Graduate Certificate in Teacher Leadership

Today’s collaborative educational environment yields frequent opportunities for teachers to take on informal and formal leadership roles. To be effective, these positions of responsibility require a unique skill set. The Salem State University Graduate Certificate in Teacher Leadership is an engaging and efficient way of acquiring the framework of theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for success.

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Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Designed to support current and future teacher leaders (e.g., team leaders, specialists, department heads, instructional coaches, curriculum leaders, teacher mentors, and those aspiring to such roles), participants engage in a one-year, four-course sequence. Educators will learn the art of facilitation, professional learning design, data-informed decision making and action research–all competencies needed to effectively serve in informal and formal teacher leadership roles at the school level. Throughout, educators will focus on developing the mindset and stance of a teacher leader.

The core competencies of the program include:

  • Building a simultaneous stance of leader and learner, including the skills needed to “manage up” and lead alongside formal leaders

  • Engaging in field-based leadership work in participants’ schools

  • Providing a theoretical and practical foundation upon which later formal leadership might rest

  • Providing a solid foundation upon which further graduate study can build – specifically, for candidates interested in pursuing licensure as a principal/assistant principal via a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Educational Leadership. 

Each intensive graduate course is approximately seven weeks long. All coursework for the 2025 cohorts will be fully online, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning.

The certificate also offers the option of taking additional courses, for up to 18-credits total, for those interested in pursuing a CAGS degree at a later time, or for those interested in a particular content specialization.

Educational Leadership Program Brochure

View our brochure to find out more about educational leadership programs at Salem State.

Information about Cohorts

We plan to launch at least three cohorts in the fall of 2025, and each will meet virtually. Candidates, in your statement of purpose, please rank your cohort preferences by meeting day (Tuesday online, Wednesday online, and Thursday online). Each cohort will meet only on their dedicated day, across the yearlong program. When applying for fall 2025, please rank your preferences for participation in the four cohorts in your application statement of purpose.

If you have further questions, please reach out to edleadership@salemstate.edu.

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