Academic Programs

This unique program is designed to prepare principals who are instructional leaders who can effectively and ethically bring about continuous school improvements that result in increased student achievement. The Principal Preparation Program is designed around the conceptual framework of “Principal as Agent of School Reform” and is designed to meet the Pennsylvania Leadership Standards, ISLCC Standards, and the ELCC Standards.

All of the courses in the certification program are approved to meet the Act 45/48 professional development requirement and are also approved as foundational courses for Gannon’s Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership.

We also offer this program off campus. Find the Cohort nearest you!

Program Distinctions

Leadership Assessment

Candidates take part in a Leadership Assessment at the beginning of the program to lay the groundwork for the job embedded learning throughout the program

Cohort

The design of Gannon’s program is based on effective models of adult learning. The program provides candidates in a cohort community the opportunity to cooperate and collaborate throughout the sequence of five connected core courses all of which have job embedded internships.  Once the learning community is formed, it becomes the basis of a strong professional network that continues to provide support and professional development for the candidates as they move through their leadership careers.

Program Delivery Model for Working Professionals

Classes meet face to face every other Saturday.  The program takes twelve months to complete.

Leadership Cohort Mentor/ Portfolio Advisor

Every candidate has a Leadership Cohort Mentor/Portfolio Advisor that serves as the consistent point of contact and mentor throughout the candidate’s progression through the preparation program.

Highly Qualified Faculty

Courses are taught by highly qualified content experts who are respected, current, successful practitioners in their respective fields.  The courses are taught by either current school administrators or those who have been involved in the field within the past five years.

Differentiated Internships

The internships begin during the first course at the introductory level, continue through key skills areas at the developmental level and culminate during the last course in a mastery level capstone internship.  This differentiated model allows candidates to have guided practice and formative feedback from faculty mentors and experienced practitioners throughout the program.

Length of Internships

The internship experiences take place over the full year life cycle of the school so that candidates are involved in critical leadership responsibilities involving students, faculty and staff, strategic planning, curriculum development, budgeting, and other key areas of district culture.

Leadership Portfolio

Candidates develop a Leadership Portfolio throughout their classroom and internship learning experiences and present the portfolio as a capstone experience. The portfolio is a very effective tool in career advancement.

Admission Requirements

·        Complete an application for admission and submit three letters of recommendation, including one from the current superintendent. The letter from the superintendent must speak to the candidate’s potential to become an effective school leader and acknowledge permission for the candidate to engage in internship activities throughout the year.

·        Have a Master’s degree in Education or a related field from a regionally accredited program

·        Submit final, official transcripts from a graduate degree-granting institution

·         Document five years of educational experience working under a certificate.  Candidates may   be admitted with four years of experience if they can document that they will have completed five years of experience by the time the program concludes.

Coursework

September –October

3 credits                       GEDU 720 Quality Teaching, Continuous Learning, Professional Accountability

1 credit                         GEDU 725 Principal Introductory Internship—35 hours

1 credit                         GEDU 732 Principal Leadership Cohort Mentor/Portfolio Advisor

October-December

3 credits                       GEDU 722 School Financial Management

1 credit                         GEDU 726 Finance Developmental Internship---35 hours

January-March

2 credits                       GEDU 730 Diverse Learner Competencies for School Leaders

1 credit                         GEDU 731 Diverse Learner Developmental Internship---35 hours

March-May

3 credits                        GEDU 721 Principal as Agent of School Reform

3 credits                        GEDU 728 Principal Mastery Internship (March-August) ---235 hours

May-August   

2 credits                       GEDU 723 Legal Aspects of Educational Administration

1 credit                         GEDU 727 Legal Aspects Developmental Internship---20 hours

Portfolio Presentation

21 credits     3 semesters