Superintendent Certification Program Overview
Our online Superintendent Certification program is designed for principals and assistant principals who want to strengthen their skills as school leaders and promote the success of all students in their district. Students in this program will learn how to develop and maintain relationships with school boards and facilitate development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship in a school district through coursework and practicum.
We have a great, growing program geared to the practitioner and blessed with a diverse group of candidates experienced as building administrators, directors, and CFOs. Many of our candidates also hold a doctoral degree. We make an effort to leverage the knowledge of our candidates in a professional learning community for the benefit of all.
This affordable 16-credit online certification program can be completed in as little as two semesters and is one of the only four-course programs in the state that maintains a practicum component throughout.
Click here to read program testimonials from superintendent certification alumni.
At UTPB, because collaboration is one of our core values, you are forever a Falcon. Our professional networking and dialogue are a source of support designed to serve our candidates far beyond their time in our program. We are committed to deepening relationships with the professionals who have completed our program through service to their districts and being available for personal career advancement advice.
Our focus on people and their professional and personal needs is based on the University’s core values of extra-mile service, integrity and kindheartedness. The field experience of our instructors affords an intimate understanding of the pressures that are inherent in school district service. The strong relationships we cultivate with each candidate maintain an open dialogue that offers flexibility in meeting our course obligations.
Workload and Organization
Each course is organized to facilitate easy navigation and a clear outline of required tasks and their deadlines. Each week’s work is organized within a module and each module includes to do's and lecture, discussion topics, and a written assignment. Each course includes a major project, final exam, and practicum. To learn detailed information about the structure or each course with examples, click here.
Texas Superintendent Certification
This program is an approved educator preparation program in Texas. The requirements for superintendent certification in Texas are provided below:
- Master’s degree from an accredited university
- Valid principal certification
- Successful completion of an approved superintendent educator preparation program
- Completed superintendent certification application
- Successful completion of the required exam
Out-of-state candidates should contact Dr. Rod Uzat to determine if UTPB's online Superintendent Certification program will meet the requirements of their state.
Accreditation and Awards
- Nationally accredited by the prestigious Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Texas Education Agency - State approved/accreditation Accountability System for Educator Preparation (TEA/ASEP)
Superintendent Practicum experiences are integrated into each course. The program includes more than 200 hours of field experiences applying the educational leadership skills required for district level leadership.
Admission Requirements
You must qualify for regular or conditional admission to graduate studies at UT Permian Basin to be admitted to this certificate program. Graduate studies admission requirements are below:
- Applicant holds a master’s degree
- Principal certification or waiver from TEA
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended showing the completion of bachelor’s and master’s degree
- Overall GPA calculation of at least 2.50
- Copy of service record
- Essay that answers the following prompt:
- What do you see as the role of an educational leader?
- Slideshow or presentation that meets the following criteria:
- Prepare a presentation or slideshow addressing your awareness of the major areas of a superintendent’s responsibility and a self-awareness with respect to your personal mission and values.
- Identify two major areas of responsibility. Why are they important? Describe how you will address these responsibilities.
- What draws you to the school leader’s role?
- Articulate three words of non-negotiable values and why they are most important.
- Offer a narrative reflection (written or voice-recorded) exploring the elements addressed above.
Official Transcripts
Official copies of transcripts must come directly from the school in a sealed envelope and should be mailed to:
UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies Office
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Official transcripts in electronic format can be sent to gradstudies@utpb.edu.
Supporting Documents
All supporting documents related to a graduate program, such as letters of recommendation, essays, statements of interest, resumes, professional work experience, and awards should be sent to the Graduate Studies Office:
UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762-0001
Electronic versions of supporting documents may be emailed to gradstudies@utpb.edu.
Application Fee
The application fee is $40.
If you have any questions regarding the admission requirements, please email badgett_k@utpb.edu.
Faculty Bios
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership
College of Education
badgett_k@utpb.edu
Dr. Badgett joined the faculty of UT Permian Basin in August 2012 as an assistant professor of educational leadership. Dr. Badgett is also a certified school counselor and superintendent. Prior to coming to UT Permian Basin, Dr. Badgett served as an adjunct professor for University of Houston- Clear Lake as well as working in the Pasadena Independent School District.
Click here to read more about Dr. Badgett and his experience with UT Permian Basin.
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership
College of Education
hernandez_e@utpb.edu
Dr. Arzu is Garifuna and originally from Belize, Central America. Prior to relocating to Odessa in 2021, Dr. Arzu spent over 30 years serving the Belizean education system as an elementary teacher, secondary school principal, adjunct lecturer, co-facilitator for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and also Quality Assurance Officer at the University of Belize. While in Belize, she was a member of several professional organizations, including the Belize Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (BAPSS), the Association of Principals of Government Secondary Schools (APGSS), and the Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation (COBEC). Since transitioning to UTPB, Dr. Arzu continues to serve only on COBEC. Her professional interests include issues pertaining to teachers and principal leadership and ensuring that programs are quality assured. Her personal interests include connecting to nature and her spiritual being.
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership
College of Education
uzat_r@utpb.edu
Dr. Uzat joined UT Permian Basin in January 2022 as a professor of educational leadership. He has worked as a district-level and high school administrator for thirteen years. Before joining UTPB, Dr. Uzat served as the Director of Special Projects at St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has also compiled a 441-229 record over 26 seasons coaching high school basketball. He earned his PhD in educational leadership from The University of Southern Mississippi and his academic areas of specialization include organizational culture and change, crisis management, cost-benefit analysis, and TQM methods in education.
Click here to read more about Dr. Uzat and his experience with UT Permian Basin.
We’re pleased to offer program admission on a rolling basis.
Rolling admission refers to our process of accepting and evaluating applications as we receive them and moving any applications that miss the deadline to the next semester. However, if you want to enroll in courses for a specific semester, you will need to make note of the application deadlines found below. If you don’t complete your application and submit the required materials by the deadline, your application will be rolled over to the next semester.