Principal Certification

Principal Certification Course Catalog 100% Online Coursework TEXAS 1

Dear prospective administrator, Congratulations on your decision to pursue the advanced certification of principal. I founded iteachtexas in 2003 with the goal to help talented individuals become educators while eliminating some of the traditional barriers to the classroom. iteachtexas quickly grew to be one of the largest educator preparation program in Texas and led to the launch of iteachu.s., which replicates the proven model we first piloted in Texas. Today, iteachu.s. is an educator preparation program that has earned state-specific approval in Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Hawaii, and we are continuing to grow while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and academic rigor in each state where we operate. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in iteachu.s. being the first and only educator preparation program that is not affiliated with a college or university to be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). While all educator preparation programs in a state, including ours, must be approved by the state to offer principal certification, NCATE is an optional accreditation that reflects a program s adherence to the highest standards of training and professional mentorship for new educators. As in any career, the insight and support of a mentor is invaluable. This is why iteachu.s. employs experienced former administrators, principals, and superintendents to provide guidance and support during your field experience. We also work closely with school districts and charter schools to understand the needs of each community and provide a supportive network for you while you grow as an educator. As an administrator, you will face the profound responsibility of helping faculty and students to learn and grow. An exceptional administrator can inspire teachers to give their professional best every day and make a lasting difference in the lives of students. If you are committed to these goals, we will give you the tools and support you need to attain it. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn at a safe and well-led school. We at iteachu.s. seek to prepare men and women who will respond to this pressing need with enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication. Thank you for choosing iteachu.s. as your guide on this journey. Warmest regards, Diann Huber, Ed.D. Founder and President

iteachtexas Principal Certification Course Catalog Table of Contents p. 6 Admission Requirements All candidates must meet program requirements of an undergraduate degree, graduate degree (or 12 hours toward a graduate degree), 2 years of service as a teacher, and a valid teaching certificate. p. 8 Timeline Once accepted into the iteachtexas principal certification program, you have three full school years in which to complete all of the program requirements, including the field experience requirement. p. 10 Syllabus The modular principal preparation course material is designed to prepare an individual to be a Principal in the state of Texas. Through the distance learning courses developed by iteachtexas, you, the prospective principal, will obtain knowledge on a broad array of topics ranging from human resource management to school finance. The vision of these courses is for you to study and understand various aspects of the administrator discipline and translate this knowledge into actual practice. This knowledge will empower you to adapt administrator practices to maximize individual student learning. 2

p. 14 p. 15 p. 16 Cer tification Testing The State Board for Educator Certification requires that each candidate for principal certification takes and passes the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) Principal test. Field Experience It is the mission of the iteachtexas program to meet the needs of individuals who have a desire to become highly effective administrators. There are two routes for a candidate to complete their field experience, either being hired as a principal or shadowing an administrator in a clinical position. Program Fees Ten percent of the total program cost is paid upfront with the remaining balance paid in a flexible, interest-free payment plan. Program Over view iteachtexas is a private alternative principal certification program based on distance learning that recommends successful candidates for the Standard Principal Certificate in Texas. Successful completion of the iteachtexas program includes: a) Fulfill all requirements of the instructional courses with completion of the nine instructional courses within twelve months of being accepted into the program (approval for certification test is not released until all instructional courses and review course have been successfully completed), instructional fee paid, and b) Pass the Principal test, and c) Complete the one year field experience/160 hour clinical position within a three-schoolyear time period from the date first accepted into the iteachtexas program. Once a field experience is obtained, all program requirements must be completed by the end of the field experience. 3

