EDU 8335 Superintend & Internship
Prerequisite: Admission to Doctorate Program or Professional Certification in Administration, Superintendent Certification Only as specified in current Grad Catalog, employment in a central administration role in a public or private EC-12 institution. The school superintendent is seen as the leader of schools and as a spokesperson bridging schools and the community. This course will examine the basic functions, roles & responsibilities and current problems confronting school superintendents. Course will also introduce candidates to the knowledge and skills a superintendent should know and be able to do in order to promote the academic success of all students and to improve the effectiveness. Candidates will participate in field-based experiences and problem-based learning activities in order to increase their knowledge of the multiple facets of the superintendency and the challenges facing school superintendents in complex and diverse organizations. Particular attention will focus on: collaborative leadership, politics of education, school-community relationships, building strong superintendent-board relations, managing school reform mandates, facilitating the planning process, responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural contest, and facilitating the long-range planning process. Consideration is also given to application in administrative theory and organizational behavior. Internship provides superintendent certificate candidates the opportunity for observation of, collaboration and interaction with, and participation in school district operations under the tutelage of a practicing superintendent and other educational leaders. Requires 160 contact hours distributed over every central office function where interns will analyze, evaluate and contribute to the solution of real world challenges by applying organizational strategies within the parameters of best practices. Internship is viewed as an active, engaging semester long opportunity for improvement. This requires self-awareness of areas for personal growth, a strong foundational knowledge of the purpose, function & unique knowledge utilized within each division of labor, a vision for how each division is systemically related to every other part of the system, a deep level of curiosity, the willingness to fail and the responsibility to manage the overall internship.