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School District Business Leader Certification (SDBL)

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Choose Saint Rose for Your School District Business Leader (SDBL) Certification

20 Hidden Gems - New York - Online Schools Guide 2023

Make an impact on the education sector while moving up in your career

The fully-online School District Business Leader (SDBL) certificate program will prepare you to assume district-wide leadership roles, including business administrator, director of finance or business, or assistant superintendent for finance or business. The program is a collaborative effort between an Association of School Business Officials of New York (ASBO New York) and the Saint Rose Educational Leadership program.

The Thelma P. Lally School of Education’s longstanding reputation as a top destination for educators means you’ll receive instruction from experts in the field and have opportunities to apply theory to practice.

24-credit SDBL Certification

The 24-credit-hour program leads to New York State certification as a School District Business Leader (SDBL) after meeting other requirements. The certificate program is for students who already hold a master’s degree.

Learn More About SDBL Certification

60-credit SDBL + MBA

If you’re looking to advance to a district-wide leadership role but do not have a master’s degree, check out our SDBL + MBA program. Explore our program’s flexibility, discount rates, and other available benefits.

Learn More About SDBL + MBA Program

SDBL Certification Program Highlights

You receive the full Saint Rose experience:

  • Fully-online
    Work toward your certificate remotely with our fully-online program and gain the skills needed to pass the SDBL assessment.
  • 20% Discount
    Receive a 20% tuition discount if you’re a member of the Association of School Business Officials of New York (ASBO New York).
  • Academic Cohort
    Join a cohort of peers who you will study and progress with them throughout the program.
  • Internship Opportunities
    Gain hands-on experience in an administrative internship tailored to your current career or future career goals.
  • School Leader Mentorship
    Learn from school district leaders, experts who know what it takes to be successful as school-business professionals.

Start Terms

SDBL program starts in fall and spring terms.

School District Business Leader (SDBL) Certification + Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)

Most students are unaware they need to accumulate 60 graduate hours to receive SDBL certification — a New York State requirement. Saint Rose’s SDBL + MBA program will help you get a headstart on earning your SDBL certification while working toward a master’s degree in a respected field of study.

Fully Online – Any Time, Any Way MBA Program

Our SDBL+MBA program is the ONLY program of its kind in New York State with the opportunity to take classes fully-online, providing you with the tools and knowledge to obtain TWO certifications and work at the district level.

You will take advantage of our new Any Time, Any Way MBA program, which gives you the flexibility to take courses either in person, via livestream, or later online with the option to switch it up week-to-week.

Bonus Certification in Organizational Leadership and Change Management (OLCM)

In addition to earning a master’s degree and SDBL advanced certificate, you will also gain a CAS in Organizational Leadership and Change Management (OLCM), bolstering your resume and career opportunities. The MBA program can be tailored to your specific educational aspirations and introduces SDBL courses right from the start.

Why SDBL + MBA at Saint Rose?

  • 20% Discount
    Receive a 20% discount on the entire 60-credit program if you’re a member of the Association of School Business Officials of New York (ASBO New York).
  • Flex Program
    Take MBA courses on your own time and however you like: either in-person, via livestream, or later online with the option to switch it up from week-to-week.
  • School Leader Mentorship
    Gain dual advisement from industry professionals who will keep you on task for both master’s degree and certificate programs.
  • Save Time, Graduate Faster
    Earn your MBA, SDBL, and OLCM in 60 credits — 6 credits less than if you were to tackle them separately.
  • Internship Opportunities
    Gain hands-on experience in an administrative internship tailored to your current career or future career goals.

Time to completion

  • A full-time student can complete the SDBL+MBA in 3 years
  • A part-time student can complete the SDBL+MBA in 4 to 5 years

Start Terms

SDBL + MBA program starts in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.

What Our Students Say

Kathryn L. Blackman ’20, CPA, MBA

Central Business Office Controller, Broome Tioga BOCES

The College of Saint Rose SDBL certificate program has provided me with the opportunity to enhance my understanding of school business finances and operations. The flexibility of the online program allows me to balance my responsibilities at work, home, and school, while the synchronous sessions enable a diverse cohort of students from across the state to maintain positive connections in an open forum where we can share our knowledge and passion. The curriculum is interesting, informative, challenging, and rewarding. The expertise of the professors and their relevant real-life examples adds a level of enhancement to the assignments and theoretical readings. This program has allowed me to invest in my own professional development while taking my career to the next level as an educational leader.

