Educational Leadership

College of Education and Human Development

Preparation Program for Superintendent Certification Online

Program Description

Candidates may enroll in The Preparation Program for Superintendent Certification if they:

  • Hold a Principal (or Mid-Management) Certification
or alternatively:
  • Have served in a leadership role in education, business or community organization leadership for a period of one or more years
  • Have served in any alternative service or experience which is deemed by the Lamar Superintendent Faculty to be equivalent to the requirements listed above

Any appeal for a waiver of certification requirements, which requires consideration by the Lamar Superintendent faculty, shall be subject to the judgement of the faculty. All faculty rulings are final.

Each course includes field-based experiences, problem-based learning and action research. If admitted, candidates are required to complete 18 hours of coursework as outlined in the degree plan, after which the university will issue you a certificate of completion.

*This program only accepts applications for January, June and August start dates.


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Educational Administration Workforce Information

Criminal Background Check

Candidates for Teacher Preparation undergo a criminal background check as part of admissions to the program. According to TEA,  

Educator preparation programs (EPPs) shall inform all applicants that: 

(1) pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and 
(2) pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. 
If convicted of an offense, the candidate will receive an email of the potential ineligibility. Candidates have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter. The criminal background check is conducted at the time of admissions and prior to clinical teaching. Learn more information about the preliminary criminal history evaluation.

Practicum

For candidates seeking professional certification as a superintendent, principal, school counselor, school librarian, or an educational diagnostician, each educator preparation program shall provide a practicum, as defined in TAC §228.2. Candidates are admitted to the practicum when all admission requirements have been met.

Candidates are required to log a total of 160 practicum hours conducted in authentic school settings in a public or private school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other school approved by the TEA for this purpose.

In addition, each candidate is required to secure a campus mentor.  A campus mentor is a campus principal or designee who will observe and evaluate candidate practicum experiences. The campus mentor holds an administrative/principal certification and is serving in a leadership position at the site where the practicum will be conducted. The mentor will collaborate with candidate to develop practicum plan and action research project for the candidate and will facilitate the completion of the activities outlined in the practicum plan. In addition, the campus mentor will work with Lamar University faculty to ensure that candidate completes program requirements.