Admissions Requirements iteachtexas has established the following standards for admission into the Principal Certification Program: Principal candidates must: Be currently employed as a teacher or currently employed as a principal or vice principal, in a full time position, at an approved TEA school Hold a valid Texas Standard Teaching Certificate Have two years of documented, creditable teaching in a TEA approved/recognized school as shown in the candidate's Texas service record Have A GPA of at least 2.75 in their undergraduate studies, and/or a 3.0 in master's program Have a valid e-mail account To apply, candidates must provide: Two letters of recommendation, both from current administrators. One of the two letters must be from the candidate s direct supervising administrator. Letters must be on school letterhead. Official transcripts reflecting a conferred master's degree or proof of completion of at least 12 semester hours of a master s degree plan that the candidate is currently pursuing. A writing sample which will be scored by the iteachtexas Admissions staff. This will be a 200-300 word response to the statement: I believe I can assist our schools in meeting future challenges by... All submitted documentation must be current. Program admissions decisions will be accomplished in an equitable and consistent manner in accordance with company policy and state and federal laws. Complete and submit an online application An e-mail confirming receipt of your online application will be sent to you. If you do not receive an e-mail within five minutes, please contact the office at 940-383-8100 during business hours. Candidates electing to apply online must supply all other application materials in one complete packet mailed to the office. Incomplete application packets will not be considered for program admissions and all materials will be destroyed. Please download an application checklist that must be submitted with your packet to ensure that you have provided all the appropriate information that is needed to process your application packet. Incomplete application packets will not be considered for program admissions and all materials will be destroyed. The application fee of $75 is non-refundable. Submit official transcripts All candidates must provide a final transcript for their undergraduate coursework reflecting a conferred Bachelor s degree. If you have completed your Master s program, you must also submit a final transcript for your graduate coursework reflecting a conferred Master s degree. If you have not yet completed your Master s program, you must submit official transcripts for your Master s coursework along with a copy of your official degree plan. It must reflect that you are a current student with your university and have earned at least 12 semester hours toward a Master s degree. Please do not send unofficial printouts or copies of transcripts. Your application will not be processed without all official transcripts. Please indicate on your application checklist if you or the university is sending official transcripts.

Please send your completed application packet to: iteachtexas AT TN: Principal Certification P.O. Box 1626 Denton, TX 76202 Your conferred degree must be from a regionally accredited institution as required by TEA. Please refer to your instructnet homepage for information about iteachtexas receipt of transcripts. All transcripts submitted are the property of the program and will not be returned to the applicant. Writing sample A 200-300 word response to the statement: I believe I can assist our schools in meeting future challenges by... must be included in your application packet. The response will be evaluated for grammar and content. Letters of Recommendation You must provide two professional references, both from current administrators, one of which must be from the administrator with whom you directly report (letters must be on school letterhead). Ser vice Record You must submit a copy of your complete teaching service record. Record must show at least two years of credited service. Valid Teachers Cer tificate You must hold a valid teacher s certificate in the state of Texas. A copy of your teacher s certificate must be provided with your application packet. Statement of Diversity iteachu.s. is committed to preparing an educator workforce that reflects the diversity of students in classrooms across the nation, and to drawing talent from all communities in order to provide the best and brightest educators to America s children. iteachu.s. has a history of accepting, training and certifying diverse educator cohorts. We promise to uphold this tradition by not discriminating against any prospective candidate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or religion.

Co ntinuous Enrollment > No arbitrary deadline for enrollment > Upon acceptance, immediate enrollment in instructional coursework Timeline Once accepted into the iteachtexas Principal Certification program, you have three full school years in which to complete all of the program requirements, including the field experience requirement. The following timeline provides an overview of how an individual progresses through the iteachtexas Principal Certification program. (This is an ideal scenario and may not hold true for each candidate depending on individual circumstances.) 1 Submit a completed application packet Complete the application online. Receive access to the instructnet instructional platform to track your application status. Pay the evaluation fee of $75.00 by credit card at time of the online application or by check/money order mailed to iteachtexas with a complete downloaded paper application. The application fee is a non-refundable fee. Mail all required supporting documents to: iteachtexas ATTN: Principal Certification P.O. Box 1626 Denton, Texas 76202 The required documents are: o Official transcripts showing a conferred master s degree or a minimum of 12 completed hours toward a master s degree. You may also send official electronic transcripts via SCRIP-SAFE or other secure electronic transcript provider to admissions@iteach.net. If the electronic transcript provider requires the transcript to be sent with attention to a specific person, please list First Name: "Admissions" Last Name: "iteach" in these fields. o An official state service record indicating the number of years you have taught o Two letters of recommendation from school administrators, including one from your current immediate supervising administrator o A professional writing sample Applications are retained for six months. If you do not submit a completed packet within six months, the application is destroyed to ensure the security of your personal information. 2 Evaluation Receive notification of your program status via e- mail. Upon acceptance, gain online access to the Letter of Agreement. Completed files for accepted candidates will be your Letter of Agreement or pay the nonrefundable access fee of $425 within six months, the file is destroyed to ensure the security of your personal information. 3 Program Acceptance Within a week from the time you acknowledge the Letter of Agreement, pay the non-refundable access fee of $425 and return the Personal Payment Authorization form, you receive: An official Letter of Acceptance Access to the first course, IPAC 1000 A Statement of Eligibility, a form that you provide to school districts at the time of a job application to indicate eligibility for a field experience position and a Probationary Principal Certificate Once accepted into the program, you have three complete school years in which to complete all of the program requirements, including the one-year (twosemester) field experience.