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.

Dr. Christopher Abdoo Adjunct Professor

Dr. Chris Abdoo who now teaches in the Business Official program, will also teach EDA 550 Finance for School Building Leaders in Summer I. Chris was a social studies teacher before moving into his role as Assistant Superintendent of Support Services in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District. Chris understands the role principals and other instructional leaders have in budget development.

Dr. Jennifer Avery Adjunct Professor

Dr. Jennifer Avery is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at The College of Saint Rose. She is currently teaching EDA 591: Critical Issues in School Business Leadership.

Dr. Avery has served the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES as the Deputy Superintendent for the last nine years. Before this role, she was the Assistant Superintendent for Management Services for five years. Bolton also spent three years as the Director of Finance at Erie 2CC BOCES in Western New York and three years as the District Treasurer for the Cold Spring Harbor School District on Long Island.

In addition to her work for the BOCES, Jennifer Avery has taken on several leadership roles with organizations in the school finance world. She participated in the creation of the SBDL certification exam and Part 83 panel for the State Education Department. In 2016, she received a National Award for her work with data analytics from the Forecast5 organization. Dr. Avery also served on the NYSASBO Board of Directors for seven years and was president of the state organization in 2010. She went on to serve on the ASBO international board for four years, making many visits to see the workings of school finance in states across the country. Dr. Avery now services on both the New York Liquid Asset Fund Board of Directors and the NYSIR Board of Governors. She is still actively involved in NYSASBO, having been asked to lead the membership committee, serve on the government relations committee, coordinate the BOCES strand at the SBMW and teach in the NYSASBO Leadership Academy each year.

Dr. Avery is a graduate of the School of Management at the University at Buffalo. She received her SBA from Long Island University and her Doctorate from Dowling College in 2005. Her research was focused on the relationship between the use of technology by the school business official and the financial efficiency of the school district.

Dr. Roger Catania Adjunct Professor

Dr. Roger P. Catania served as Superintendent of Schools with the Lake Placid Central School District, starting in 2013 and retiring in 2021. He held previous positions as a teaching assistant, a coach, a social studies teacher, a school counselor, and as a college and university instructor teaching undergraduate and graduate education students. As Superintendent he led his district through the approval of 8 school budgets, 6 successful union contract agreements, and a capital building project. Recently he was appointed to the New York State Board of Regents where he represents the 4th judicial district.

Dr. Catania has earned degrees from SUNY Binghamton, Manhattanville College, Oregon State University, Niagara University, and the University of Virginia. His
scholarly interests include examining important questions regarding educational purpose, pedagogical innovation, school reform, and social reform. His research and writing inform his work, helping him to consider the ways theory meets practice and past meets present (and future). He and his wife Amy have two sons, Louis age 21, and James age 18. Dr. Catania lives in Saranac Lake, NY.

Dr. Catania will be supporting the School District Business Leader program and teaching EDA 506 and the Internship courses.

Joe Greco Ph.D,. Director of Budget and Program Integration

Joe Greco, Director of Budget and Program Integration has over 20 years of experience in K-12 curriculum and instruction, serving in such roles as science teacher, building administrator, and K-12 STEM Curriculum Director. In 2018, Dr. Greco began working exclusively with the business office to help bridge the communication gap that often exists between instructional programing and budget development.

Dr. Greco has a Ph.D., C.A.S. and M.S. from the University at Albany in Educational Administration & Policy Studies. He is also a graduate of the NYS Superintendent Development Program at SUNY Oswego, and the Certificate of Education Finance Program at Georgetown University. Dr. Greco’s current research focus is on the use of Academic Return on Investment (A-RoI) to drive budget development decisions.

Dr. Christopher AbdooAdjunct Professor

Dr. Chris Abdoo who now teaches in the Business Official program, will also teach EDA 550 Finance for School Building Leaders in Summer I. Chris was a social studies teacher before moving into his role as Assistant Superintendent of Support Services in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District. Chris understands the role principals and other instructional leaders have in budget development.

Dr. Jennifer AveryAdjunct Professor

Dr. Jennifer Avery is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at The College of Saint Rose. She is currently teaching EDA 591: Critical Issues in School Business Leadership.

Dr. Avery has served the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES as the Deputy Superintendent for the last nine years. Before this role, she was the Assistant Superintendent for Management Services for five years. Bolton also spent three years as the Director of Finance at Erie 2CC BOCES in Western New York and three years as the District Treasurer for the Cold Spring Harbor School District on Long Island.

