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All 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.
PROGRAM DISTINCTIONS
Leadership Assessment Candidates take part in a Leadership Assessment at the beginning the program to begin laying 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. The learning community formed becomes the basis of a strong professional network that continuous 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, online, and in a blended format. Candidates meet a total of 16 times throughout the program. The program takes twelve months to complete. 1st course fall 5 Saturdays (every other) 2nd course fall Blended 3 Saturdays 3rd course spring Online 4th course spring 5 Saturdays (every other) 5th course spring Blended 3 Saturdays 6th course spring-summer Internship 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. Letter from superintendent must speak to the candidate’s potential to become an effective system 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.
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
September-October 3 credits GEDU 740 Superintendent as Architect of Standards-based Reform 1 credit GEDU 748 Superintendent Introductory Internship - 35 hours 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 May-August 2 credits GEDU 742 Educational Facilities and School Plant 1 credit GEDU 745 Educational Facilities Developmental Internship - 20 hours 2 credits GEDU 730 Diverse Learner Competencies for School Leaders (based on transcript review) 3 credits GEDU 750 Superintendent Mastery Internship - 235 hours