Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility Certification

This program includes a series of six field residencies leading to the Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility or in the case of alternative pathway students, eligibility for a commission as a superintendent/assistant superintendent. All work is done in the candidate’s home district and can be completed in one-and-a-half years. Each residency is four credits and is co-supervised by a university faculty member, a practicing expert in the field and a district-based facilitator/mentor.

This program is designed for students who are full-time educators. Courses are offered on weekends at Dixon University Center in Harrisburg to accommodate you. Course content is provided through a combination of face-to-face and online delivery methods. Courses are taught by former public school district-level administrators. Leadership fellows who are practicing district-level administrators serve as co-instructors.

Residency courses are based in your home district and are organized around six critical leadership content areas. The residency model eliminates the need for a separate practicum. The required 360 residency hours are embedded within the courses to weave content and application throughout the program. The courses require you to be engaged in leadership activities in your professional settings at a district level throughout the program.

Accreditation

You will learn:

• Core competency areas necessary to fulfill the role of a school district superintendent
• Skills necessary to be an effective district-level administrator
• Strategies to support the diverse needs of students, families and staff
• Communication techniques to address contemporary school leadership challenges
• Practical strategies for addressing the needs of school districts

Core courses focus on practical application of theory geared toward the needs of district-level leaders, focusing primarily on the role of the superintendent. There is a blend of theory and practical experiences to develop effective leadership knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Strategic leadership in district governance and community relations
• Ethical and legal decision-making
• Negotiations and personnel strategic decision-making
• Optimizing financial resources
• Instructional and technology leadership
• Facilities and plant management

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the application and transcript(s), Superintendent Letter of Eligibility applicants must have Level II teacher certification, and applicants must submit:

• LOE Mentoring Agreement Form: For each residency the candidate is assigned a district-based mentor (typically the superintendent). The district-based mentor agrees to:
  • Provide the candidate with opportunities to complete residency activities in his/her home district
  • Ensure that the candidate’s experiences support district goals
  • Assist the candidate in demonstration of performance tasks
  • Encourage reflection and self-assessment, providing feedback as appropriate to the candidate
  • Consult with the candidate’s university supervisor on his/her progress in the program
• Program statement: Submit a 500-1,000 word goal statement of purpose explaining why you are seeking the Letter of Eligibility
• Two (2) recommendations required: One recommendation must be from the chief school administrator in the district you currently teach or have recently taught

Upon completion of the residencies, candidates will be eligible for the Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility in Pennsylvania provided that they also meet the experience and state exam requirements.

The Superintendent Letter of Eligibility has a cohort beginning every spring. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.