Washington State University Superintendent Certification
The Superintendent Certification Program prepares school district leaders to meet the leadership challenges of the 21st century. The program is specifically designed to engage and mentor current building principals and central office administrators in the skills needed to provide leadership that leads to improvements in student learning.
New cohorts begin each year in early August.
Program Details
PROGRAM PREREQUISITES – For Admission:
- Master’s degree with a minimum gpa of 3.0
- At least 6 semester credits of coursework in Education
- Experience as a building principal, or in a leadership position at the central, state, or regional service district level (or equivalent, as determined by program faculty).
- Serving in a position in a school district where superintendent level work can be observed and practiced
To be issued a state of Washington Superintendent Certificate:
- All the above
- Principal, program administrator, teacher, or ESA certificate
LENGTH OF PROGRAM AND MEETING SCHEDULE:
The program is completed over two years / four semesters and consists of one academic class each semester + 720 hours of internship spread across two years, for a total of 24 credits. Tuition costs approximately $700/credit.
Classes are in the form of in-person monthly seminars (Friday
afternoon and all day on Saturday) that occur four times in the fall
semester and four times in the spring semester. The location rotates among WSU’s campuses in Everett, Spokane, Tri Cities, and Vancouver, with the January seminar taking place in Olympia. Students will incur travel and lodging costs to attend these seminars (in addition to tuition).
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The seminars are structured to lead participants to mastery of state
and national standards. Special emphasis is placed on skills and knowledge unique to the superintendency, as it is assumed that participants are already skilled educators and leaders. Special emphasis is placed on:
- Effective leadership for equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive schools
- Capacity to develop, monitor, and evaluate data informed systems to realize district mission and vision.
- Policy, governance, and advocacy
- Instructional leadership
Various topics related to each theme are explored during monthly
weekend seminars.
Next Steps
Get the support of your district.
Talk to your Superintendent about your
professional goals. Learn about your district’s
process for approving an internship and
assigning a district mentor.
Get important program information and
request application instructions before
submitting the online application.
Contact:
Jordan Jackson, Graduate Coordinator
The WSU College of Education
jordan.e.jackson@wsu.edu
(360) 546-9075
Get questions answered about program
preparation, class seminars,
and the internship.
Contact:
Jim Kowalkowski, Program Director
jkowalkowski@wsu.edu
Cell: 509-721-0277
Submit your application.
Apply online through GradCAS
| Semester | Priority Deadline* | Final /Close Deadline** | Classes Begin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | June 1 | July 1 | August |
*Complete applications will be reviewed until the deadline close.
** New applications and application materials cannot be submitted after the final/close date.