According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a consistent need for educational leaders in the U.S. They project about 22,100 openings for elementary, middle and high school principals each year, on average, over the decade.

Principal Certificate and Supervisor of Special Education:

1. Collaboratively lead, design and implement a school mission, vision and process for continuous improvement that reflects a core set of values and priorities that include data use, technology, equity, diversity, digital citizenship, and community (NELP Building Level Standard 1, 2018).
2. Understand and demonstrate the capacity to advocate for ethical decisions and cultivate and enact professional norms (NELP Building Level Standard 2, 2018).
3. Develop and maintain a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive and inclusive school culture (NELP Building Level Standard 3).
4. Evaluate, develop and implement coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, data systems, supports and assessment (NELP Building Level Standard 4, 2018).
5. Engage families, community and school personnel in order to strengthen student learning, support school improvement and advocate for the needs of their school and community (NELP Building Level Standard 5, 2018).
6. Improve management, communication, technology, school-level governance and operation systems to develop and improve data-informed and equitable school resource plans and to apply laws, policies and regulations (NELP Building Level Standard 6, 2018).
7. Build the school’s professional capacity, engage staff in the development of a collaborative professional culture and improve systems of staff supervision, evaluation, support and professional learning (NELP Building Level Standard 7, 2018).
8. Complete an internship under the supervision of knowledgeable, expert practitioners that engages candidates in multiple and diverse school settings and provides candidates with coherent, authentic and sustained opportunities to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills identified in NELP standards 1–7 in ways that approximate the full range of responsibilities required of building-level leaders and enable them to promote the current and future success and well-being of each student and adult in their school (NELP Building Level Standard 8, 2018).

Superintendent Letter:

1. Mission, Vision and Improvement: Collaboratively lead, design and implement a district mission, vision and process for continuous improvement that reflects a core set of values and priorities that include data use, technology, values, equity, diversity, digital citizenship and community. (NELP District Level Standard 1, 2018)
2. Ethics and Professional Norms: Advocate for ethical decisions and cultivate professional norms and culture. (NELP District Level Standard 2, 2018)
3. Equity, Inclusiveness and Cultural Responsiveness: Develop and maintain a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive and inclusive district culture. (NELP District Level Standard 3, 2018)
4. Learning and Instruction: Evaluate, design, cultivate and implement coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, supports, assessment and instructional leadership. (NELP District Level Standard 4, 2018)
5. Community and External Leadership: Understand and engage families, communities, and other constituents in the work of schools and the district and to advocate for district, student and community needs. (NELP District Level Standard 5, 2018)
6. Operations and Management: Develop, monitor, evaluate and manage district systems for operations, resources, technology and human capital management. (NELP District Level Standard 6, 2018)
7. Policy Governance and Advocacy: Cultivate relationships, lead collaborative decision-making and governance, and represent and advocate for district needs in broader policy conversations. (NELP District Level Standard 7, 2018)
8. Internship: Complete an internship under the supervision of knowledgeable, expert practitioners that engages candidates in multiple and diverse district settings and provides candidates with coherent, authentic and sustained opportunities to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills identified in NELP Standards 1–7 in ways that approximate the full range of responsibilities required of district-level leaders and enable them to promote the current and future success and well-being of each student and adult in their district. (NELP District Level Standard 8, 2018).