College of Education’s Master of School Administration Program Wins Opal Mann Green Engagement and Scholarship Award

The NC State College of Education’s Master of School Administration program has been recognized with NC State’s Office of Outreach and Engagement’s Opal Mann Green Engagement and Scholarship Award.

The award, established in 2010 to honor the leadership of former NC State faculty member Opal Mann Green, is given annually to recognize a team dedicated to community-based learning and mutually beneficial action around local issues, the creation of inclusionary teams and the use of democracy in the classroom, community and at home.

“This award confirms that we are living our program mission and vision, which is simply put as ‘excellent leaders, effective schools, enriched communities,’” said Professor Bonnie Fusarelli, Ph.D., director of NC State’s Leadership Academies.

The College of Education’s Master of School Administration is an innovative principal preparation program that provides early career support and continuous professional development for future school leaders. The program was ranked 14th in the nation and 1st in North Carolina by U.S. News and World Report’s most recent Best Graduate School Rankings in the Educational Administration and Supervision specialty category.

It is also one of only five principal preparation programs in the nation to be recognized as exemplary by the University Council for Educational Administration.

Teams recognized with the Opal Mann Green Award have demonstrated excellence as engaged scholars who practice the seven characteristics — responsiveness, respect for partners, academic neutrality, accessibility, integration, coordination and resource partnerships — reflected in the Kellogg Commission Seven Part Test.

The award honors authentic teamwork across organizational structures within the university and community, and reflects programs that have been valued by the community and are mutually beneficial to partners.

Through the Master of School Administration program, the College of Education trains high-quality leaders who participate in a year-long principal residency in their second year. Following graduation, they commit to serving in high-need schools, where many graduates have already been successful in improving student outcomes.

“We work closely with our district partners, not only to prepare aspiring school leaders for their districts, but also by providing training for district-identified areas of need. So, beyond principal preparation, we have worked with and engaged in training with current school principals and even the school boards,” Fusarelli said.

Master of School Administration program representatives, along with representatives from partner schools, will receive the award during the Outreach and Engagement Spotlights and Awards event scheduled for Aug. 28.