New Faculty Coordinators for EKU’s Educational Leadership Programs

Dr. Ray Lauk and Dr. Todd McCardle are new coordinators for EKU’s Educational Leadership graduate programs.

Ray Lauk is the coordinator of the Master of Arts in Education in Instructional Leadership (MAED) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree programs. Through these programs, educators can earn School Principal Levels I and II, Supervisor of Instruction, Director of Pupil Personnel, and Superintendent certifications.

Dr. Lauk joined the College of Education faculty in August 2020 and his school leadership experience is extensive. He has served as a school leader in rural Illinois schools, suburban Chicago high poverty school districts, an urban charter school, and overseas at the American School of Brasilia, Brazil and he holds certifications as an elementary teacher, school principal, and superintendent.  

Dr. McCardle serves as the new coordinator of the doctor of education (EdD) in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Program as well as coordinating the undergraduate Secondary and Middle Grades Teacher Education Programs. Dr. McCardle joined the College of Education faculty in 2017. He began his career in education as a high school language arts and journalism teacher in Houston, Texas, teaching for 12 years before returning to graduate school at the University of Florida to earn his doctorate.

“Graduates with doctorate of education degrees from EKU are P-12 school principals and superintendents as well as leaders in counseling and other fields.  Some have assumed leadership roles in higher education, including the current President of EKU, Dr. David McFaddin,” said Dr. McCardle

Both new coordinators are excited about new initiatives. Dr. McCardle is working to redesign courses with a focus on equity and diversity and issues surrounding race and ethnicity. The College of Education is also planning a new concentration on curriculum leadership so classroom teachers can pursue a doctoral degree in curriculum. Plans are to begin offering this concentration area beginning in the Fall 2021 semester. This new concentration area will offer a third option to the current College of Education doctoral programs in Educational Leadership and Counselor Education and Supervision.

Dr. Lauk noted several advantages to earning a graduate degree in educational leadership and counseling at EKU.

• EKU’s College of Education has outstanding faculty!  “Our professors bring both real-world experiences in Kentucky, nationally, and internationally, as well as being researchers and scholars who bridge the theory-to-practice connection.  This makes our instruction especially relevant to the work that our students do in schools while advancing and improving understanding of inspired, dynamic leadership,” said Dr. Faye Deters, interm chair of Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education.
• EKU’s programs have been created to fit the schedules of busy professionals. For example, the MAED and EdS are 100% online with optional Zoom sessions for guest speakers and further discussion. The EdD program is offered in a hybrid format with some courses meeting online, some that are web-blended with online and face-to-face meetings, and others meeting on campus during evenings or on weekends.
• EKU’s offers budget-friendly programs. Through the summer 2021 term, the application fee has been waived and teachers receive the discounted tuition of $395 per credit hour instead of $510 per credit hour. 
• EKU graduate programs are fully accredited, and EKU’s online programs have been recognized among the top online programs in the U.S.

Dr. Faye Deters, interm chair of Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education, noted “We have longstanding reputation for preparing effective leaders for schools and districts. The majority of school and district leaders in our service region have been prepared in the leadership programs at EKU. We added the doctoral program to expand our reach and to provide leaders for other sectors including higher education and counseling. We are excited about recently attaining Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation for our doctoral track in Counselor Education and Supervision.”

For more information about graduate programs in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education, visit the website https://edleadership.eku.edu/

Published on November 11, 2020