4 Instruc tional Courses You gain access to the instructional courses once your completed Letter of Agreement and personal payment authorization form are received by iteachtexas. The 12-month timeline to complete the coursework will begin on the date you gain access to IPAC 1001. The seven instructional courses are self-paced, although progress is required during the 12-month time frame. If you are required to repeat a course or elect to take a month off during the instruction, these needs can be accommodated within the 12-month timeline. You are permitted to progress from one instructional course to the next course at a rate no faster than one course per three weeks. Each instructional course is designed to require a minimum of 45 seat hours. If a you do not complete the final instructional course within 12 months from being enrolled into IPAC 1001, you may request permission to be reenrolled in the courses for a six-month period with the payment of a renewal access fee. 5 Cer tification Test You take the state-mandated principal certification test after completing your instructional courses and comprehensive review. Test approval is automatically processed. Instructional fees must be paid in full through a personal payment plan prior to taking the principal certification test. Option 2 You complete your internship by shadowing certified administrators. Your school district should return your Statement of Eligibility to iteachtexas as soon as the district has approved you to participate in this option. With this option, you complete 160 hours of documented participation over one semester. In both Option 1 and Option 2, you are assigned a field supervisor. You must provide iteachtexas with a completed personal payment plan prior to beginning either field experience option. 7 Recommended for Cer tification You will be recommended for the Standard Principal Certificate after successfully fulfilling the following program requirements: Completing the instructional courses Passing the required certification test Completing the field experience with recommendations from the field supervisor and campus administrator Holding a conferred master's degree Paying all program fees Submitting an exit evaluation survey 6 Internship There are two options for completing an internship with the iteachtexas Principal Certification program: Option 1 You are hired in a full-time administrator position. o You may begin the job search for a paid, full-time administrator position as soon as you are accepted into the iteachtexas principal certification program, acknowledge the Letter of Agreement, and pay the access fee. o Once hired as an administrator, you should immediately return your completed Statement of Eligibility to iteachtexas. o You apply for a Probationary Principal Certificate once you are hired as a full-time administrator. With this option, the internship experience is completed over two semesters. 9

Web-based Instruction > Instruction on your time schedule Syllabus > Direct online interaction with instructor > No required onsite meetings Course Description Over view This modular principal preparation course is designed to prepare an individual to be a principal in the state of Texas. Through the distance learning courses developed by iteachtexas, you, the prospective principal, will obtain knowledge on a broad array of topics ranging from human resource management to school finance. The vision of these courses is for you to study and understand various aspects of the administrator discipline and translate this knowledge into actual practice. This knowledge will empower you to adapt administrator practices to maximize individual student learning. Requirements You must have access to a personal computer that has Microsoft Word. Many schools and public libraries have Internet filters in place that will not allow the viewing of downloads from the Internet. Additionally, it is your responsibility to frequently review the program announcements on the instructnet platform. Pace While the iteachtexas courses are self-paced, the nine instructional courses are designed to be completed within a 12-month time span. 4

