An Overview of the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program

  Dr. Matthew Wendt leverages years of experience as a school superintendent as an independent foreign teacher and consultant in China in Shenzhen and Beijing. Prior to his work in China, Mathew Wendt became one of the first superintendents in the nation to receive the National Superintendent Certification.

The National Superintendent Certification is administered by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), a leading voice for public education and school system leaders. For more than 150 years, the AASA has represented educational leaders. Today, it represents more than 13,000 educational professionals.

In addition to advocacy, the AASA supports school leaders through educational programs and professional enhancement initiatives like the National Superintendent Certification. The certification program provides early career superintendents and those looking to enhance their skill sets with a comprehensive curriculum that includes dynamic, in-person sessions, a capstone project, and one-on-one mentoring. Moreover, each certified individual receives access to professional networks within the AASA community.

For additional information on the National Superintendent Certification, visit www.aasa.org.

The Qualities of a Great Leader

Former school district superintendent Matthew Wendt has always believed that leading by example is the best approach. The youngest superintendent in Kansas State history, Matthew Wendt is now a foreign principal in Shenzhen, China, where he puts his skills to use to create international partnerships and development. Here are the main qualities that make a great superintendent.

1. Having a clear vision is at the top of the list. Good school district leaders should have the ability to work with school boards to arrive at a cohesive vision. Furthermore, they need the experience and wherewithal to link that vision to clear goals and work toward them.

2. Teaching is at the core of everything that a school leader does. To create the best learning environment, a good leader should be well versed in the best educational methods and practices.

3. As in any other field, communication is key. A school district leader is often called on to mediate all manner of disputes, including sometimes even being the district liaison with the media. Having good written and verbal communication skills is essential for the job.

4. Finally, a good district leader is a good manager. At the end of the day, the job is to use a limited amount of resources in the most efficient way possible.

NAACP Lawyers Advance Racial Justice

Previously the superintendent of schools in Oswego, Illinois, Dr. Matthew Wendt now serves as a teacher, principal, and consultant at a number of Chinese schools. Former superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt has also been a presenter at meetings of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Founded in 1909 in response to racial violence, the NAACP worked to dismantle segregation through a series of court cases. An attorney named Charles Hamilton Houston litigated many of these cases, aided by Thurgood Marshall, who was later named the first African American justice in the U. S. Supreme Court.

Starting in 1896, blacks were separated from whites in schools and other facilities by the “separate but equal” ruling of the court. The NAACP commissioned a study in the 1930s that showed that black facilities were not equal to white ones. Houston demanded that black schools be upgraded to white standards, believing this would prove too expensive for segregated states.

This strategy enabled a series of victories, as whites-only primaries were abolished in the South, followed by the desegregation of public transport and the removal of restrictive covenants from white bankers.

After winning access for African Americans to graduate and professional schools, Marshall argued the Supreme Court should strike down the separate but equal doctrine. His success in 1954 led to federal guarantees of black voting rights and fair housing. Today, the NAACP continues to fight on several fronts, such as against white supremacy, discrimination, and the suppression of voting rights.

AASA Membership Categories and Benefits

American Association of School Administrators
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Former superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt currently works as an overseas principal and consultant for international schools in Beijing and Shenzhen, China. With more than 20 years as a school administrator (including as a superintendent), Dr. Matthew Wendt leverages his experience and knowledge in the field. He is also a member of several professional associations, such as the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

There are seven membership categories available on the AASA website. Basic membership is for teachers, graduate students, or anyone who is employed in non-administrative positions and would like to pursue a career as a school system leader. Meanwhile, anyone who is retired as a school administrator can apply for the retired membership. The dues for both basic and retired membership are $77.

The associate, district cabinet, and professor membership dues are $204, while the small-school district leader membership dues are $230. Active membership typically caters to superintendents and assistant or deputy superintendents, whose dues are $460.

AASA members benefit from access to several services, depending on the membership category. These include legal support, a team of education consultants who provide training, print and digital issues of the award-winning magazine “School Administrator,” certifications, and several professional learning programs. Other benefits include networking opportunities, such as participation in conferences and meetings.