In addition to her work for the BOCES, Jennifer Avery has taken on several leadership roles with organizations in the school finance world. She participated in the creation of the SBDL certification exam and Part 83 panel for the State Education Department. In 2016, she received a National Award for her work with data analytics from the Forecast5 organization. Dr. Avery also served on the NYSASBO Board of Directors for seven years and was president of the state organization in 2010. She went on to serve on the ASBO international board for four years, making many visits to see the workings of school finance in states across the country. Dr. Avery now services on both the New York Liquid Asset Fund Board of Directors and the NYSIR Board of Governors. She is still actively involved in NYSASBO, having been asked to lead the membership committee, serve on the government relations committee, coordinate the BOCES strand at the SBMW and teach in the NYSASBO Leadership Academy each year.

Dr. Avery is a graduate of the School of Management at the University at Buffalo. She received her SBA from Long Island University and her Doctorate from Dowling College in 2005. Her research was focused on the relationship between the use of technology by the school business official and the financial efficiency of the school district.

Dr. Roger CataniaAdjunct Professor

Dr. Roger P. Catania served as Superintendent of Schools with the Lake Placid Central School District, starting in 2013 and retiring in 2021. He held previous positions as a teaching assistant, a coach, a social studies teacher, a school counselor, and as a college and university instructor teaching undergraduate and graduate education students. As Superintendent he led his district through the approval of 8 school budgets, 6 successful union contract agreements, and a capital building project. Recently he was appointed to the New York State Board of Regents where he represents the 4th judicial district.

Dr. Catania has earned degrees from SUNY Binghamton, Manhattanville College, Oregon State University, Niagara University, and the University of Virginia. His
scholarly interests include examining important questions regarding educational purpose, pedagogical innovation, school reform, and social reform. His research and writing inform his work, helping him to consider the ways theory meets practice and past meets present (and future). He and his wife Amy have two sons, Louis age 21, and James age 18. Dr. Catania lives in Saranac Lake, NY.

Dr. Catania will be supporting the School District Business Leader program and teaching EDA 506 and the Internship courses.

Joe Greco Ph.D,.Director of Budget and Program Integration

Joe Greco, Director of Budget and Program Integration has over 20 years of experience in K-12 curriculum and instruction, serving in such roles as science teacher, building administrator, and K-12 STEM Curriculum Director. In 2018, Dr. Greco began working exclusively with the business office to help bridge the communication gap that often exists between instructional programing and budget development.

Dr. Greco has a Ph.D., C.A.S. and M.S. from the University at Albany in Educational Administration & Policy Studies. He is also a graduate of the NYS Superintendent Development Program at SUNY Oswego, and the Certificate of Education Finance Program at Georgetown University. Dr. Greco’s current research focus is on the use of Academic Return on Investment (A-RoI) to drive budget development decisions.

Tim Hilker Assistant Superintendent for Business

Tim Hilker, Assistant Superintendent for Business in the Saratoga Springs School District will co-teach EDA 551 in Summer II with his colleague, Joe Greco. Tim has been working in school business for 13 years. He came to the profession from a public accounting and purchasing background. His undergraduate work was completed at the University at Buffalo. His MBA and SDBL were earned from Niagara University, and he has a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University.

Christopher Honeywell, Esq.

Chris Honeywell, attorney with the Honeywell Law Firm, will be teaching EDA 541 during the Summer II SDBL program. Christopher Honeywell is a Shareholder at Honeywell Law Firm and focuses his practice almost exclusively on representing K-12 public school districts in New York State in the areas of Education Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Construction Law. Chris has litigation experience in State and Federal Court, at both the Trial and Appellate levels. He enjoys providing trainings and professional development to school districts to assist in their day to day needs.

Erin Morris Attorney, Girvan Ferlazzo, PC

Erin Morris, attorney with the law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, will be teaching EDA 541 in the spring for the SDBL program and EDA 540 in Summer II for the SBL program. Erin is a New York State licensed Attorney and Shareholder with Girvin and Ferlazzo, P.C. Erin has over fifteen years of experience in Education Law, Labor and Employment Law, Litigation, and Real Estate, provides daily assistance to superintendents, business officials, and administrators in union free, central, and city school districts and BOCES on day-to-day issues and any litigation that arises, and frequently presents on legal issues school districts face.

