Family members, friends, and co-workers cheered inside the Sheldon High School auditorium on June 22 as 70 members of the third graduating class of the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Leadership Institute proudly accepted their credentials. During the 2012-13 school year, SCOE operated two cohorts, one at the County Office and another in the Elk Grove Unified School District.
During the ceremony, each participant received a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, which allows them to apply for and be competitive for the site administrator, vice-principal, and district positions that require an administrative credential. The Preliminary Administrative Services Credential is authorized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
"Administrators are responsible for providing a no excuses, high-quality education for all students," Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon told the graduates. "That is why we established the SCOE Leadership Institute. We saw the need to sharpen the preparation of education leaders in our region."
Studies indicate the Sacramento region faces a shortage of trained and talented school leaders. A study by WestEd found that by 2017, because of retirements and other factors, Sacramento County will need nearly 300 new school site administrators while the Sacramento region will need close to 500.
The Institute is a 10-month program for aspiring administrators geared toward filling the expected need for qualified and trained administrators. In addition to aspiring administrators, the Institute is designed to help train newly appointed administrators with one or two years of experience, continuing administrators with three or more years of experience, and established district administrators. The Institute supports the development of the skills administrators need to provide leadership at school sites and in district administration.
The SCOE Leadership Institute is coordinated by L. Steven Winlock, Ed.D., Executive Director, who was formerly the Associate Superintendent of Elementary Education for Elk Grove Unified School District.
"You are graduating from the Institute with an exceptional set of vital leadership skills that are in great demand," Dr. Winlock told the graduates. "With the knowledge you've gained, you will be able to lead school teams, their communities, and help provide the high-quality education that our students need to succeed."
SCOE will offer two Leadership Institute cohorts for the 2013-14 school year, with one group meeting at the County Office and another being operated at the Elk Grove Unified School District headquarters. SCOE will also coordinate a similar program with the Shasta County Office of Education.
For additional information about the SCOE Leadership Institute, call (916) 228-2538.