There are two general paths to obtaining a superintendent’s certification, the first is obtaining an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership degree, and the second is achieving a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Administration or Educational Leadership. Pursuing a graduate degree for school superintendency expands the knowledge, curriculum and instructional aspect, and the degree holder’s financial and human resources leadership.

Skills I Learned in my Superintendent Licensure Program

School administrators have either a master’s degree or a doctorate in education. School superintendents have either a masters, educational specialist, or doctorate. However, there has to be a state-issued license for superintendency. Additionally, states have an exam that has to be passed in order to receive the credential. There are testing agencies that have exams for potential superintendent license holders, however, the most common is the PRAXIS School Superintendent Assessment 6991. The skills I learned in my superintendent licensure program were very useful.

The pandemic has changed school principal jobs and superintendent responsibilities. However, to be sure that students and communities have a high quality of learning, and school officials who help their teachers and students reach their full potential, there must be continued professional development. Learning how to navigate burnout as an administrator can be difficult, but enhancing skills and collaborating with school administrators from the building and the district level brings a better perspective when leading schools and districts.

Classes in the program included topics on:

• Information Management Systems
• Data-Driven Leadership
• Education Law/Policy/Ethics
• Curriculum and Instructional Leadership
• Diversity and Global Development
• Superintendents and Executive Leadership

These are a few courses that gave me an expert level of understanding the perspective of both a building-level school leader as well as a district office administrator and superintendent.

How my Superintendent Licensure Made Me a Better Administrator

Obtaining a superintendent licensure not only prepares you to be a district administrator but it also prepares you to look at the K-12 system from a broader point of view. Classes for a superintendent licensure give the practitioner expanded knowledge of school building administrator’s duties and goals and how to make an impact with the community and district. Most superintendents and district office personnel have been previous building administrators.

By obtaining a superintendent licensure best practice from building level experiences combined with networking, communication skills, and understanding school board policies and community development are all ways that obtaining a superintendent licensure while facilitating best practices with educational administration impacts a community positively. There are multiple reasons to obtain a license for superintendency, all of which are benefits personally and professionally.

Why I Recommend Superintendent Licensure

When considering an advanced degree it is important to know which graduate concentration is best for you. My personal superintendent licensure included completing an educational specialist degree and a doctor of education. Becoming a superintendent involves having a goal and vision for the future of student learning, how to support building administrators and teachers, emphasizing a high-quality education, and being a role model and leader for the community. For those who aspire to district and cabinet level positions, a day in the life of a superintendent is different daily.

Learning from an educational specialist or doctorate in education program with a concentration in superintendency teaches the practitioner to think globally, focus on learning outcomes, and be an education advocate for teachers, students, parents, and administrators. According the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the average salary for a district superintendent is $156,648. Although there are salary ranges higher for superintendents in large urban areas, the pay for these educational executives reflects the diverse range of skills they bring and need for educational change.

Obtaining a superintendent licensure gives the educational practitioner the skills to work with business, educational, and community leaders. This allows for the growth of students, school culture, and the professional development of the educator. There are many benefits to obtaining a superintendent license or degree, however, the skills, and techniques learned vary with the individual and add value to any school district or educational organization.

Interested in elevating your career as an educator? Check out our 200+ available masters, doctorates, endorsements, and certifications to advance your career today!

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I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in the field of education; I have always had the desire to help others in some way. When it came time to decide on universities and majors, I knew undoubtedly that I wanted to major in education. I ultimately decided to attend the university I did because they offered a dual certification. The education program they offered with the dual certification would include a general certification (for example: Kindergarten through sixth grade) in addition to the special education certificate. This was a huge selling point for me.

I knew special education would be highly rewarding and an area I was interested in specializing in. As such, I also anticipated it may help me in becoming more knowledgeable and effective in the field. I ultimately did in fact attend the university previously mentioned, receiving both certifications as well as an additional certificate in the content area of language arts for grades five through eight. I am grateful that I decided to receive the students with disabilities certification and have been working with special needs ever since, which has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling to me.

How This Certification Has Helped in My Career

Throughout my career, I have held various teaching roles. For instance, I have taught preschool through eighth grade. Within those grade levels, I have taught in a myriad of different settings. Settings I have taught include accelerated classes, inclusion class, general education classes, behavioral classes, resource classes, multiply disabled (MD) classes and self-contained learning disabled (SCLD) classes.

Equipped to Best Support Students

In each of those roles, my special education certification has prepared me and equipped me to best support students in each setting. The training from receiving the certification gave me the understanding of different student needs as well as various strategies to enhance learning for each student. I feel that with having the certification, I was often viewed as someone “qualified” to work in various settings. As such, I am grateful to have experienced such a variety of grade levels and assignments. Throughout the years, in addition to striving to be as effective for students as possible, I also tried to share the understanding and knowledge I had gained with colleagues, including teachers and paraprofessionals.

