Next to the teacher in the classroom, there is no person more important to the success of a school and the students enrolled at that school than the Principal. Research and literature continue to show that the Principal is critical to creating and sustaining a school climate and culture that is conducive to both student learning and quality teaching. This program of study has been designed to present students with a comprehensive continuum of learning opportunities based on current research findings, expert literature, and proven best-practices, that are based on the ISLLC 2008 Leadership Standards and Functions. The need to prepare school leadership capable of bringing about change designed to improve student achievement is paramount to the continued success of the American educational system into the 21st Century.
The Internship is the culminating experience in the Principal Candidate's academic program of study. The experience consists of a 16-week guided administrative internship that includes a total of 270 practicum/fieldwork experience hours, as well eight school-based real-world assignments, designed to provide significant real-world opportunities for the Principal Candidate to apply their knowledge and skills as identified in national standards and research, and to practice the skills that have been identified and taught throughout the program of study. The internship is an exciting, yet challenging, learning experience that places the intern in unfamiliar situations, affords intellectually stimulating activities, and allows for empirical application of concepts and skills learned. These experiences will be offered through scaffolding that includes observation, participating and actually leading activities. During the internship, introspection, personal change, professional growth, and self-assessment empower the intern's sense of development as a professional. The opportunity to work as an independent practitioner within the intern's field coupled with supportive mentoring from the Principal Mentor and Faculty Instructor provide a strong sense of the exciting opportunities that await the intern in the coming years.
Detailed information about the Internship, including its ELLC-driven Evaluation Instrument, can be found in the School Leadership Preparation Programs Manual
Educational Administration Internship Application
Principal Candidates are required to submit an Internship Application to the Office of Field Experience. Please contact the the Student Teaching/Internship Inbox for submission information. Once the Internship Application has been received and approved, the Principal Candidate will be contacted by their assigned Field Experience Specialist to discuss their application prior to their contacting the school district and/or school. This will allow the Principal Candidate and the Field Experience Specialist to discuss the placement confirmation process and to obtain any additional information that may be necessary. Then, the Field Experience Specialist will notify the Principal Candidate via their GCU email address when their internship has been finalized. The email will include the contact information for the GCU Supervisor; the supervisor will be working with the Principal Candidate and the Principal Mentor throughout the internship. The Principal Candidate is required to make contact with the GCU Supervisor prior to the start date of their Internship to start building a cooperating, working relationship and to discuss the expectations of all parties. The Educational Administration Internship begins on the first day of the semester per the Grand Canyon University Academic Calendar and coincides with EDA 586A and EDA 586B.
