Educational Leadership Executive Coaching Certification Program
Your Leadership. Multiplied.
Every superintendent who ever took this job did it because something pulled them toward it — a belief, deep and unshakeable, that public education changes lives. You weren't just managing systems. You were protecting the promise that every child, in every community, deserves a high-quality experience that prepares them for college, career, and real life in the real world.
That promise doesn't retire when your tenure ends. Neither does the coaching you were already doing. Every career conversation redirected, every leader developed, every question asked at exactly the right moment.
The AASA-ASU Educational Leadership Executive Coaching Certification Program makes that work intentional, scalable, and credentialed.
This new AASA-ASU Certification prepares coaches to:
Deliver high-quality coaching grounded in AASA's national standards for superintendent leadership
Apply future-oriented frameworks to help leaders think beyond current constraints and toward what their district could become
Use possibilities-thinking to push past incremental change toward transformational impact
Draw on AI-supported tools and methods from ASU's AI Possibilities Lab
Coach superintendents through adaptive decision-making and the complexity of leading public systems
Bring coherence, innovation, and foresight into the conversations that shape district leadership
Coaches who earn this credential become certified executive coaches and join the roster we turn to when districts, organizations, and leaders are looking for coaching grounded in real superintendent-level experience.
This certification program is designed for retired, transitioning, or active superintendents ready to formalize their coaching practice and expand their impact beyond a single district.
Coaches who earn this credential become certified executive coaches and join the roster we turn to when districts, organizations, and leaders are looking for coaching grounded in real superintendent-level experience.
The AASA-ASU Educational Leadership Executive Coaching Certification Program is the only national coaching credential designed specifically for the realities of public education leadership.
2026 - 2027 Schedule
Virtual Meeting Schedule
This certification is completed over 9–12 months and includes a series of required virtual sessions. Schedule TBD.
In-Person Meeting Schedule
October 28 - 30, 2026: The program launches in person at the Possibilities Summit at ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Participants are required to attend October 28 – 29 and remain through October 30 for a dedicated program launch meeting.
Does the certification expire?
Your AASA-ASU Executive Coaching Certification will not expire. Once you earn it, you hold it.
Over time, Âܲ·AVÊÓƵwill offer additional micro-courses for coaches who want to stay current in an evolving field. While continuing coursework is not required to maintain your certification, it does matter for marketability. When districts are looking for a coach, they want to know you're actively engaged in the work. Think of your certification as the foundation and ongoing learning as what keeps you sharp and competitive.
How long does the program take to complete?
The program is completed over 9–12 months and includes a combination of required virtual sessions and an in-person launch at Arizona State University. The cohort kicks off October 28–30, 2026 at the Possibilities Summit at ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
What makes this program different from other coaching certifications?
This is the only national executive coaching credential built specifically for the realities of public education leadership. It's not a general coaching program adapted for educators, it's built from the ground up for superintendents, integrating AASA's standards for superintendent leadership, possibilities-thinking frameworks, and AI-supported tools from ASU's AI Possibilities Lab.
Do I need prior coaching experience or training?
No formal coaching credential is required to apply. Applicants must be current or former superintendents — that experience is the prerequisite.
Program Leads
Partner
Details
October 28, 2026 to September 30, 2027
$7,500
Member Price
$9,000
Non-Member Price
Not a member? Join today.
Apply TodayContact
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Debbie Magee
Director, Leadership Network
AASA, Âܲ·AVÊÓƵ
703-875-0716
Lead with Possibility.
The Educational Leadership Executive Coaching Certification Program will kick off in-person at the Possibilities Summit, hosted by Âܲ·AVÊÓƵand ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
This learning experience will bring together possibilities thinking, AI, and ASU's Principled Innovation® framework to help superintendents and their teams plan boldly and lead with purpose.
Registration opens soon!
