UW-River Falls recently awarded Master of Science in Education degrees to nine graduates from the Principal Licensure program. Front row:  Kyle Latch of Red Wing, Minn., Robin Pagel of Red Wing, Minn., Taryl Graetz of River Falls, Amanda Meyer of Osceola, and Nathan Wells of River Falls. Second row:  Dean Larry Solberg (UWRF), Mary Wright (UWRF) and Florence Monsour (UWRF). Back row:  Tom Westerhaus (UWRF), Erik Ferden of Cottage Grove, Minn., and Mike Pagel of Red Wing, Minn. Missing:  Matthew Zurbriggen of Osceola, and Shaun Fisher of Balsam Lake.

New UW-River Falls Graduates Ready to Lead in Minnesota and Wisconsin Schools

July 28, 2015 -- The University of Wisconsin-River Falls awarded Master of Science in Education degrees to nine graduates from the Principal Licensure program in May 2015. All graduates are eligible for certification by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as school principals and other leadership roles in Wisconsin K-12 schools. 

Receiving their degrees were Kyle Latch, Mike Pagel, and Robin Pagel of Red Wing, Minn., Erik Ferden of Cottage Grove, Minn., Taryl Graetz and Nathan Wells of River Falls, Amanda Meyer and Matthew Zurbriggen of Osceola, and Shaun Fisher of Balsam Lake. 

UW-River Falls has offered a licensure program for aspiring Wisconsin principals since 2000. In 2006, the program was expanded to a Master of Science in Education degree for educators and administrators interested in becoming principals. Graduates are equipped for leadership in either public or private school settings. Since the program's start, 126 individuals, or 97 percent, have completed the program and nearly 50 percent have been or are currently working in school administrative positions. 

"These positions include dean of students, assistant principal, principal, athletic director, director of curriculum, superintendent, and other director roles, working in more than 40 different school districts throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin," said Florence Monsour, professor and faculty coordinator in the Teacher Education Department at UW-River Falls. 

Since 2013, current and new students in the program may opt to take one additional class to fulfill requirements for the Director of Instruction license. Four of the nine recent graduates also completed this license.  

"We added this enhancement to the program based on the request of our current and past graduates," said Monsour. "With this improvement, our graduates are not only eligible for building principal roles within a school but also leadership jobs within a school district." 

Coursework is completed in sequence over a two-year period and is focused on the critical competencies necessary to become a successful principal including leadership, decision-making, supervision and staff development. Courses are a blend of traditional face-to-face, online, independent and practical experiences. Projects are designed to assist students in creating their work administrator portfolios. The first class is held on campus to provide access to technology and other services. After the first summer, however, the cohort helps to determine convenient locations and meeting times for the remaining classes. 

For more information about admission requirements or how to apply, contact Outreach and Continuing Education at 715-425-0633 or outreach@uwrf.edu. 

UW-River Falls provides lifelong learners with academic, professional development and enrichment programs that are practical, flexible, convenient and affordable. A complete list of graduate programs, visit www.uwrf.edu/academics/graduateprograms.