Educational Leadership Department
Kevin Mack, chair
Cornish Hall, Room 1213

(607) 753-2444

Fax: (607) 758-5007

Overview

Help your school district develop and maintain sound fiscal strategies as you advance your career in educational leadership if you hold a master’s degree. Gain the knowledge and skills to effectively develop schools and other learning communities. Combine theory and practice when you choose the school district business leader C.A.S. program at SUNY Cortland.

Program Highlights

With the guidance of our expert educational leadership faculty, you’ll examine critical topics such as finance, curriculum, organization and facilities maintenance and management. You’ll also investigate key legal issues and the elements and value of strategic supervision, and you’ll benefit from field studies that take you inside local schools for firsthand observation of district operations and activities. This program will prepare you for New York state’s School District Business Leader Assessment.

Culminating Experience

In addition to completing an internship in educational leadership, you’ll participate in a culminating seminar that blends your classroom and practical experiences.

Career Potential

The school district business leader certificate issued by New York state enables holders without teaching credentials to qualify for positions having professional responsibilities for the business operation of a school district.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for the educational leadership program, you must include, in addition to the completed graduate school application, the following materials:

1. Certification and Degree: Proof of permanent or professional New York state teaching certification for the school building leader (SBL) and school district leader (SDL) programs and an official transcript showing the master’s degree already conferred.
2. Resume: An updated resume with a minimum of three references with current telephone numbers.
3. Recommendations: Three Candidate Recommendation Forms, which are available as part of the online application. These recommendation forms must be completed by practicing school leaders who support your candidacy. Once completed by the reference, the forms should be returned to you in a signed and sealed envelope to insure confidentiality. They should be included in the submitted packet. Please note the following:
   
   1. If you are from the teaching field, you must have one form from an administrator in your district’s central office, a second form from your immediate supervisor and a third form from a practicing educational administrator of your choice.
   2. If you are from a non-teaching, non-traditional background, you must have one recommendation form from your current organization’s  chief executive officer, one form from your immediate supervisor and a  third form from an educational supervisor/administrator of your choice.
4. Essay: A written essay (one-to-two pages only, word processed,  double-spaced with 12-point type) that addresses the following question: What is your vision of the school leader in American public schools of the 21st century?
   
   1. This essay is due with all other application materials and  becomes part of the application file; this paper should not be handed in at a separate time.
   2. This paper should be well written in the form and quality  that a future school leader would proudly provide a superintendent  and/or board of education for review. A rubric for this essay is available as part of the online application.

This completed packet, along with the admissions application, is to  be submitted to the SUNY Cortland Admissions Office. Once the  application is complete, it will be scheduled for review by the  Educational Leadership Department faculty committee.

Apply for the school district business leader C.A.S.