School District Leader Advanced Certificate

The SDL Advanced Certificate program is designed for candidates seeking to become administrators at the district level (superintendents).

Do you want to become a superintendent?

This 12-hour program includes coursework in negotiations, superintendency, and central office leadership. New York SDL certification requires these 12 hours and 60 total graduate credits.

The SDL certificate program offers two formats:

a hybrid option featuring online instruction complemented by three in-person Saturday sessions per semester;
a 100% online option

With the permission of the program director, up to three (3) credit hours may be transferred into this program.

Upon completion of the School District Leader program at St. Bonaventure University, graduates will be educational leaders who have:

the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a school or district vision of learning supported by the school community;
the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by promoting a positive school culture, providing an effective instructional program, applying best practice to student learning, and designing comprehensive professional growth plans for staff;
the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by managing the organization, operations, and resources in a way that promotes a safe efficient and effective learning environment;
the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by collaborating with families and other community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources;
the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairly, and in an ethical manner;
the knowledge and ability to promote the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.

Advanced Certificate – School Building Leader (SBL)
Advanced Certificate – School District Leader (SDL)

Offered through St. Bonaventure’s Educational Leadership program, the School Building Leader (SBL) certificate prepares experienced school personnel to take on a leadership position, in particular the role of school principal, in a public or private school in New York state. Students entering the SBL program are, without exception, working school teachers or counselors.

The School District Leader (SDL) certificate is the credential required for those seeking to lead a school district in New York state. St. Bonaventure requires entrants to the SDL program to have completed the coursework for the SBL certification. Students entering the SDL are working school personnel — teachers, counselors or principals.

Some students earning the SBL/SDL certificate will serve a school in administrative positions other than principal or superintendent, e.g., director of special education, curriculum coordinator or athletic director. Similarly, students earning the SBL/SDL may find employment with an agency that serves schools — a regional Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), for example.

Helpful websites
Excellent information on the SBL and SDL professions is available on the School Administrators Association of New York State website.

An excellent overview of careers in educational administration, including the outlook for jobs, wages, work settings and skills required, is available at O*NET Online.

Federal Gainful Employment Disclosure

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants who do not hold a graduate degree are required to take a GRE or MAT test.

Bynoe has book chapter accepted, gives presentation

Feb 24, 2023 | Dr. Tyrone Bynoe, associate professor of education and director of educational leadership (advanced school supervisory preparation), has had a proposal accepted to author a chapter in an emerging book titled "Wellness Through Mentoring Within a Continuum of School Leadership Preparation." (In Kutsyuruba, B. & Kochan, F., Eds.. Mentoring for Wellbeing in Schools, Information Age Publishing.)

Bynoe submits manuscript, to serve as conference presenter

Dec 09, 2022 | Dr. Tyrone Bynoe, associate professor of education and director of the educational leadership program, has submitted a book manuscript for publication: "The Essentials of Finance for School Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Problem-solving and Meeting Challenges;" Bynoe, T., Bounds, S. & Martinez, D.G. (Rowman & Littlefield).

Bynoe notes recent publications, presents at world symposium

Nov 18, 2022 | Dr. Tyrone Bynoe, associate professor of education and director of the educational leadership program, reports recent publications and his participation at two professional conferences during fall semester 2022.

Bynoe submits works, presents, and completes training program

Oct 23, 2021 | Dr. Tyrone Bynoe, associate professor and director of the educational leadership program, is awaiting publication of the three works. He also presented a paper, virtually, at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, and has accepted a scholarship to participate in a program in Louisiana.

Dr. Latoya Pierce named School of Education interim dean at St. Bonaventure University

Jul 06, 2021 | Dr. Latoya Pierce has been named interim dean of the School of Education at St. Bonaventure University. She replaces Dr. Lisa Buenaventura, who retired May 31.

St. Bonaventure University graduates inducted into education honor society Kappa Delta Pi

May 19, 2021 | Thirty-two St. Bonaventure University students who earned graduate and undergraduate degrees this year were inducted into the university’s Xi Nu chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, in a virtual ceremony held May 14.

Area school teachers, administrators invited to Zoom events on rural education

Oct 27, 2020 | Teachers, administrators and parents from area school districts are invited to a pair of Zoom webinars focusing on strategies for rural school districts.

St. Bonaventure’s Educational Leadership graduate programs now available fully online

Jun 15, 2020 | St. Bonaventure University’s Educational Leadership graduate programs are now available fully online.

Stump presents paper at global leadership conference in Canada

Oct 31, 2019 | Dr. J. Douglas Stump, assistant professor of educational leadership, presented a paper Oct. 24 at the International Leadership Association's Global Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Tyrone Bynoe

Program Director

Associate Professor of Education

(716) 375-2363

Send an email

Plassmann Hall B42

Matthew Retchless

Director of Graduate Admissions

(716) 375-2021

Send an email

P.O. Box 2520

Administration Building