The Educational Leadership/Principal Certification program is an online standards-based leadership preparation program. The 21-credit hour Educational Leadership/Principal program will prepare teachers to meet the West Virginia (WV) requirements for a PreK-Adult Principal licensure. The graduate-level program prepares candidates with the knowledge and expertise to become transformative educational administrators and leaders capable of meeting the PreK-Adult educational challenges and opportunities of today and in the future.

Program Outcomes

• Examine the differences between a site based manager, and an instructional leader and how those management-style roles relate to distributive leadership.

• Analyze and describe the use of technology as it relates to instruction, social media, and communication with parents, students, staff and the community at large.

• Analyze the hiring process, the teacher evaluation instrument and the grievance procedure and how to these processes relate to maintaining a highly quality staff.

• Create and participate in mock situational roles involving the principal during hearings before the local Board of Education, and with students and parents.

• Analyze the role of the principal in a critical conversation and resolution involving a staff member(s).

• Examine the role of the principal regarding curriculum development and distinguish how this may impact the school culture and high expectations.

• Examine laws, policies, and ethical challenges that have an impact on the educational setting. Upon reviewing the origins of the laws, policies and ethical standards, identify how the principal must have a working knowledge of those items to effectively manage a school and staff.

• Demonstrate an understanding of skills as related to fiscal management to establisha yearly budget, management of federal funds and the passage of a school bond/levy.

• Design innovative ideas to enhance communication between all stakeholders of the school community. Identify methods of communication that are innovative and immediate when responding to a crisis.

Admission Criteria

• Complete an admissions application at the Office of Admissions
• Pay $25 application fee
• Submit official college transcripts to the Office of Admissions
• Hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Have three (3) years of management level or teaching experience