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School District Leader Certification (SDL)

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Choose Saint Rose for your School District Leader (SDL) certification

Are you ready to take the next step toward leadership in your school? Use creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to lead your district to success.

Earning a school district leader (SDL) certification prepares professionals for leadership roles that influence change at the district-level. Roles requiring SDL certification include district directors of specialty subject areas, district directors of instruction, assistant superintendents, and superintendents of schools.

At The College of Saint Rose, students can pursue superintendent-certification by taking courses in the Thelma P. Lally School of Education.

Our longstanding reputation as a top-destination for educators in Upstate New York means students receive instruction from true experts in the field while also having the opportunity to apply their studies to real-world scenarios.

Who Is Eligible for SDL Certification?

Because it’s necessary to have a minimum of three years of teaching experience to be eligible for SDL certification. Students in our program gain extensive experience working in schools, enabling them to become change-makers on a bigger stage.

For those who loved their time teaching but want to continue to grow their careers beyond the classroom, SDL certification could be a perfect option. It’s also a logical next step for graduates of the School Building Leader (SBL) certification program and may require as few as six credits to complete for those who have already earned SBL certification.

Flexible to Meet Your Schedule

We understand that our students may still be teaching or otherwise working full-time as they pursue further education, and we encourage working teachers to apply. Many courses in this program are available in the Saint Rose flex format, which means students can take courses both online and in-person, depending on what is most convenient.

Flex programming allows students to change seamlessly between learning online, attending lectures in person, or viewing videos asynchronously when you are free to focus, making it a perfect choice for working professionals. Saint Rose makes it easy to earn an SDL certification online without pressing pause on your current career.

SDL Certification Program Highlights

6-36Credit SBL Program(depending on your master’s degree and certificate status)
$663Per-Credit Cost
if enrolled in 6 credits/semester with the School Business Leader Scholarship

$846Per-Credit Cost
Standard per-credit cost

You receive the full Saint Rose experience:

Our formula for success combines school-leadership theory with high engagement and relevant practice.

Summer Start Term: The SDL certification program typically launches with our Summer Leadership Academy in the summer.

  • Focused curriculum
    Learn from case studies, interactive experiences, site visits, expert panels, project-based methodology, and application experiences that prepare you for the NYS SDL assessment – with an emphasis on systems and change management – to prepare for district-level leadership
  • Flexible format
    Many courses are available in Saint Rose’s flex format, which gives you the option of attending any class session in person, remotely via livestream, or online
  • Highly qualified cohort
    Join talented, diverse peers who bring a wealth of experience, as well as close camaraderie to your learning experience
  • Application of critical content
    Learn from the most effective leaders in the Capital Region, who join the class to share their experiences on focused topics
  • Powerful network
    Benefit from Saint Rose’s strong connections in educational organizations throughout New York State and beyond

School Leadership Award

The scholarship award amount is $1200 per semester for 5 semesters. It cannot be combined with any other funding options.

In order to be or remain eligible, students must:

  • Be admitted to the SBL and SDL graduate certificate programs at The College of Saint Rose
  • Have submitted an Intent to Enroll form prior to the start of your graduate studies.
  • Be enrolled in at least 6 graduate credits per semester
  • Maintain good academic standing & a minimum GPA of 3.0

Note: Students enrolled in any of the CITE Educational Leadership certificate programs are not eligible for this award. Eligible students must contact the graduate admissions office via email at grad@strose.edu to have the scholarship applied.

What Our Students Say

As a former graduate of the Saint Rose School Counseling program, I knew I wanted to return to pursue the School Building/District Leadership programs for a variety of reasons. The staff at Saint Rose has been top notch, always there and always willing to help in any way. I have made connections and friendships with other educators that have supported me in the work I do. The content is cutting edge and relevant both on a local, state and national level. Saint Rose provided me with a quality education that was affordable, flexible, and allowed me to pursue my passion at a pace that worked for me and my family.
– Nicole Mahoney ’08, G’19

I was able to enter my first job in building level leadership with the confidence and knowledge to handle every aspect of the role. This is truly because of the diversity and depth of content within the program at Saint Rose. The best part of my education was building a network of professionals and professors that are always a phone call away for guidance and support.
– Jerry Gibson ’08, G’10, G’20
Associate principal, Cambridge Elementary School

Exceptional Faculty

Our faculty challenge and support you.

Expert practitioners as well as respected researchers knowledgeable in trends throughout the global marketplace, our faculty hold you to the highest standards of ethics and transparency as well as academic excellence, and encourage you and your classmates to be effective in all aspects of business.

14:1Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Michele Jones, ESQ Adjunct Professor

Michele Jones is an adjunct professor at Saint Rose teaching school law for both SDBL and SBL CAS programs. A 2004 honors graduate of Albany Law School, she is currently a school attorney at Capital Region BOCES where she provides legal advice to the board of education on education issues, including Medicaid compliance and labor relations.

Dr. Mark Jones Adjunct Professor

Mark Jones has been an adjunct professor for Saint Rose since teaching Public School Finance. He serves as the Deputy District Superintendent and COO for the Capital Regions BOCES where he has been since 2004.  Prior to his current role, Jones served as the Assistant Superintendent for the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES, the Business Manager for Washington, Saratoga Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, and Business Manager for the Hartford Central School District.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administrations from Skidmore College, a M.S and C.A.S from SUNY Albany and a Doctorate of Education from the Sage Colleges.

Michele Jones, ESQAdjunct Professor

Michele Jones is an adjunct professor at Saint Rose teaching school law for both SDBL and SBL CAS programs. A 2004 honors graduate of Albany Law School, she is currently a school attorney at Capital Region BOCES where she provides legal advice to the board of education on education issues, including Medicaid compliance and labor relations.

Dr. Mark JonesAdjunct Professor

Mark Jones has been an adjunct professor for Saint Rose since teaching Public School Finance. He serves as the Deputy District Superintendent and COO for the Capital Regions BOCES where he has been since 2004.  Prior to his current role, Jones served as the Assistant Superintendent for the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES, the Business Manager for Washington, Saratoga Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, and Business Manager for the Hartford Central School District.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administrations from Skidmore College, a M.S and C.A.S from SUNY Albany and a Doctorate of Education from the Sage Colleges.

Curriculum and New York State Requirements

SDL Certification Requirements

  • Candidate must have completed a total of 60 graduate hours inclusive of the candidate’s master’s degree.
  • Candidate must have at least three years of grade P-12 full-time teaching experience (public or private), or three years of experience in pupil personnel services, or three years of school leadership experience.
  • Candidate must meet the course and credit requirements for the school building leader (SBL) advanced certificate.
  • If candidate has already completed the SBL certificate:
    • If candidate graduated from Saint Rose’s SBL program within the previous six years and has met all other requirements, the candidate may be able to complete the SDL program with six additional credits.
    • If candidate completed the SBL program at an outside institution, or completed the SBL at Saint Rose more than six years before beginning the SDL program, the candidate may require a minimum of six to nine credits to complete the SDL program.

Prerequisite core coursework and internship

Coursework required for all candidates

  • EDA 601 District level leadership and management
  • EDA 602 School district/com? policy and politics

 

Required for students with SBL certification from other institutions or with older program credits

  • EDA 505 Principles of educational leadership and administration
  • EDA 590 Culturally responsive leadership

Contact Us Now

Of course, if you have any questions, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Dr. Michael Johnson

Program Coordinator

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