How Do I Become a Deputy Superintendent?

A deputy superintendent is a professional who helps to lead various aspects of a school district in the absence of a regular school superintendent or when the superintendent instructs him or her to do so. The deputy superintendent essentially reports to the main superintendent. This person must have strong communication skills for working with multiple staff members and be self-directed. An individual who wishes to become a deputy superintendent should complete six years of post-secondary education and acquire hands-on training in this field.

To become a deputy superintendent, you need to complete a two-year master’s degree in a field such as educational leadership or education administration. To get into this type of degree program, you must have a four-year bachelor’s degree in a related area such as education. As part of the admissions process, you typically have to submit recommendation letters and transcripts of undergraduate work, in addition to filling out an enrollment application and writing a statement about your goal to become a deputy superintendent.

While in a graduate-level training program for aspiring education administrators, you will take courses that will teach you how to operate a school district successfully. For instance, classes cover how to choose curricula for students and how to develop and use a budget, which are duties that you must master if you want to become a deputy superintendent. In addition, you should study school law and community relations to learn how to work with parents and to manage a school district in accordance with established government and school corporation standards.

Gaining real-world experience and seeking industry licensure also are important steps to becoming a school system leader. You should search for internship opportunities that allow you to establish school district policies and objectives as well as supervise teachers. In addition, you need to practice leading school board meetings, responding to collective bargaining issues, and allocating school district funds in line with the district’s goals. Acquiring this type of experience under the supervision of a mentor prepares you to become a deputy superintendent and makes you eligible for licensure if required in your region.

Although a graduate degree makes you eligible to lead an entire school district, employers usually look for people who first have experience teaching or leading individual schools. Becoming a teacher requires that you earn a four-year bachelor’s degree in education. Being able to lead a school involves earning a master’s degree in education administration — the same type of degree that deputy superintendents must earn.