“Once I saw the framework of the Permian Basin [program], that’s when I decided to apply.” – Marco Zamora, online Superintendent Certification student
Marco Zamora has kept busy during his first year as principal at South Texas Preparatory Academy, visiting with parents, ensuring adequate staffing, managing facilities, reinforcing safety protocols, tackling compliance issues, and handling paperwork. Bustling schedule notwithstanding, Zamora managed to nearly complete his UTPB online Superintendent Certification program in seven months. With one more month remaining when we spoke, he also found time to discuss his program experience, revealing the two unique factors that made him realize UTPB was the right choice and sharing an unexpected benefit of using our learning management system.
The Path to a More Impactful Leadership Position
Zamora credits his professional background as his motivation for wanting to make a greater impact as an education leader. “When I was a teacher and decided I wanted to have a bigger impact on education, I went through and got my master’s and my administration certificate. I had two really good mentors when I first started off with the middle school as administrator and when I went to the high school and had another principal. My ultimate goal is to be at central office in a leadership capacity to build leaders like future administrators, future principals.”
It was this goal that ultimately led Zamora to seek out superintendent certification, a decision which was initially met with some skepticism. “I had a conversation a couple years ago about what I wanted to do and [colleagues] said, ‘Well, if you do that, you’re going to lose your best teachers or your best AP’s. And my view was, that’s OK, because if they leave, they’re going to impact students somewhere else. So, that’s why I decided to finally pursue the certification. My wife kind of pushed me. ‘Hey, you know, just do it. You’ve been wanting to do it.’ [I] finally did it and I’m almost done.”
A Self-Paced, Highly Applicable Program With a Personal Touch
Zamora elaborated on the two primary factors that led to him choosing UTPB’s online Superintendent Certification program: “When I was looking at different programs within Texas, the majority of them were two courses in the spring, two courses in the fall, and then an internship class. Being a principal is very fast-paced and [requires] a lot of time. With UT Permian Basin, I like the fact that you can focus on one course for 7-8 weeks and then go to the next one. But what really sold me was [Assistant Professor] Dr. Uzat reached out and we had a really genuine phone conversation before the program started. I don’t think another university would call and say, ‘Hey, give me feedback.’”
Since beginning our program, Zamora has appreciated the direct applicability of what he’s learning to his current professional responsibilities. “There are a lot of things I’m already pulling from the program. Right now [I’m] taking the Educational Change and Design of Facilities course and I’m getting ideas on how to change the setup of the library and the classrooms [at South Texas Prep]. And that’s just one example.”
Going Back to School in the World of 2022
It had been some time since Zamora himself was a student, and the classroom had changed fundamentally. “Starting school 13 years after completing my graduate work was my biggest concern. Do I have the stamina to write papers and read and things like that. But once you get in the habit of it, you just get used to it again.” Online learning from a student’s perspective was a concern Zamora quickly overcame. “I’ve always been in the classroom, but my mentality was, if my students at the high school could learn online for a year and a half [during COVID], there’s no reason for me to complain. I had to make it work for me. And it’s been good. I like having access at any time.”
Zamora explained how he’s stayed closely connected with faculty and classmates through various online tools: “We utilize Teams and we can just message each other. I just send [my professor] a message on Teams and he’ll reply. Accessibility has not been an issue with reaching my professor or other classmates.” Zamora encountered a learning curve while first using Canvas, our learning management system, but now considers himself proficient. “I know exactly where to go for modules, how to upload files and things like that. It’s an easy navigation and our district is looking to go toward Canvas for next school year, so now I have a heads-up on how it’s utilized.”
Recommendations for Prospective Students
Zamora offered some suggestions for anyone considering the program: “When I first started it was like, ‘OK, I’ll do [my classwork] when I get home.’ And then if something came up, I worked late, I’d put it off to the next day and then it was already Wednesday—the assignments go up on Monday night—and you can fall behind. Second course, I had the routine down. Just make sure you have your routine. Break down your week [based on] when you can get your classwork done. That’s pretty much my ultimate advice.”
Zamora also says he would “most definitely” recommend our program to others. “My colleague next door at the high school might want to pursue her superintendency. She got her doctorate, but she didn’t do the superintendent certification. So, I tell her about the program, and if she’s ready, I’m going to make sure the information is passed on to her.”
Join Marco Zamora in enhancing the education experience for your students, faculty, and school district. Our online Superintendent Certification program is the place to start. Request more information and apply here.