Educational Leadership Certificate Preparation—Discovering Your Own Leadership Skills

Emily E. Quinlan, already armed with a Hood College Master’s degree in special education, also earned a certificate in Educational Leadership from Hood, which puts her on the path toward an administrative career in education.  Emily is an Instructional Coordinator for Elementary Special Education for Frederick County Public Schools. She delivers consultative and direct services to students with disabilities and their instructional staffs at the district’s 36 elementary schools. Additionally, she mentors teachers, conducts observations, monitors instructional programming and – as well as provides professional development. Prior to her current position, Emily was an FCPS Teacher Specialist and Coordinator for Secondary Schools.

Emily credits Hood’s curriculum and faculty for equipping her with effective mentoring, collaboration and professional development strategies for working with teachers of varying experience levels as well as administrators in schools with diverse needs. “(The Educational Leadership Certificate Program)is great for discovering your own leadership skills and qualities while learning how to build positive relationships with other educators.” The educational leadership program at Hood provides insight into the intricacies of school-based and systemic needs and how leadership roles impact those needs. The lessons and rigor of the leadership program have allowed Emily to adapt to new leadership roles, support schools based on their individual needs, and work to build teacher-leaders throughout the county.