Leadership cannot really be taught. It can only be learned. You are progressed no faster than one instructional course every three weeks. Access to the comprehensive review course will not be granted until mastery has been demonstrated in the instructional courses and the instructional fee has been paid in full. Completion of the comprehensive review is not required during the 12-month time span. Courses > I PAC 1000 - Introduction to Certification > I PAC 1001 - Critical Issues in Education > I PAC 1002 - Human Resources, Leadership and Management > I PAC 1003 - Educational Politics and Legal Policy > I PAC 1004 - Curriculum Design and Practice > I PAC 1005 - The Principal as the Instructional Leader > I PAC 1006 - The Role of Professional Development in Education > I PAC 1007 - Education Finance and Budgeting > I PAC 1008 - Comprehensive Review Field Experience Courses > I PAC 2000 - Field Experience Assignments While each course has its own objective(s) for the principal candidate, the following overall objectives of the course material ensure that each candidate possesses the identified educator dispositions: > Instill belief that all students can learn based upon the stages of human development > Develop respect for individual differences to ensure a democratic classroom environment > Foster commitment to inquiry, self-reflection and assessment > Promote intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm about learning based upon the importance of literacy > Examine openness to new ideas in behavioral management > Value positive interactions > Perform all practices responsibly and ethically Assignments Each iteachtexas online course contains required assignments that will appear in various forms, such as, research, reflection, essay and even completion of school and state procedures. Every candidate in our program holds at least a bachelor s degree, and several hold master s and doctoral degrees. It is vital to the successful

completion of this program that all work be of the caliber required for graduate level coursework. Any assignment not meeting the program s high standards will be returned for review and resubmission. Many of the course instructors are also working administrators. The course instructors work diligently to grade your assignments, and assignments will be graded within three to four business days. Once the requirements for a specific course are complete, you will be advanced to the next course at the appropriate time. While you wait to be advanced, please spend some time to reflect and conduct independent research on each course s curriculum. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Grading All assignments will be graded on a 1, 2, 3 scale. The rubric for the grading scale is as follows: 1 Unacceptable 2 A cceptable 3 Ta r get Candidate does not model correct language usage. (1) Pervasive written communication errors are present. (2) Thoughts are poorly organized. Candidate rarely and inappropriately or superficially demonstrates knowledge of assignment material. Candidate does not fulfill the required elements for the assignment. Candidate models effective written communication skills (1) A few written communication errors may be present but they do not interfere with meaning. (2) Thoughts are organized. Candidate usually and adequately demonstrates knowledge of assignment material. Candidate models excellent written communication skills. (1) No written communication errors are present. (2) Thoughts are presented in a well-organized, detailed manner. Candidate consistently and thoroughly demonstrates knowledge mastery of assignment material. Examinations In addition to graded assignments, computer-graded assessments are administered throughout each course. Successful completion of each assessment in the instructional courses and the final competency test (located in IPAC 1008) must be accomplished prior to being recommended for certification. The course instructor is one of four individuals who will recommend you for the principal certification. Feedback An instructor will monitor your participation in each iteachtexas course. The course instructor will be an experienced administrator who will not only read and evaluate your assignments, but also provide prompt feedback should you have a question regarding the course curriculum. Text Resources There is one book that is considered a must for all new principals: Kemerer, F., Walsh, J., & Maniotis, L. (2005). The Educator s Guide to Texas School Law (6 th ed.) Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. This book, which can be purchased in paperback at your local bookstore, is more like an automobile owner s manual. You will be able to turn to the appropriate section to research the law when a specific problem arises. In each course you will also have additional required reading. Many of these readings can be accessed free of charge through the Internet, but other sources are available only in print and will need to be purchased. These texts have been selected because they will serve as invaluable resources that you will refer to throughout your administrative career. A partial list of these readings includes: IPAC 1001: Fullan, M. (2007) The New Meaning of Educational Change. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. IPAC 1003: Kemerer, F. R., & Crain, J. The Documentation Handbook. (5 th ed.) Austin, TX: Texas School Administrators Legal Digest. An Introduction to School Board Policy for Trustees. Austin, TX: Texas Association of School Boards. IPAC 1004: English, F.W. (2010). Deciding What to Teach and Test: Developing, Aligning, and Auditing the Curriculum (3 rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. Downey, C.J., Steffy, B.E., English, F. W., Frase, L.E., & Poston, Jr., W.K. (2004). The Three-Minute Walk- Through: Changing School Supervisory Practice One Teacher at a Time. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. IPAC 1006: Anderson, L.W., & Pellicer, L.O. (2001). Teacher peer assistance and review: A practical guide for teachers and administrators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. Accommodations If you have a disability for which you require accommodations, please let iteachtexas know. iteachtexas will be glad to work with you to find an appropriate accommodation.

