Do you want to help students and have a more significant impact on their future? If you are a teacher, you are already on a great track. Do you have a lot of experience teaching and leading fellow educators?
Becoming a school superintendent might be a good option for you. This is a career that you have to work towards and get lots of experience to do it. Here is a guide on how to become a superintendent in New Jersey.
1. Career Path
The career path of every superintendent is different. However, school superintendents should generally have the following qualifications:
- Education bachelor’s degree (4 years)
- Teaching experience (2-3 years)
- Master’s degree in education (2 years)
- Administrative or supervisory role experience (3-5 years)
The experience required to become a superintendent and run a school district is typically developed over 11-14 years between all of these requirements.
2. Experience
Being a school superintendent means that you will be in charge of many people. You have to have a minimum of five years of successful school experience. You can do this by being a teacher and working your way up to become a principal. With this experience, you will be able to pass a state-approved test to get a School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility.
The School Administrator Certificate gives you the ability to apply for specific New Jersey school district positions. Those positions include superintendent, assistant superintendent, and director with district-wide responsibilities.
3. Accept an offer of employment
Once you have your School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility, you can accept an offer of employment from your chosen school district. Then you need to request a Provisional School Administrator Certificate from the New Jersey Department of Education. Your hiring school district will then submit an application to the Provisional Licensure Registration Management System (PLRMS) for you through the New Jersey Department of Education. A temporary certificate must be issued before you can start your residency period.
As a result of successful completion of the 12 month New Jersey School Administrators Residency Program, including active participation in six sessions of the New Superintendents’ Academy and completion of the requirements of the Individualized Residency Plan, the New Jersey Department of Education can issue the Standard School Administrator Certificate.
4. Lead your district
It is not an easy or short road to become a superintendent. However, once you achieve it, the job is very rewarding. Aside from hiring principals, visiting different schools, and handling the district budget, you can take on big projects that may have a more significant impact on education.
Generally, skills that a school district looks for in their superintendent are, leadership, strategic thinking, problem solving, communication, community relations, interpersonal skills, and supervisory skills. If you are looking for a position as a school superintendent in New Jersey, check out our job postings to see if one is the right fit for you.
K12jobsNJ advertises education jobs in New Jersey. Create a free account to see what's available. Check out the career advice section for tips on improving your resume, cover letter, or interview skills. Sign up now to receive new job alerts by text message!