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Most PSS principals lack certification
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Posted on Aug 17 2008
The new school year nears with only four Public School System principals meeting the requirement to obtain an Administrators Certificate—a hiring requirement amended in 2006.
Four principals and one vice principal hold the certification, said Ramon Diaz, acting PSS Commissioner and acting Human Resources Director.
“As far as we know, all our records show that only five have certifications,” he said.
The remaining permanent and acting principals are actively working toward obtaining the certification, Diaz said.
Principals who were in the school system before the requirement was amended were grandfathered in, Diaz said. Acting principals must show proof they are working toward the certificate.
“It’s always a difficult situation when you change policy,” Diaz said. “We have to be fair but ultimately hold them accountable.”
PSS will continue to support the principals and vice principals in the system who do not currently have the certification, “so long as we’re seeing good faith effort,” Diaz said.
“We do not abandon them,” he said. “We need them to stay focused on reaching our goals.”
The timeframe for completion of the certification is different for each principal, he said. In some cases, principals might just be lacking one or two courses, Diaz said.
Ultimately, Diaz said, the academic certification requirement makes principals and vice principals better suited to run schools.
The four principals who attained the certification received it in the last year, he said. No principal in PSS held the certification before the amendment was passed.
Diaz said PSS is currently finalizing principal placements for the 2008-2009 school year.
According to the job vacancy announcement, level I, II, and III principals must hold a master’s degree with a major in educational administration or related field; a minimum of six years experience; three years teaching and three years of successful experience as a school administrator or related leadership management field; and possess a valid CNMI Administrators Certificate. Candidates must also pass Praxis I and Praxis II Content Knowledge tests.
