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School and District Leadership Examination Preparation Program

This is a self-directed program of study to prepare you to be successful on the School Building and School District Leader Examinations. The instructors have been NYS examination assessors who will, through a series of pre-recorded, self-directed training-module videos and print materials provide you insight into successfully responding to selected and extended response questions, including reasons for responding in a particular way to each question.

 

How It Works

The test prep seminar is a series of prerecorded training-module videos with accompanying print materials that becomes a virtual self-study preparation program.  You will have access to the materials 24-7 for 12 daysalong with a live Q & A session near the end of the study period.  The materials include 9 prerecorded training module videos, one on each examination question along with 3 prerecorded videoson scheduling your exams, differences between new and older versions of the SBL exam, and how to maneuver the NYSTCE website. Near the end of the study cycle, we conduct a live Q&A session on Zoom. The Zoom address is found in the classroom materials.

We strongly urge participants to download and print all handouts prior to viewing each prerecorded video so that you can take notes on what you saw.  (Don’t forget that you can play the videos more than once!)

Other Things of Importance
  • You can come and go as often as you want over the 12-day study period.  Participants who have completed the preparation program have indicated that they felt comfortable spending 6-7 hours over the 12-day period studying the videos. 
  • When registering for the program, it is important to use an email account that will NOT send registration materials to spam!  
New vs. Old

As a result of the March 2021 Regents action, the SBL exam forms 107/108 will continue to be available for another year along with the new version of the SBL examination (form 109/110).  Both forms are very compatible. You may choose which combination to take.  The test preparation program of study encompasses materials for both forms of the examination.

 

The Exams

The School Building Leader examination review includes:

Part 1

  • Extended Response/Performance Task (Instructional Leadership)
  • Extended Response/Performance Task (School Climate)
  • Extended Response/Performance Task (Family and Community)
  • Selected Response — Short Answer Questions

Part 2

  • Extended Response/Performance Task (Teacher Observation & Personnel)
  • Extended Response/Performance Task (Leading Human Capital)
  • Extended Response/Performance Task (Family and Community Engagement)
  • Selected Response — Short Answer Questions
The School District Leader examination review includes:

Part 1

  • Extended Performance Tasks (Developing)
  • Extended Performance Tasks (Sustaining an Educational Vision)
  • Extended Performance Tasks (Supervising Districtwide Change & Accountability)
  • Selected Response — Short Answer Questions

Part 2

  • Extended Performance Tasks (Developing) 
  • Extended Performance Tasks (Communicating and Sustaining an Educational Vision)
  • Extended Performance Tasks (Supervising Districtwide Change & Accountability)
  • Selected Response — Short Answer Questions

 

The Course Materials

Preparing for Educational Leadership Book Cover
Preparing for Educational Leadership, 4th Edition 

Dr. Kenneth Forman and Mr. Jeffrey Soloff, authors

 

The Instructors

Kenneth Forman

Dr. Kenneth Forman

Dr. Kenneth Forman is the assistant director and lecturer in the Educational Leadership Program at Stony Brook University.  He is the author of Preparing for Educational Leadership, 4th Edition, published by Pearson to help candidates prepare for SBL/SDL licensing examinations. He has been an educational leader for over 40 years working in NYC and Long Island.

Terrance O'Connor

Dr. Terrance O'Connor

Dr. Terrance O’Connor is a lecturer in the Educational Leadership Program at Stony Brook University as well as several other post-graduate programs. He has worked as a consultant and educational leader in a number of school districts as well as BOCES in a variety of leadership roles.

 

The Schedule

School District Leader (SDL) and School Building Leader (SBL) Exam Preparations

NCE 225 •  Fee: $199  •  100% Online  

Academic Year 2022-23

NCE 225.50 Thursday, October 27  through Monday, November 7, 2022. Registration closes: October 23.

NCE 225.60 Thursday, January 19  through Monday, January 30, 2023. Registration closes:  January 15.

NCE 225.70 Thursday, March 30  through Monday, April 10, 2023. Registration closes: March 26.

NCE 225.80 Thursday, May 25 through Monday, June 5, 2023. Registration closes: May 21.

Register Now

 

The Results

I can't express how grateful I am for their insights, and tips on how to do well on the assessments. Here is the truth: I know I wouldn't have done as well on the exams had I not taken the classes with them. I will be appointed as an Assistant Principal within the next two months!"  
– Roger Ball LMSW, PhD 

Contact Us

Registration and Scheduling Information
Career Development Programs
careerdevelopment_spd@stonybrook.edu
631-632-7022