanding school principal preparation programs so that all children in our nations’ K-12 schools achieve success. Secretary Duncan cited three programs in the country that serve as models of school leadership preparation. The University of San Diego’s Educational Leadership Development Academy (ELDA) was cited as one of the most effective and innovative school leadership programs in the nation.

ELDA student Edna Mikulanis and the Tijuana Toy Run

ELDA Student, Edna Mikulanis, teacher at Rosa Parks Elementary School in San Diego Unified School District, was raised in a family of six children in Tijuana.

Because money was so scarce, Edna and her siblings received 3 Christmas gifts among the six of them every year –two gifts for the four girls to share, and one for the only boy in the family.

Edna remembers well the year that an older friend brought her to the Tijuana Toy Run on Avenida Revolucion. At that event, Edna was presented with a Barbie doll as her very own gift. Now she and her husband Larry, participate annually in the Tijuana Toy Run with Sweetwater Harley to provide hundreds of bicycles, gifts and toys to the children of Tijuana.

When Edna grew up she moved to the US, married teacher Larry Mikulanis, had children and began a career as a teacher where she wanted to be able to make a difference in the lives of children.

Edna’s kindness, caring, and her leadership skills in collaborating with community members and responding to the interests and needs of children and families will serve as a strong background for her when she becomes a site administrator who always puts the needs of students first.

 

ELDA Student, Kelly Kovacic, named California Teacher of the YEAR
Kelly Kovacic, member of the current ELDA Aspiring Leaders Cohort 10, has been named one of the five California Teachers of the Year. She will have the opportunity of being an advocate, statewide, for public education, teachers and most importantly, for students. Kelly, who teaches AP History and Government courses at the Pruess School, says that teaching is her calling. She has taught at the Pruess School for eight years, and last year 24 of the students from the college preparatory class she taught graduated and went on to college.

Kelly, who entered the ELDA Aspiring Leaders Program in September 2009, says she is “truly enjoying” the ELDA courses, and she plans to continue in the ELDA program while balancing her busy schedule as California Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations Kelly!

ELDA Named Exemplary Leadership Development Program in 2007 Stanford Study: http://seli.stanford.edu/research/sls (click on Executive Summary for the full report)

ELDA cited as an Exemplary Principal Preparation Program in 2009 study by the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning. Go to www.cftl.org for the Executive Summary entitled Strengthening California’s System for Preparing and Supporting Principals: Lessons from Exemplary Programs.