Michael Vespi Adjunct Professor

Instructor Michael Vespi, who has taught at Saint Rose since 2018, is a senior analytics advisor with Forecast5 Analytics, working with school districts all over New York State, assisting with long-range financial planning and data analytics. Vespi has also taught for LeMoyne College and has over 20 years of experience working in public education, serving as an assistant superintendent for business services and as a teacher in the Syracuse area.

He holds a B.S. in Business/Public Management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica/Rome, M.S. in Special Education from Syracuse University, and a CAS in Educational Administration from Oswego State University of New York.

Tim HilkerAssistant Superintendent for Business

Tim Hilker, Assistant Superintendent for Business in the Saratoga Springs School District will co-teach EDA 551 in Summer II with his colleague, Joe Greco. Tim has been working in school business for 13 years. He came to the profession from a public accounting and purchasing background. His undergraduate work was completed at the University at Buffalo. His MBA and SDBL were earned from Niagara University, and he has a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University.

Christopher Honeywell, Esq.

Chris Honeywell, attorney with the Honeywell Law Firm, will be teaching EDA 541 during the Summer II SDBL program. Christopher Honeywell is a Shareholder at Honeywell Law Firm and focuses his practice almost exclusively on representing K-12 public school districts in New York State in the areas of Education Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Construction Law. Chris has litigation experience in State and Federal Court, at both the Trial and Appellate levels. He enjoys providing trainings and professional development to school districts to assist in their day to day needs.

Erin MorrisAttorney, Girvan Ferlazzo, PC

Erin Morris, attorney with the law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, will be teaching EDA 541 in the spring for the SDBL program and EDA 540 in Summer II for the SBL program. Erin is a New York State licensed Attorney and Shareholder with Girvin and Ferlazzo, P.C. Erin has over fifteen years of experience in Education Law, Labor and Employment Law, Litigation, and Real Estate, provides daily assistance to superintendents, business officials, and administrators in union free, central, and city school districts and BOCES on day-to-day issues and any litigation that arises, and frequently presents on legal issues school districts face.

Michael VespiAdjunct Professor

Instructor Michael Vespi, who has taught at Saint Rose since 2018, is a senior analytics advisor with Forecast5 Analytics, working with school districts all over New York State, assisting with long-range financial planning and data analytics. Vespi has also taught for LeMoyne College and has over 20 years of experience working in public education, serving as an assistant superintendent for business services and as a teacher in the Syracuse area.

He holds a B.S. in Business/Public Management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica/Rome, M.S. in Special Education from Syracuse University, and a CAS in Educational Administration from Oswego State University of New York.

Curriculum and Requirements for New York State and New Jersey

  • Candidate must have completed a total of 60 graduate hours inclusive of the candidate’s master’s degree.
  • Candidate must pass the NYS SDBL Assessment Examination (candidate receives SDBL Advanced Certificate from the college).
  • Candidate must complete 18 credit hours of coursework
  • Candidate must complete an additional 6-credit-hour internship: Requires college-approved proposal and 600 logged internship hours.

New Jersey residents who complete a School District Business Official Program in NYS, pass the NYS assessment, and receive NYS certification may also be eligible for a NJ School Business Administrator Certificate.  For an approval of the New Jersey certification, students must also have completed 18 credits of undergraduate or graduate study in one of the following:

  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Law
  • Organizational Theory
  • Management or Administration
  • Accounting

The NJ State Education Representative will review the program and coursework upon application for the NJ School Business Administrator certification.  Application would require the standard documents for any certification application.

  • Intro to Educational Leadership & Administration
  • Education Law
  • Personnel Administration
  • School Finance
  • Finance & Practice
  • SEM: Critical Issues in ELA

School District Business Leader

  • Intro to Educational Leadership & Administration
  • Education Law
  • Personnel Administration
  • School Finance
  • Finance & Practice
  • SEM: Critical Issues in ELA

MBA

  • Management communications
  • Organizational behavior and management
  • Budgeting and cost analysis
  • Managerial economics
  • Human resource management
  • Marketing management
  • Managerial finance
  • Production and quality management
  • Strategic management
  • Leadership & Organizational Change
  • Management: Skills-based approach
  • Manage Effective Teams
  • Corporate Government & Trusts
  • Managing Organizational Development & Change

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Lead like a boss

Obtaining a New York State SDBL certification provides graduates with greater career opportunities, geographical flexibility, and leadership enhancement, and better serves school districts.

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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