Often, there were multiple paraprofessionals in the classrooms with me. I worked as closely with them as possible to be as effective as possible for students. The certification allowed me to share some of the knowledge and best practices I had received during training for the certification. Additionally, I feel it helped me communicate with families and parents. I felt knowledgeable and comfortable in sharing information with them as well as sharing strategies I could use with their support at home.

Currently, I am a principal at a private, nonprofit school for students with disabilities. Even in my current role, I can apply what I have learned to be most effective for our students and staff in this specialized setting. Further, I strive to make connections with families and the community, bringing awareness, understanding, and fostering partnerships with the goal of improving the lives of each student we serve.

Why I Would Recommend This Certification to Other Educators

I recommend this certification to other educators because it is infinitely valuable. This certification provides insight and knowledge in understanding various learners and their needs. It can only be helpful; not hurtful. Even if the educator is not interested in a special needs class, it will help learners in a general education setting who may struggle and or have a 504 plan. Additionally, tools and strategies gained from the program to receive the certificate can be applied to general education settings, all students can benefit.

Further, completing a program to receive the certification brings more understanding and awareness of various students’ needs and how to modify and accommodate for students to maximize learning most effectively. When you have a better understanding of different types of learners, you are more likely to be effective; you are likely to have more strategies (“tools”) in your toolbelt to try with the student(s) to be most effective. Oftentimes, general education teachers struggle with different types of learners (for example: a student with ADHD) because they do not have the students with disabilities certification. The more educators there are who receive this certification, the more effective we can be in the field of education.

The students with disabilities certification equips you with more in-depth training, understanding, strategies and best practices for all types of learners. The more educators with the certification, the more the knowledge will be shared with parents as well as colleagues, thus having a larger positive impact for our students. are more likely to be more effective and to share the knowledge.

Educators never stop learning; check out our available graduate degree programs  to hone your skills and promote lifelong learning and academic excellence.

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What is a Gifted Education Certification and Endorsement?

Endorsement

An endorsement in gifted education is a distinction added to a teacher’s professional certificate that verifies that they have received a level of instruction that equips them to teach gifted coursework or classes. In most cases, the credit hours teachers receive for an endorsement are graduate-level credits that a college or university provides.

The amount of course work or credit hours needed to obtain an endorsement vary from state to state (State of State Report, NAGC) but in most cases are six hours graduate-level credit or two graduate courses.

Certification

Certification in gifted education is similar to an endorsement, but it usually involves teachers obtaining more graduate-level hours. The certification is typically an add on or extension to the teacher’s certification. The certification usually consists of at least 12 graduate-level credit hours or four graduate courses.

What are the Benefits of Pursuing a Gifted Education Endorsement or Certification?

After acquiring gifted education endorsements or credentials, teachers immediately become eligible to apply to teach gifted coursework to gifted students. Although many school districts allow for teachers to teach gifted classes for one year without an endorsement or certification, for teachers to remain in these positions, an endorsement or certification is required.

Opportunity to Teach Top Talent

Some of the school’s brightest minds and top talent are enrolled in gifted education courses because of the increased academic or artistic rigor for the gifted and talented. Gifted and talented students provide some challenge for teachers regarding maintaining high levels of student engagement and establishing instructional rigor. For this reason, teachers for these courses are selected based on whether they have the gifted education endorsement or certification on their teaching certificate.

Those teachers who desire to have the opportunity to work with these brilliant students, design rigorous lessons for gifted and talented students in the classroom, and dig deep into the content should consider obtaining a gifted education endorsement or certification.

Leadership Development

In terms of leadership development, the gifted education endorsement and certification sets teachers apart from their colleagues. Because they have received training on implementing instructional best practices, these teachers are often chosen to function as lead teachers. They are also pegged to mentor other teachers, lead professional development and help make school or grade-specific instructional decisions.

In many cases, teachers with this endorsement or certification choose to pursue school leadership positions or instructional leadership positions. Over time these teachers find themselves in a position where their leadership skills are honed and in demand.

Why You Should Pursue a Gifted Education Certification or Endorsement

Teaching is not an occupation requiring little to no investment after one begins. In order to become the best, teachers must seek opportunities to grow in knowledge, skill and ability. The gifted education endorsement and certification allows teachers to grow stronger as educators.

The coursework for the endorsement and certification is designed to equip teachers with skills that are effective with gifted learners, identifying gifted and talented students, and for all learners. Because many of these skills are transferrable, teachers not only grow in their knowledge of gifted education teachers they also grow in their knowledge of meeting the needs of all levels in the classroom.

Distinguishment

In most cases, obtaining a gifted education endorsement or certification distinguishes teachers by providing them with a very special skill set. This skill set makes them more competitive for job opportunities. The gifted education endorsement is recognized globally.

Having the endorsement allows you to connect with other teachers across the globe who have also chosen to get endorsed. In many states, the gifted education endorsement or certification is necessary for district office leadership positions.

