School administrator standing in front of empty classroom

School District Administrator Cohort

(PDE Certification, Superintendent PK-12 Letter of Eligibility)

This program prepares aspiring school district leaders to fulfill a variety of central office administrative roles, including superintendent. The program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility and aligns with the Educational Leadership doctoral degree.

Overview

We have revised the structure of this program to better meet the needs of aspiring district leaders. Following a cohort model helps to create professional bonds that expand and strengthen leaders’ networks as they advance their careers. With the exception of Drs. Osborne and Fogt, program faculty for this cohort currently serve as Lehigh Valley district administrators. Recognizing the demands placed on working professionals, classes are held once a week at times designed to best meet students’ schedules.

Superintendent PK-12 Letter of Eligibility

In order to be certified as a superintendent in Pennsylvania, students must complete the program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

They must also:

Have a minimum of six years of satisfactory school experience, with at least three years in a supervisory or administrative capacity
Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Show satisfactory achievement on the Pennsylvania-required test

For Lehigh’s Superintendent PK-12 Letter of Eligibility program, students who have already earned a master’s degree take six courses for 18 credits in subjects that include school district governance, ethics and the law, district resource management, instructional leadership and leading inclusive learning systems. The classes are held mostly in the late afternoon and evenings for the convenience of working professionals.

Superintendent certification candidates earn another 10 credits doing an apprenticeship with a superintendent.

Lehigh’s innovative faculty include leaders with years of experience as school administrators and teachers as well as professors who are at the forefront of research in best practices. Alumni have gone on to lead school districts in the region and around the state.

Please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website or more information on Pennsylvania’s certification requirements.

Application Requirements

Online application
Transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate)
Proof of English proficiency
A minimum of six years of satisfactory school experience, with at least three years in a supervisory or administrative capacity
Written narrative

See All Requirements

Quick Facts

Transcript Evaluations: Evaluations are required for applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S.

Deadlines: Apply by May 5 for summer start. The application and all supporting materials are due by the listed deadlines.

Modality: On-Campus

Course Requirements: 10 courses for certification only

Typical Course Load: Fall (1-2 courses), spring (1-2 courses), summer (1-2 courses)

Time to Completion: 2-3 years

Culminating Experience: Apprenticeship with a superintendent

Program Alumni: Our alums have gone on to lead school districts around the state.

Please Note: Due to Pennsylvania Department of Education criteria, international students are not eligible for PDE certification. Lehigh is unable to provide immigration sponsorship for this program.

Curriculum

All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.

course number	course name
EDL 421	Instructional Leadership
EDL 423	Leading Inclusive Learning Systems
EDL 426	Introduction to Relational Leadership: Theory and Practice
EDL 436	School District Governance: Planning Policy, Ethics, and Law
EDL 437	School District Resource Management
EDL 488	Program Evaluation

*All core requirements must be completed before proceeding to the apprenticeship area

course number	course name
EDL 408	Central Office Internship
EDL 409	Central Office Internship II
EDL 425	Leading and Managing Change
EDL 485	The Superintendency

Individuals who have not completed a Principal certification program must also complete the following courses prior to the core courses above.

course number	course name
EDL 420	Data Based Decision Making
EDL 422	Curriculum Management for the School Executive
EDL 479	School Law and Ethics
EDUC 471	Diversity and Multicultural Perspectives