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NW ESD 189

Administrator Professional Certification—An investment in the future through candidate, school district, and NWESD partnership. 

In response to member school district request, the NWESD successfully lobbied for the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to revise the WAC to permit ESDs to offer Administrator Professional Certification programs and has launched its first cohort of 19 practicing administrators in the region.  Cohort sessions are geographically sited in Snohomish and Skagit counties for reduced participant travel.  Drs. Jenkins and Shoop are facilitating this new NWESD service and program development. 

Certificated administrators in Washington are required to follow a professional path that includes both an entry-level certificate and an advanced second-level certificate, as well as continuing professional development for certificate renewal. The Administrator Professional Certificate is the second-tier certificate that follows the entry-level residency certificate.

The typical timeline for the NWESD Administrator Professional Certification Program consists of one (1) year and includes five (5) seminars and one (1) panel presentation.  This is based upon quality pre-acceptance review that includes meaningful applicant self-assessment as well as school district recommendation.  However, as a proficiency-based program the candidate, school districts, and the NWESD must all be prepared for Professional Certification to require additional time, including subsequent cohort sessions (and resultant fees) when appropriate. 

Each cohort seminar will:

  1. focus on the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards/strands;
  2. permit ongoing NWESD facilitator review of progress made by cohort members on their approved Professional Growth Plan goals and final products; and,
  3. will take place at a regional facility deemed by the NWESD to be the most conducive to all participants and the establishment of a professional learning community/support group.

Program requirements focus on the development of a Professional Growth Plan (PGP) which is aligned with state and national standards for administrators. As an administrator this program is your opportunity to take ownership of your own professional development through engaging and reporting on real situations. This program is focused on real time learning in a job-embedded environment, not seat time.

The NWESD is excited to enter this new arena of service to our member school districts and area administrators.  Equally important are the relationships established with up-and-coming administrators.