School Leadership
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Increasing high-quality teaching, learning, and leadership
The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) offers a continuum of professional development services and programs for school leaders that provide an interrelated, cohesive set of developmental learning experiences designed to build capacity with new and experienced administrators, as well as prepare prospective school principals for the challenges of school leadership.
Programs facilitated by SDCOE make a significant contribution to the region by preparing future school leaders and educational administrators to become "leaders of learning" who are capable of attaining the level of effectiveness needed to produce high-performing schools.
More to Explore
- Credential Programs
- School Leadership Institutes
- School Leadership Transitions
- School Coaches and Teacher Leaders
Credential Programs
Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program
Meets Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requirements for the Preliminary Administrative Credential. This program offers a high-quality preparation program that is focused on developing leaders by providing a rigorous and relevant course of study on instructional leadership. Certification of all CTC requirements is accomplished through a 17-month program, which includes coursework, integrated online learning, field experience, and action research.
Clear Administrative Services Credential Program
Meets CTC requirements for the Administrative Services Clear Credential. CTC requires new administrators to enter a Clear Induction program within 120 days of your first administrative assignment. Certification of the completion of all requirements is accomplished through a two year program that includes one‐on‐one coaching with a skilled administrator, an individualized leadership growth plan, professional learning, as well as a culminating portfolio representing two years of leadership development as an instructional leader based upon the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders.
School Leadership Institutes
Aspiring leaders and school administrators can build their professional practice through participation in SDCOE School Leadership Institutes. These leadership programs are designed based on what San Diego County superintendents say they are looking for in district and school leaders.
About SDCOE Leadership Institutes
- High-quality, coherent professional learning system for aspiring leaders and current school leaders
- Authentic experiences that develop instructional leadership
- Courses offered in a blended, online learning format
- Grounded in research-based instructional leadership practices and principles
- Informed by leadership needs identified by districts throughout the county
Discover Upcoming Leadership Institutes
Targeted Feedback Institute
Are you interested in providing the kind of feedback to your teachers that they can implement immediately and independently? Wondering how to effectively give this kind of feedback? The Targeted Feedback Institute will guide you in how to do so.
SDCOE partnered with the nationally recognized University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership to offer the Targeted Feedback Institute.
Giving targeted feedback is a powerful skill and an important support for helping teachers grow their practice throughout a school year. This kind of professional support serves to give immediate feedback to teachers in relation to a specific learning goal or area of focus they choose. Participants will learn the characteristics of effective targeted feedback and how to engage in feedback cycles with their teachers that result in improved student outcomes.
Who Should Attend this Event?
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Principals and teacher teams
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School district leaders and site teams
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Instructional coaches and mentors
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Teachers and teacher leaders
We will use the 5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning instructional framework as the foundation of the work each day. However, the process can be used with any instructional framework.
Have questions or need more information?
Please contact Tiffny Jones, program administrative assistant, to learn more.
January 23-24, 2024
Teacher Leadership Academy
This five-day, intensive Teacher Leadership Academy is a great fit for classroom teachers, teachers on special assignment, content coaches, grade-level and team leads of all content areas grades K-12.
Please contact Cherissa Beck if you would like to offer the Teacher Leadership Academy for your school or district.
School Leadership Transitions
We expect a lot from our principals. When they start at a new school, there's no practice, no rehearsal. There's just a new leader who has to hit the ground running.
The SDCOE Leadership Transition service gets principals up to speed quickly by helping school staff members communicate their culture and needs.
The process is adapted from military and organizational development methods, and focuses on the data rather than judgment or opinions.
The Leadership Transition service includes an online survey of all staff – certificated and classified – that examines the internal management processes and procedures for improving overall effectiveness at the school.
The survey data is unpacked by a representative group of school staff members in a day long workshop facilitated by the SDCOE Leadership Transition team. The group uses the data to identify trends, themes, strengths, areas of need, and recommendations, which they present to the new principal.
