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Program Director: Kathleen Kingston, Ed.D.
Phone: (814) 871-5626
Email: kingston002@gannon.edu

Overview

SUPERINTENDENT AS STRATEGIC SYSTEM LEADER

This unique program is designed to prepare superintendents who are strategic system leaders who can effectively and ethically bring about continuous system improvements that result in increased student achievement. The Superintendent Letter of Eligibility Program is designed around the conceptual framework of “The Superintendents as Strategic System Leader” 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 for practicing administrators 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 superintendents 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

Applicants must:

·        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 six years of educational experience, three years of which must be work under an administrative or supervisory certificate.  Candidates may be admitted with two years of administrative or supervisory experience if they can document that they will have completed three years of experience by the time the program concludes.

 

Coursework

 

September –October

3 credits                                  GEDU 740 Superintendent as Architect of Standards-based Reform

1 credit                                    GEDU 748 Superintendent Introductory Internship—35 hours

1 credit                                GEDU 751 Superintendent Leadership Mentor/Portfolio Advisor

 

October-December

3 credits                                  GEDU 744 Business Administration and Finance

1 credit                                    GEDU 747 Business Administration Developmental Internship—35 hours

 

January-March

2 credits                                  GEDU 743 Collective Bargaining

1 credit                                    GEDU 746 Collective Bargaining Developmental Internship—35 hours

 

March-May

3 credits                                  GEDU 741 Superintendent as Strategic System Leader

3 credits                                  GEDU 750 Superintendent Mastery Internship (March-August) ---235 hours

 

May-August         

2 credits                                  GEDU 742 Educational Facilities and School Plant

1 credit                                    GEDU 745 Educational Facilities Developmental Internship—20 hours

 

Portfolio Presentation  

 

 21 credits     3 semesters