Missouri Pathway for Aspiring Leaders in Special Education (MoPAL)

The Missouri Pathway for Aspiring Leader in Special Education (MoPAL) is a three-year, DESE sponsored program for individuals who currently hold a Missouri administrator certificate and would like to develop their expertise in Special Education Administration.  Through this program, aspiring leaders receive essential content through online professional learning modules, cohort learning experiences, as well as coaching and mentoring.  The goal of the MoPAL is to increase the number of qualified Special Education Directors in our state, inspiring them to be innovative leaders who lead their districts in the use of research-based approaches to supporting students with disabilities.

Benefits of Participation:

  • A research to practice approach
  • Cohort face to face meetings two times per year (January and July)                     
  • No cost, evidence-based, online professional learning framework
  • Coaching for two years to address applicable real world context and to provide support and feedback during web based professional learning modules
  • Mentoring during the final year of participation
  • Networking opportunities
  • Professional development aligned with Missouri Leader and the Council of Exception Child (CEC) Standards

Qualifications to Participate:

  • Current Missouri Administrator certification.
  • Employed in a Missouri School District, who acknowledges and agrees to your participation in this program
  • Completed Application with brief personal statement describing your interest
  • Resume with evidence of leadership in current role
  • Transcripts
  • Status of teaching and administrator certification
  • Commitment to complete the three-year program
  • Commitment to work as a Special Education Director after completion

Timeline:

  • March 1, 2020- Application Release for Cohort 1 and Coaches
  • April 15, 2020- Applications Due
  • May 31, 2020-Project Management Team will select candidates and those candidates will be notified of their selection
  • July 29, 2020- Summer Cohort Learning (Cohort 1 and Coaches)
  • August 2020- December 2020 Cohort 1 (Year 1, First Semester) (Modules + Coaching)
  • January 2021- Mid Year Cohort Learning (Cohort 1 and Coaches)
  • January 2021- May 2021 Cohort 1 (Year 1, Second Semester) (Modules + Coaching)
  • Year 2 TBA

For more information on The MoPAL Project contact Kindra Delp Kindra.Delp@dese.mo.gov.

Application available from https://dese.mo.gov/special-education/missouri-pathway-aspiring-leaders-mopal