Project LINK-2-LEAD

Welcome! The purpose of this website is to share information about the activities of The University of North Carolina Greensboro's (UNCG's) Project LINK-2-LEAD.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education awarded a Leadership Preparation Grant to senior faculty in UNCG's Department of Specialized Education Services. The purpose of this grant, which begins in 2012, is to increase the supply and diversity of special education teacher education leaders who are well prepared to flourish as researchers in university faculty positions. Project personnel will achieve this program goal by recruiting, enrolling, and graduating a cadre of high-quality scholars.

The Linking Important Networks of Knowledge to Lead (LINK-2-LEAD) project is a partnership between The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the Center for Creative Leadership, the School of Education Teacher Academy's Project ENRICH, and school districts in two counties (i.e., Forsyth and Guilford). Over five years, LINK-2-LEAD partners will work together to deliver five critical integrated training and practice components: (a) advanced special education teacher education seminars and diverse research methods courses; (b) extensive closely supervised community- engaged scholarship experiences; (c) creative strategic leadership development programs (d) authentic continual cognitive apprenticeships; and (e) data-informed competency-based scholar evaluations. Carefully sequenced campus and field-based activities delivered through interdisciplinary community networks of knowledge and practice emphasize scholars' transformations from special education practitioners to teacher-educator researchers. At project's end, scholar graduates will be competent and creative leaders in: (a) conducting rigorous teacher education research; (b) preparing effective special education personnel; (c) undertaking engaged professional service; and, (d) influencing policy and practice across a variety of settings, including high-needs LEAs, high-poverty schools, and low-performing schools.

The expected project outcomes are: (a) improvement in the supply and diversity of advanced special education leadership personnel; (b) graduation of LINK-2-LEAD scholars with earned Ph.D.s to serve as leaders in teacher education research and practice; and (c) employment of LINK-2-LEAD finishers as beginning professors with primary responsibility for publishing high quality teacher education research, developing new personnel development approaches, and teaching pre- and in-service professionals to strengthen educational outcomes for children with disabilities and other special needs by employing evidence-based practices with fidelity.

If you would like to know more about all programs available through the School of Education please visit at http://www.uncg.edu/soe/.