Administrator Professional Certificate Program

Who Should Pursue This Program

If you are a principal, vice principal, or program administrator who has at least two years of administrative experience and is ready to earn the Professional Certificate, this program is for you. Its successful completion qualifies you for Washington's Administrator Professional Certificate.

Benefits

As a student in the Administrator Professional Certificate Program, you will:

• Take part in a quality program that has been a leader in the state of Washington in Administrator Professional Certification with a record of 100 percent certification for candidates who complete the curriculum, is consistent with the SPU School of Education's mission, and meets NCATE standards.
• Receive a personally relevant, job‐embedded experience that meets the Washington state certification requirements.
• Learn from instructors with extensive experience and expertise in being educational leaders in administrative positions.
• Participate in collaborative opportunities with fellow cohort members.
• Enjoy the flexibility of seminars that combine both on‐site and online learning opportunities, and are designed with consideration of administrators' demanding schedules.
• Take advantage of seminars that occur in regional locations near candidates' schools/districts.
• Earn your Administrator Professional Certificate while enrolled in the SPU Superintendent Certificate Program at no extra cost. (Contact Ted Hiemstra in Graduate Admissions at hiemstra@spu.edu for more information)
• Three of the 6 credits earned may be taken at the 6000 graduate level for the regular graduate tuition rate and applied to a doctoral education program, with advisor approval.

Program Components

The SPU Administrator Professional Certificate Program is focused on the following key components:

• Demonstration of competency in the six-state Interstate School Leaders Consortium (ISLLC) Standards and Strands.
• Reflective practice.
• Collaboration.
• Self‐directed professional growth.
• Implementation of a project designed to positively impact student learning, based on identification of contextual needs and data analysis.
• Communication of results of the project's impact on student learning, change in leadership knowledge and skills and next steps as a professional administrator.

Program Outline

Entry Seminar – 3 credits 

The Entry Seminar in the Administrator Professional Certificate Program consists of the following:

• A candidate orientation to the Professional Certificate for Administrators standards and process.
• Self-assessment and analysis to determine current leadership competency and areas for growth.
• Development of a personalized Professional Growth Plan to strengthen your competency to improve student learning.
• Development of a Positive-Impact Project to improve student learning in an area of documented need.

Completion Seminar – 3 credits 

The Completion of Seminar in the Administrator Professional Certificate Program consists of the following:

• Implementation of your personalized Professional Growth Plan and Positive-Impact Project to improve student learning.
• Demonstration and documentation of competency for each ISLLC Standard and Strand.
• Presentation of your Positive-Impact Project to a panel of practicing administrators.
• Completion of an electronic portfolio that includes all required components of the Professional Certification Program.
• Understanding how and when to complete the application for the Professional Certificate upon successful completion of all program requirements.

Getting Started

If you are a school administrator with at least two years of administrative experience, you may join the SPU Administrator Professional Certificate Program by submitting the following to the Center for Professional Education:

• Completed Application (PDF) and nonrefundable application fee of $25, payable to Seattle Pacific University.
  
• Copy of your official Residency Principal Certificate or Residency Program Administrator Certificate.
  
• Completed Verification of Employment form (must have served two years as a principal or school administrator).

Cost

The 2013–14 total tuition fee of $1,680 is for 6 graduate-level credits. (This $1,680 fee includes the $100 POLE 360 fee Self-Assessment fee.) Tuition can be paid in two installments of $840, with the first payment at registration and the second at mid-program.

Faculty Contact

Jo Ellen McGrath

CPE Professional Education Program Associate

Email: mcgraj@spu.edu
Phone: 206-281-2722
Office: Peterson Hall 416