Gain the 21st century knowledge and skills necessary to work with school administrators and lead instructional improvement in schools across New York State and the nation.
Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate Online
100% Online Certificate program
About the Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate
The Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate at SUNY Plattsburgh is a 12-credit, 100%
online graduate certificate for certified teachers who want to build instructional
leadership skills, support school administrators and lead improvement initiatives
in their schools. The program is offered by SUNY Plattsburgh’s AAQEP-accredited Education
Department and is designed for working teachers who want to take on leadership roles
without leaving the classroom.
All 12 credits can transfer into SUNY Plattsburgh’s School Building Leader (SBL) Certificate of Advanced Study through a simplified admissions process with no new application fee and no admission deposit. This makes the teacher leadership program a practical first step for educators considering principalship, while also serving as a standalone credential for teachers pursuing instructional coach, department chair, mentor teacher, curriculum specialist or PLC facilitator roles.
The program aligns with New York State Education Department guidelines for educational leaders, Model Teacher Leader Standards, Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) Standards and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards.
Who This Program Is For
The Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate is designed for certified teachers who want to:
- Take on instructional leadership responsibilities without leaving the classroom
- Support their school’s administrators in curriculum and professional development work
- Grow into hybrid roles like instructional coach, department chair, mentor teacher or curriculum specialist
- Build the foundation for future principal or assistant principal roles through the SBL pathway
- Lead professional learning communities and instructional improvement initiatives in their buildings
Teacher Leadership vs. SBL: What’s the Difference?
If you want to become a principal or assistant principal, you need the SBL program. If you want to take on instructional leadership roles while continuing to teach, or if you’re not yet sure about pursuing principalship, the teacher leadership certificate is the right starting point. All 12 teacher leadership credits transfer into the SBL program, so your coursework is not wasted if you decide later to pursue administrative certification.
Career Outcomes & Salary
Graduates of the Teacher Leadership Graduate Certificate pursue a range of instructional leadership roles while remaining in the teaching profession. Common pathways include:
- Instructional coach supporting peer teachers with curriculum, assessment and instructional strategies
- Department chair or grade-level team lead leading a content-area or grade-level team
- Mentor teacher guiding new or early-career teachers through formal mentorship programs
- Curriculum specialist supporting district or building-level curriculum development and review
- Professional learning community (PLC) facilitator leading data-informed collaborative teams
- Teacher leader positions created under school or district leadership pathways
For educators who later decide to pursue principalship, all 12 Teacher Leadership credits transfer into the SUNY Plattsburgh School Building Leader (SBL) C.A.S. program, putting them more than a third of the way toward administrative certification.