College of Education Offers New Graduate Certificate in Teacher Leadership

For teachers who are looking to take their career to the next level and start making a bigger difference in their school, ISU’s College of Education created a new online Graduate Certificate in Teacher Leadership. This stand-alone program consists of 12 credits and has the possibility of being completed in as little as a year.

Cory Bennett, Ph.D, professor in the College of Education, played an integral role in the creation of this program.

“Being a teacher leader does not mean you have to be an administrator. Some of the most impactful leaders are still in the classroom. This means there is a need to better serve teachers across the country to help them grow as teacher leaders,” he said. 

This certificate is not for people looking to become principals or work in district offices, but is meant for teachers who are mentoring other teachers, looking outside of the four walls of their classroom, and who are ready to start making systematic impacts in their schools, and thereby their communities. 

This program consists of four courses that provide a more comprehensive approach to teacher leadership, focusing on what teachers can do within their own circle of influence. It is designed with the teacher, school, and community in mind.

“When we have strong schools, we have strong communities,” Bennett said.

Not only is this certificate a great way for teachers to further grow their professional expertise, but the entire certificate can count towards the completion of a Master's of Education degree at ISU.

For admission into the program, students must have documentation of at least one year of teaching experience and must submit a resume or professional vitae. Applications can be done on the Graduate School Admissions page.

For those wishing to advance their career at a more affordable cost, Idaho State University has the lowest cost for graduate programs in the state of Idaho, making it a great place to further their education. And as an online program, it provides the flexibility needed to continue teaching.

For more information, please visit the Teacher Leadership Certificate page on ISU’s website.