Educational Leadership Certificate

The Post-Professional Certificate in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare students to lead preK-12 schools. The certificate will educate students in the foundations of education law and school finance. Students will learn techniques for supervising and evaluating personnel. Students will also learn the historical, social, and cultural foundations that frame our response to disability and diversity in education today. Students will apply systems understanding to school improvement and the development of educational environments to enhance opportunities for academic success. Graduates will be able to serve in preK-12 educational leadership positions such as principals, assistant principals, and central office administrators.

The proposed certificate provides a route to the administration and supervision preK-12 endorsement for candidates who hold a license issued by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) with a master’s degree in teaching or related education field. The VDOE requires that school leaders meet specific competencies in the areas of school law, evaluation of instructional personnel, special education, school finance, and educational leadership and a comprehensive practicum. The proposed certificate provides graduates with the necessary competencies to obtain the add-on endorsement in administration and supervision preK-12 in Virginia.