Financial Benefits

Depending on the state, teachers may be required to pay for graduate coursework that is needed to receive their endorsement or certification. However, because the endorsement allows for teachers to apply for jobs that have more competitive salaries, they usually recoup the funds used to pay for the initial graduate coursework.

Many schools and districts also provide stipends or other incentives to teachers to encourage them to pursue the endorsement and remain in their positions as gifted education teachers. Teachers who use their endorsement or certification to present at educational conferences can also earn money for training other teachers on the best instructional practices.

Adding a new endorsement or credential to your certificate is not the easiest decision. However, it will prove to be beneficial for teachers. By having the opportunities to grow professionally, teachers can serve students better and continue to build their own capacity.

Interested in an endorsement or certification in gifted education? Check out our available programs and take your next step today!

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Most educators have heard of ESL throughout their teaching careers. This acronym stands for English as a Second Language. ESL is used to describe students with a first language other than English. Although ESL implies that the student is learning English as a second language, it can be their third or fourth language.

Just like many other acronyms in education, there are additional acronyms used in the field of ESL. ESL used to be the program’s name in schools and then would also identify a student: an ESL student. However, now, students who are in ESL programs are referred to as:

• ELLs (English language learners)
• ELs (English learners)
• MELs (multi-lingual learners)

Furthermore, teachers who are certified in ESL can also state that they are TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TEFL (Teachers of English as a Foreign Language). The difference between TESOL and TEFL is that TEFL teaches English to students who all have the same first language. For example, a teacher in Saudi Arabia teaching English to their students would be a TEFL, because all of her students speak Arabic as their first language. Whereas a TESOL is teaching to a classroom filled with students who have many different first languages they all cannot revert back to their home language to try to understand a concept in English.

There are also dual-language programs in the world of ESL. If a school is a dual-language school, all of the students have the same first language and are learning English as a second language. Classes are taught in both languages throughout the day because one language is not the domineering language in the school. This requires a teacher to be fluent in both languages if they are required to teach certain subjects in both languages.

An ESL graduate program, whether for a degree in ESL or just an ESL certification, is an excellent choice for teachers who desire to learn about new cultures and assist students coming from all parts of the world and all different backgrounds. This type of program aims to instruct current teachers how to teach ELs (English learners) and how to help other teachers in the building modify curriculum so that ELs can engage with the content and find success while learning English.

Through this type of coursework, teachers can expect to have classes that focus on culture and the classroom, linguistics (or the study of the English language), teaching strategies, how to create meaningful assessments for ELs, and much more. ESL graduate programs will also require time out in the field working with ELs to gain valuable experience and insight into the needs of this type of learner.

ESL Degree vs. Certification: Similarities and Differences

There are many similarities between getting a master’s degree in ESL and getting an ESL certification. Both typically require a student to have their initial teaching degree already. Many states require teachers to have a teaching degree, and the ESL certification is an add-on to that teaching license. Both the certification program and a degree program will have students focusing on the learner and thinking about how best to engage these students.

The significant difference between the degree and certification is the number of course hours and classes required. A master’s degree requires significantly more coursework than a certification program. Still, it will give the student much more in-depth information on how to teach ELs English and how to work with your entire school building to reach the needs of the ELs.

Career Opportunities

Once a teacher finishes an ESL degree program or receives their certification in ESL, several career paths can be followed. Some school districts have a fewer number of ELs and therefore have one or two teachers who travel among elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools and pull ELs out of their classes to receive ESL instruction. Some schools have very high numbers and build ESL instruction into students’ schedules where they receive ESL services every day.

In addition to being an ESL teacher, some schools have ESL coaches. These positions work with the different departments and teachers within a school building and provide resources and specific help with modifying curriculum to ensure that the content is accessible at an ELs language proficiency level. Every school and state is different. Teachers interested in ESL should look into their surrounding school districts and then into their state programs to see what careers exist for teachers with an ESL certification or degree.

Other Advantages of an ESL Degree or Certification

The most rewarding part of being an ESL teacher is seeing your students’ progress in their attainment of the English language. It is so exciting to see them begin to communicate with other students in English and find success in their other classes.

In addition to those rewarding moments, there are many other advantages to getting your ESL certification. Many schools with a high population of ELs often provide salary increases to those certified in ESL. The number of ELs in the United States’ schools is constantly increasing; therefore, schools require ESL teachers and are usually willing to provide additional compensation.

Another amazing outcome of getting your ESL degree is that you genuinely become more culturally responsive. You become more aware of the differences and similarities amongst us all and how important it is to constantly learn about one another. As an ESL teacher, you will never stop learning and will always have your day brightened by learning from the English learners in your classes.

Ready to impact English learning students as an ESL teacher? Explore our available ESL degree and certification programs and start your next journey today!

*Updated December 2021

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