You’re an educator, but so much more. You’re a devoted public servant, a fierce advocate for children, and a committed activist for quality PreK-12 education throughout the state. You’ve spent the first part of your career on the front lines as a tireless educator, but now you’re ready to make the move into administration and take your career in education to a whole new level.
It’s an exciting time in Arkansas to begin a new pursuit as a principal or superintendent. In fact, there’s no better time than now to get in on the ground floor of what is gearing up to be a renaissance in Arkansas’ educational system. In March 2023, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced her Arkansas LEARNS plan for education reform, calling it “the most substantial overhaul of our state’s education system in Arkansas history…”
Aimed at pumping money and resources into the educational system, the LEARNS plan includes, among a host of things, increasing minimum salaries for educators and providing schools with more resources to improve literacy and career preparedness. Becoming a principal or superintendent will allow you to continue to make a difference in Arkansas, but in new and exciting ways.
Whether you’re seeking a master’s, educational specialist, or doctorate degree, a graduate degree will allow you to gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need to become an administrator in Arkansas and continue your career-long commitment to the state’s educational system.
How to Become a Principal in Arkansas – School-level Educational Leadership
To become a principal in Arkansas, you’ll need to earn a Building Level Administrator license (P-12) through the Arkansas Department of Education.
To become a principal in Arkansas, you’ll need a current Standard/Advanced Level Arkansas teaching license. You’ll also need to show proof of at least three years of experience as a licensed classroom teacher, school counselor, or library media specialist.
Once you have these qualifications, you’ll be ready to take the steps necessary to become a principal in Arkansas.
Step 1. Earn a Master’s Degree or Higher and Complete an Administrator Preparation Program
Most graduate programs leading to a Building Level Administrator license in Arkansas are part of an administrator preparation program that’s offered through an Arkansas college or university. These programs must be CAEP-accredited (or NCATE-accredited for schools still holding that designation) that includes both an internship and a portfolio.
Administrator graduate degree programs are designed as master’s, educational specialist, or doctoral programs, such as:
- Strategic leadership
- Instructional leadership
- Climate and cultural leadership
- Ethical leadership
- Organizational leadership
- Community engagement leadership
Step 3. Apply for a Building Level Administrator License with the Arkansas Department of Education
In addition to completing the application for licensure, you’ll need to provide proof that you have met the experience requirements and that you have passed the School Leaders Licensure assessment.
Step 4. Complete an Arkansas Beginning Administrator Induction/Mentoring program
As a beginning administrator (no prior experience as an administrator), you must receive mentoring/induction support during the first three years of your employment as a principal.
This support is in partnership with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA). During years two and three, you may attend the regionally organized Professional Learning Network for new administrators, which features a blend of in-person and virtual learning experiences.
Step 5. Maintain Your Building Level Administrator License
All Building-Level Administrator Licenses must be renewed every five years. To maintain your license, you’ll need to meet specific annual development requirements that include training in data disaggregation, instructional leadership, and fiscal management.
School Principal Salary and Jobs in Arkansas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), principals in Arkansas earned a median salary of $77,680 as of May 2021. Some of the highest paid principals in Arkansas earned about $94,120 during this time.
While most metro areas of Arkansas reported median salaries in the mid- to upper-$70,000s for principals, those in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro area earned significantly more, at $94,380.
How to Become a Superintendent in Arkansas – District-Level Educational Leadership
To become an assistant/associate superintendent, deputy superintendent, or superintendent in Arkansas, you’ll need to earn a District Level Administrator license through the Arkansas Department of Education.
You’ll need a current Standard/Advanced Level Arkansas teaching license, along with an Arkansas Standard Building Level Administrator license or an Arkansas Standard Curriculum/Program Administrator License to become a superintendent in Arkansas.
You’ll also need to show proof of at least three years of teaching experience AND at least one year of experience as a licensed Building Level Administrator or Curriculum/Program Administrator.
Once you have this experience behind you, you can begin taking the steps necessary to become a superintendent in Arkansas.
Step 1. Earn a Master’s Degree or Higher and Complete an Administrator Preparation Program
Most programs leading to a District Level Administrator license in Arkansas are part of an administrator preparation program that’s offered through an Arkansas college or university. These programs must be CAEP-accredited (or NCATE-accredited for schools still holding that designation) and include both an internship and a portfolio.
Administrator graduate degree programs are designed as master’s, educational specialist, or doctoral programs, such as:
- MEd Educational Leadership
- EdS Educational Administration/Superintendent program
- EdS Educational Leadership – Superintendent
- EdS Educational Administration & Supervision
- EdD Educational Leadership
- EdD Leadership & Innovation
If you hold a master’s degree or higher, you may also choose to complete a graduate certificate leading to licensure as a District Level Administrator. These programs are designed to build upon your previous knowledge and provide you with an accelerated course of study leading to an administrator license in Arkansas.
Step 2. Take and Pass the School Superintendent Assessment
Educational Testing Service (ETS) develops and produces the School Leadership Series Assessments. The School Superintendent Assessment, which can be taken online or at a testing center near you, will test your knowledge on the following topics:
- Strategic leadership
- Instructional leadership
- Climate and cultural leadership
- Ethical and policy leadership
- Organizational leadership
- Community leadership
- Integrated knowledge and understanding
Step 3. Apply for a District Level Administrator License with the Arkansas Department of Education
You’ll need a District Level Administrator license to work as a superintendent, an assistant/associate superintendent, or a deputy superintendent. You’ll also need to show proof that you have at least three years of teaching experience AND at least one year of experience as a licensed Building Level Administrator or Curriculum/Program Administrator as part of the application process.
Superintendent Salary and Jobs in Arkansas
According to the BLS, superintendents in Arkansas earned about $98,870 as of May 2021. The BLS also reported that the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro area had the highest average salaries for superintendents at $118,960, followed by the Little Rock metro area, at $101,880.
The Fayetteville and Little Rock metro areas also reported the highest number of superintendents, at 450 and 630, respectively.
The largest school district within the Fayetteville metro area is Fayetteville Public Schools, which includes 15 schools and about 8,400 students.
Educational Leadership Degree Options in Arkansas: Doctorate and Master’s in Educational Leadership
The number of principal and superintendent jobs in Arkansas is projected to rise by 8.7% in the years leading up to 2030. During this time, the state should see about 180 new job openings annually due to a blend of new job growth, retirements, and normal job turnover. There may be no better time to transition from educator to administrator in Arkansas! But first you’ll need to earn the graduate degree that will get you where you want to be.
You’ll find an outstanding variety of master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral programs, both in Arkansas and out of state, that are designed to prepare you to become a licensed principal or superintendent. Many of these programs are offered through convenient online formats and many offer flexible start dates that make earning your grad degree and progressing to an administrator role easier and more accessible than ever.
Harding University
Cannon-Clary College of Education
Accreditation: HLC
Campus
M.Ed in Educational Leadership
- Concentration: Principal
Also offers:
Ed.D in Educational Leadership
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2023.