Excellence in leadership in our nation's public schools has never been more vital to our children’s success than it is today. The AASA National Superintendent Certification Program® is THE place for early career superintendents and superintendents desiring to refresh their skill set, to engage in a world-class professional learning opportunity. The program offers the highest quality curriculum and the ability to join professional networks that today’s superintendents need to become the excellent leaders for our children, and our nation. In light of the pandemic, the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program® provides a real-time focus on key issues that superintendents are facing.  

AASA has planned a robust experience that focuses on sharpening the skills that successful superintendents acknowledge are needed to thrive on the job and provides relevant experiences for our members. It is clear that political and economic pressures of the job are exacerbated by growing intrusions into local control and a prevailing attitude that educators do not have the solutions, and indeed, are part of the problem. Our certification program will help our members thrive in these difficult conditions. 

Through our in-depth curriculum, dynamic in-person and virtual sessions, one-on-one mentoring, Capstone Project, and long-term professional networks, the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program® delivers the comprehensive leadership development superintendent leaders need. Our program focuses on key issues:

• Transformational Leadership and Visioning
• Understanding and Developing Effective Board-Superintendent Relations 

• Understanding and Ensuring Equity 

• Navigating Community, State and National Politics 
• The Impact of Economic Pressures, Budgeting and the Global Pandemic
• Effective Instructional Leadership and Continuous School Improvement 
• Impactful and Effective Communications including Social Media for All Stakeholders 
• Serving Effectively as CEO and Education Leader in the District and Community 

Our robust curriculum has been developed with extensive input from leading superintendents from around the nation and is personalized and delivered by dynamic lead superintendent teachers and expert guest presenters.

Our mentors are current and recently retired superintendents who have been successful in leading change in a variety of districts around the nation. They are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and experience with the upcoming generation of educational leaders, and they share their time and talent generously with our program participants. 

The Capstone Project is a practitioner-oriented project that will challenge Participants to use their knowledge gained during the Certification Program, current expertise, and work experience to analyze a real-time district issue that requires intervention. Participants will develop and implement an action plan to address the issue in a comprehensive and lasting way.

To date, more than 250 AASA members have completed the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program®, with overwhelmingly positive results (see what past participants say about the program here). The camaraderie, honesty and openness that participants describe are the experiences for which our AASA members have been asking. AASA membership is a requirement for the program. 

Take a few moments to listen as program alumni share the importance of their experience here.

AASA is the premier organization for school district leadership. That's why we encourage superintendents to consider enrolling in AASA's Certification Program. The AASA National Superintendent Certification Program® will continue to help our members successfully answer the call of leadership duties as we move our nation's school into a new era of success.

If you have any questions, please contact Mort Sherman, AASA associate executive director, leadership services and awards, at  msherman@aasa.org  or 703-875-0726. You can also contact Amy Sichel, lead superintendent, at amy.sichel@aasa.org.