School Administration, Rank 1 (121)
Program Coordinator
Stacy R. Leggett, stacy.leggett@wku.edu, (270) 745-2942
The School Administration, Rank I program is specific to the concentration selected (concentration codes shown in parentheses below). The 30-hour programs align with Kentucky EPSB requirements and may not be recognized by other states.
Director of Pupil Personnel Services (KDP1)
This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level 1 Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP) and a Rank I.
Director of Special Education (KDS1)
This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level I Director of Special Education (DOSE) and a Rank I.
Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1)
This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level I Supervisor of Instruction (SOI) and a Rank I.
School Principal (KP1)
This program leads to eligibility for administrative certification as a Level I Principal and a Rank I.
Option 6 Alternative Route
WKU also offers an EPSB-approved alternative route to principal certification, with eligibility and application procedures as follows:
1. Candidates must apply to the WKU Graduate School for admission to the university - https://www.wku.edu/graduate/.
2. Candidates should contact the School of Leadership and Professional Studies for program-specific admissions guidelines and applications by calling 270-745-4890.
3. After admission to the graduate school and program, the candidate will work with an advisor to submit a program of study to the Office of Professional Educators Services for approval.
4. A letter is then issued by WKU stating that the student is currently enrolled in the principal program; at this time, the candidate may be offered a principal or assistant principal position by a district and is then eligible to participate in the Option 6 alternative route program.
5. If the candidate is offered the position, the district superintendent must provide verification of employment to WKU and the candidate.
6. The candidate will submit the verification of employment to the School of Leadership and Professional Studies and a CA-TP to the Office of Professional Educator Services.
7. The School of Leadership and Professional Studies will issue the student a mentor agreement that must be completed by the student, the student's university mentor, and the student's district mentor. This can be emailed to teacher.certification@wku.edu.
7. The Office of Professional Educator Services will sign and verify the enrollment of the candidate in the Alternate Route to Principal Certification program. The completed application will be uploaded to EPSB and the student will be notified when it has been processed and their certificate is ready to download/print.
8. The student must request that an electronic transcript be sent directly to EPSB. The transcript request can be completed through TOPNET. All transcript request questions need to be directed to the registrar's office.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the School Administration, Rank I program is specific to the concentration selected (concentration codes shown in parentheses below).
Director of Pupil Personnel Services (KDP1)
-
Current, valid teaching certificate
-
Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience
-
Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution
-
3.0 GPA or above for all graduate coursework
-
Letter of reference and support from supervisor
-
Program admissions application
Director of Special Education (KDS1)
-
Current, valid teaching certificate for exceptional children or as a school psychologist
-
Three years of full-time teaching experience with exceptional children or as a school psychologist
-
Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution
-
3.0 GPA or above on all graduate coursework
-
Letter of reference and support from supervisor
-
Program admissions application
School Principal (KP1)
-
Current, valid teaching certificate
-
Three years of full-time, appropriate teaching experience
-
Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution
-
GPA of 3.0 or higher on all graduate work
-
Letter of reference and support from supervisor
-
Program admissions application including leadership statement and essay
Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1)
-
Current, valid teaching certificate
-
Three years of full-time appropriate teaching experience
-
Master's degree or Rank 2 from an accredited institution
-
GPA of 3.0 or higher on all graduate work
-
Letter of reference and support from supervisor
-
Program admissions application
Program Requirements (30 hours)
Program requirements for the School Administration, Rank I program are specific to the concentration selected (concentration codes shown in parentheses below).
Completing a planned Fifth/Sixth-Year program may not be counted by states other than Kentucky in determining pay status. The Director of Pupil Personnel Services position is unique to Kentucky, and Kentucky's manifestation is not found in other places. Other states seek a counseling or social work background for student services, not a Director of Pupil Personnel Services with attendance duties as in Kentucky.
Filing a TC-1 requesting Rank I requires completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit including the master's degree. Within these total hours, the student must complete the required professional courses as outlined in a planned program designed to provide the student with appropriate administrative competencies and courses required for certification.
Director of Pupil Personnel (KDP1)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
EDFN 576 | Issues and Trends in Education | 3 |
EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
EDAD 605 | Leading a Community of Learners | 3 |
EDAD 606 | Leading Learning Systems | 3 |
EDAD 610 | Clinical Experiences in the Principalship | 3 |
EDAD 583 | Accounting for Pupil Personnel | 3 |
EDAD 686 | Principles of Supervision | 3 |
SPED 516 | The Exceptional Child: Perspectives and Issues | 3 |
or SPED 533 | Seminar: Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders | |
or SPED 535 | Curriculum for Individuals with Moderate and Severe Disabilities | |
Total Hours | 30 |
Director of Special Education (KDS1)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
EDAD 605 | Leading a Community of Learners | 3 |
or SPED 532 | Families, Professionals and Exceptionalities | |
EDAD 606 | Leading Learning Systems | 3 |
EDAD 610 | Clinical Experiences in the Principalship | 3 |
EDAD 686 | Principles of Supervision | 3 |
SPED 501 | Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
SPED 630 | Special Education Law and Finance | 3 |
SPED 625 | Practicum in the Administration of Special Education | 3 |
Total Hours | 30 |
School Principal (KP1)
A minimum of 30 semester hours is required; at least 15 hours must be WKU credit. Students must have previously completed a master's degree program, which would qualify for Rank II salary classification.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
EDAD 605 | Leading a Community of Learners | 3 |
EDAD 606 | Leading Learning Systems | 3 |
EDAD 607 | Developing Teacher Capacity | 3 |
EDAD 608 | Resource Management for Equitable Outcomes | 3 |
EDAD 609 | Leading School Improvement | 3 |
EDAD 610 | Clinical Experiences in the Principalship | 6 |
Total Hours | 30 |
Supervisor of Instruction (ILV1)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
EDAD 594 | Seminar on Leadership: Auxiliary Programs in Education | 3 |
EDAD 602 | Introduction to School Leadership | 3 |
EDAD 603 | School Law and Policy | 3 |
EDAD 604 | Creating a Culture of Achievement | 3 |
EDAD 605 | Leading a Community of Learners | 3 |
EDAD 606 | Leading Learning Systems | 3 |
EDAD 610 | Clinical Experiences in the Principalship | 3 |
EDFN 576 | Issues and Trends in Education | 3 |
EDAD 686 | Principles of Supervision | 3 |
SPED 516 | The Exceptional Child: Perspectives and Issues | 3 |
or SPED 533 | Seminar: Curriculum for Learning and Behavior Disorders | |
or SPED 535 | Curriculum for Individuals with Moderate and Severe Disabilities | |
Total Hours | 30 |