Online Post-Bachelor's Certificate in Community-Engaged School Leadership

The part-time, Online Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Community-Engaged School Leadership program at UNC Greensboro is intended for stakeholders in K-12 schools or who wish to get involved in K-12 schools. It is designed for individuals who endeavor to contribute to and enhance the lives of youth and communities, especially those that are situated in challenging socioeconomic contexts.

Research consistently shows that schools need strong community support systems to succeed and thrive. This P.B.C. helps future leaders channel their personal interests into service. Students learn the ways that communities and K-12 educational institutions engage or should engage collaboratively. Upon completion, they will feel empowered to act as agents of change in their local institutions.

The Online Certificate in Community-Engaged School Leadership Student Experience

The online P.B.C. in Community Engaged School Leadership supports the development of future leaders who want to build strong, beneficial ties between K-12 schools and communities. The program is fully online, ensuring flexibility for working students and time to complete assignments outside regular school hours.

Students take four courses (12 credits). They must take two required classes:

• Power, Politics, and Schools
• Culturally Responsive School Leadership

They will choose two electives, such as:

• Engaging the Public in Education
• Cultural and Political Dimensions of Schooling
• Critical Perspectives in Education, Leadership, and Culture
• Teaching Social Justice
• Passionate Pedagogies
• Democracy in Education

The Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations helps students find internships, field-based projects and many opportunities to work with members of the local community.

Annual conferences hosted by the School of Education allow students to engage with community leaders and hold open dialogues about topical issues, school environments, and experimental instruction.

After Receiving a Certificate in Community-Engaged School Leadership

This certificate program is well-suited to someone working in areas such as community engagement, family-school partnerships, youth development, nonprofit education, advocacy, educational outreach, student support, or community-based leadership who wants graduate-level preparation without necessarily pursuing the principalship.

Graduates of this online program will leave with a better understanding of how to best work with and serve children and their families. The Community-Engaged School Leadership certificate is beneficial to the following careers:

• Community organizers
• Development and service organization board members
• Program evaluators
• K-12 educators, principals, and administrators