Oklahoma First Year Superintendents
First-Year Superintendent Requirements (OAC 210:20-21-1)
The Oklahoma State Board of Education is committed to supporting new district superintendents through high-quality professional development and training. To ensure strong leadership effective management, and excellence in education, all first-time superintendents in Oklahoma must complete the following requirements during their initial year of service.
Certification Requirement
Must hold either a Provisional or Standard School Superintendent Certificate issued by the State Department of Education. Pathways to certification can be found on the OSDE website.
Required Professional Development (11 Days Total)
During the first year, superintendents must attend:
- 1 Day: A regular meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education
- 2 Days: The Oklahoma Administrators' Annual Conference
- 8 Days: State Department of Education professional development seminars throughout the school year, covering:
- Superintendent/Board of Education Relationships
- Legal Issues, School Law & Open Meeting Laws
- Staff Relationships
- Community Engagement
- School Finance
- Plant & Facilities Management
- Setting District and Site Goals
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Important Notes
- Superintendents hired after the summer conference will join the training sequence at the time of employment and must still complete all required sessions.
- Failure to complete the required training within the first year will render the Provisional or Standard Certificate invalid for the second year of employment as a district superintendent.
- A certificate of completion will be issued once all training requriements are met.
First-Year Superintendent Training Authorization Form
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is the primary provider of training for first-year superintendents, offering structured sessions designed to meet program requirements. However, superintendents may occasionally need to make up missed hours or choose to deepen their understanding in specific areas. In these cases, additional approved training opportunities may be available to support continued learning and ensure full program completion.
Organizations interested in offering training for first-year superintendents must submit their sessions for prior approval using the form below. This ensures all external trainings meet OSDE standards and align with the goals of the program.