Together the principal and Leadership Transition group submit the process and the work to all school staff members, so that everyone understands the concerns, expectations, and major priorities of the school.
The Leadership Transition service is an opportunity for school staff members to feel supported and validated. It also aids new principals in building a team, tackling challenges, and developing trust throughout the campus.
Minimize individual and organizational stress and help your new school leaders embark on productive working relationships with staff through the Leadership Transition service.
Contact Sheelagh Moran today to schedule the service.
School Coaches and Teacher Leaders
Teacher Leadership Academy: Laying a Foundation in Coaching and Teacher Leadership - August 3 to 4
8:30 a.m $340 per participating teacher leader, TOSA, coach, or administrator
Teacher leaders play a vital role as districts work to ensure equity and access for all students to meet the rigorous expectations of the California content standards. The Teacher Leadership Academy is a great fit for classroom teachers, teachers on special assignment, content coaches, grade-level and team leads of all content areas grades K-12 who are on deck for leadership or coaching positions.
Register Today! August 3 and 4
Student-Centered Coaching Institute: Building Expertise in Coaching
Focusing on the core practices of Student-Centered Coaching, coaches learn about the nuts and bolts of formal coaching cycles, four- to six-week learning cycles between the coach and a partnering teacher or team designed to keep student learning at the center of each and every conversation. This makes room for district and site administrators to learn alongside their coach.
Choose the package that is right for you and your team, and register today!
Student-Centered Coaching Institute - Sept. 6 to 7
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Marina Village in San Diego. $550 per participating coach
Taking a learner stance, coaches explore ways to engage with a small group or an individual teacher to:
- Set a standards-based goal and develop learning targets to clarify what students will need to know and do to meet the goal,
- Co-plan and co-teach, making coaching occur within the classroom
- Leverage formative evidence-gathering assessment practices, and
- Reflect on the impact that the coaching cycle had on teacher, coach, and student learning.
Note: This is an institute for coaches and other school leaders who have already been introduced to effective coaching practices and are ready to learn about partnering with teachers in formal coaching cycles.
Student-Centered Coaching Bundle
$650 per participating coach
The Two-Day Student Coaching Institute - September 6 to 7
A Half-Day Coaching Lab
Coaching labs deepen are not exemplars of coaching, but rather are examples of authentic coaching that stretch our thinking. The process involves a pre brief that provides time for the hosting coach to set the focus and share tools and strategies that have been used. Then a smaller group from the Institute gathers to observe coaching and debrief to unpack implications and points of learning. Location and times TBD.
“Launching Student-Centered Coaching” Virtual Book Study
Engaging teachers in coaching is an ongoing process that requires planning and intentionality. Join us for a virtual book Diane Sweeney's latest book, "Launching A New Year of Student-Centered Coaching.” The author, Diane Sweeney herself joins us on the last session. Four virtual 45-minute sessions in the spring 2024. Dates and times TBD.
Coaches, consider attending as a team to the institute, a coaching lab, and the virtual book study to deepen your coaching practice.
Student-Centered Coaching Administrator Pathway
$75 per site or district administrator. All Student-Centered Coaching books are included.
Only for site and district administrators of coaches who are participating either in the Student-Centered Coaching Institute or the Student-Centered Coaching bundle.
A Half-Day at the Student-Centered Coaching Institute
Join your coach or coaching team at the institute to learn about the student-centered coaching approach. Administrators will join us on Sept. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
"Leading Student-Centered Coaching" Virtual Book Study
For administrators to network around proven practices for setting the stage for coaching with purpose. This virtual book study will occur in the fall of 2023. Dates and times TBD.
“Launching Student-Centered Coaching Virtual Book Study
Join your coach to explore practical strategies to partner as you intentionally plan to deepen the impact of coaching in the next school year. This virtual book study will occur in the spring of 2024. Dates and times TBD.
Administrators, consider learning alongside of your coach and other leaders with a half-day at the institute and two virtual book studies.