On Saturday, August 27, at the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) conference center, a group of 71 aspiring administrators participated in an orientation for SCOE's Leadership Institute Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program.
The Leadership Institute, launched for the 2010–11 school year, provides leadership development and training for those interested in becoming an administrator in education. Candidates must have a valid California teaching credential or service credential, plus five years of full-time teaching experience. Participants also have an opportunity to earn a Master's in Applied Leadership through SCOE's partnership with National University.
Classes for the year-long program are held on Saturdays. Courses involve practical fieldwork activities, end-of-course papers, and online instruction, with curriculum based on the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSELs). Candidates must also present an end-of-year project that demonstrates how they have put the leadership concepts they studied during the program into practice at their school sites.
The Leadership Institute is part of SCOE's new School of Education, which includes programs to help new teachers get their credentials and aspiring leaders to become administrators. The School of Education offers programs approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to support the preparation and development of high-quality teachers and leaders for the Capital region.