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Your Next Role: Visionary School Leader

If you're ready to take the lead in shaping schools and school systems, the Educational Leadership program at SUNY Fredonia offers a bold, flexible path forward. Designed for current educators working in K-12 settings, this fully online program prepares you to step confidently into roles such as principal or district-level administrator. You’ll earn the advanced certifications required for school building and district leadership, all while continuing in your current position. With direct faculty support, a one-year mentored internship in your own district, and a curriculum aligned to national standards, this program is built for real-world impact. It’s a smart, career-focused choice that balances your professional ambition with your day-to-day responsibilities.

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What You’ll Gain

  • Leadership Readiness – Practical skills and theory to lead schools and districts effectively.
  • Certification Preparation – Direct pathway to School Building and School District Leader certifications in New York State.
  • Real-World Experience – A one-year internship in your home district, supported by a trained mentor.
  • Flexible Learning – 100% online coursework designed to fit your schedule as a working educator.
  • Professional Alignment – Curriculum meets National Educational Leadership Preparation and Professional Standards for Educational Leaders.
  • Mentorship Support – Your internship mentor receives formal training to guide your development.
  • Career Mobility – Position yourself for roles such as principal, assistant superintendent, or district administrator.
  • Time-Efficient Completion – Finish in just two years with full-time enrollment.
  • Faculty Access – Regular contact with instructors via email and video conferencing.

Learn More about the Educational Leadership Certificate

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Career Opportunities for Educational Leadership (Online)

  • Curriculum Director
  • Educational Consultant
  • Instructional Coordinator
  • School Superintendent
  • Student Services Director
  • District Administrator
  • Education Policy Analyst
  • School Principal
  • Special Education Director
  • University Professor
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What does an example degree look like?

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What are all the courses required to obtain a graduate certificate in Educational Leadership?

EDUL 614 Introduction to Educational Leadership

This course provides an introduction to educational leadership: various theories and models of educational and school leadership and management; the structure of education at the local, state, and national levels; and the New York State Codes and Standards governing schools and school building leaders. This course also covers the foundational skills for leadership, the role and evaluation of the school principal and district superintendent; organizational structures of schools; collaborative and reflective leadership; and all wrapped in the ethical blanket of mission, vision and core values.

EDUL 615 Operation & Management Systems

This course focuses on the operation and management administrative systems that promote the mission and vision of the school and support each student’s learning needs. These systems include resource management of fiscal, physical and staff resources, time management, data management, support services, and budgeting. Candidates also consider how school building leaders can employ technology and software to improve the quality and efficiency of these systems and be responsible, ethical, and accountable stewards of them.

EDUL 620 Culturally Responsive Leadership

This course explores how effective educational leaders engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student's academic success and well-being. The course assists candidates to learn to act with equity, cultural competence and responsiveness in their interactions, decision making, and practice to promote student learning and school improvement.

School Administrator

School administrators plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.

  • Average NYS Salary: $145,530
  • Typical Entry-Level Education: Master's degree

Instructional Coordinator

Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness.

  • Average Salary: $74,620 per year
  • Job Outlook 2023-2033: 2% growth
  • Typical Entry-Level Education: Master's degree
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Educational Leadership in the News

Academic News

Veteran educator to lead Fredonia’s first online program in Educational Leadership

Fredonia announces that Gregory Geer, Ph.D., is joining the College of Education’s faculty to lead...

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