Certification Testing Cer tification Testing The State Board for Educator Certification requires that each candidate for Principal certification takes and passes the TExES certification test. You should plan to take the Principal certification test upon completion of the iteachtexas instructional courses and the comprehensive review, IPAC 1008. Test approval for the Principal certification test is not released until you have successfully completed the instructional courses and the comprehensive review, and the instructional fees have been paid. Once you have met these requirements, the test approval will be automatically requested. > Practice Principal Certification Test (comprehensive review) prior to actual certification test Prior to registering for a test, you must obtain the test approval form. You will register for the certification test online at www.texes.ets.org, where you can also find the state-provided study guide for the test. 13

Field Experience E x tensive C lassroom Suppor t > Experienced Field Supervisors > Observations throughout the Field Experience It is the mission of the iteachtexas program to meet the needs of individuals who have a desire to become highly effective administrators, while also meeting the needs of school districts to obtain highly qualified Candidates. The field experience is an important time in the life of a principal. It is critical, challenging and rewarding to all involved, as it is a time of great professional growth. This experience typically has a lasting effect upon an administrator s outlook toward education and therefore greatly affects future generations of students. We offer two options for completion of the field experience: C lose Relationships with S chool Distric ts > Job placements may be obtained in any school district or Texas Education Agency ( TEA) recognized private school Option 1 Internship This option is designed for candidates who will be employed as an assistant principal or principal with a TEA recognized school during the internship phase over two semesters. If you elect this option you may apply for a Probationary Principal Certificate upon obtaining a campus administrator position. You will also need to participate in a personal payment plan. Option 2 Clinical Teaching This option is designed for candidates who will not be employed as an assistant principal or principal during the field experience but will have authorized release time by their hiring district to participate in the Internship during one semester. If you elect this option, a completed Statement of Eligibility must be provided to iteachtexas from the district. The district commitment will be considered by the Review Committee to determine appropriateness of field experience. The 160 hours of the internship may be acquired through observation of various aspects of the principal s responsibilities. The required 160 hours may be acquired in the following areas: 24 Hours (15%) night/weekend extracurricular activities 52 Hours (33%) summer duties 83 Hours (52%) school day activities can be accomplished during lunch/conference 12

Program Fees > 10% upfr o n t, 90% def err ed Total Cost of Program........ $5,000.00 (All program fees are non-refundable) This is the anticipated cost for a Candidate who completes all iteachtexas program requirements according to the program timeline. The total cost is broken down into the following fees: A pplica tion Fe e............ $75.00 Program Access Fee (10% down).... $425.00 Due prior to receiving the Statement of Eligibility Due prior to beginning online instruction Instruc tional Fee...........$3,500.00 Additional Fees Not Covered by iteachtexas Probationary Certificate Application Fee. $52.00 TExES (cost per examination)........ $120.00 Standard Cer tificate Application Fee.... $77.00 Renewal Fees Course Renewal Fees........... $400.00 If you do not complete the instructional courses within the 12-month time frame, you must pay another access fee. If continuation is approved, you will be given six months to complete your coursework. $500.00 per month for 7 months Field Experience Fee.........$1,000.00 Non Texas Field Experience Fee (NTFE)...$1,000.00 Payment Options You have the following options for payment of fees: Sign a personal payment plan indicating monthly payments made directly to iteachtexas once field experience is obtained. Pay for the instruction as you are participating in the course work and then pay for field experience once field experience is obtained. Access to IPAC 1001 is not given until personal payment information is submitted. Flexible Payment > Personal Payment Plan: make monthly payments directly to iteachtexas once ready to begin coursework or field experience