The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Leadership Institute celebrated its latest cohort to receive Preliminary Administrative Services Program (PASCP) Credentials at a ceremony on June 27. Held at the SCOE Conference Center, 54 aspiring education leaders were recognized for completing the one-year, intensive program.
Authorized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the program allows graduates to apply for site administrator, vice-principal, and other school administration positions. It includes six foundational courses that provide leadership theory, practical skills, and coaching support.
Thirty-five of the graduates participated in satellite programs in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Another 17 were part of the master’s program at National University. Many of this year’s cohort have already accepted offers for administrative positions.
SCOE Deputy Superintendent Nancy Herota, Ed.D., helped recognize the future education leaders, challenging them to lead with awareness. “Step out of your office. Walk your campus. Connect. Listen. Notice the needs and the strengths around you,” she encouraged them. “Every day is a new opportunity to make a difference.”
The 2025 ceremony also marked a transition in leadership, with L. Steven Winlock, Ed.D. (the founding Executive Director of the SCOE School of Education) celebrating retirement. His guidance helped the School of Education, which launched in 2014, grow into a vibrant hub that prepares educators to lead with heart and vision in classrooms across the county. Stepping into the role will be Shanine Coats, SCOE’s current Director of Strategic Initiatives, who spearheaded efforts to encourage education and mental health career pathways through the Career Pipeline initiative.
About the Leadership Institute and the School of Education
The Leadership Institute, which is part of the SCOE School of Education, prepares aspiring administrators to become highly qualified education leaders. It also helps train newly appointed administrators (with one or two years of experience), continuing administrators (with three or more years of experience), and established district administrators.
SCOE’s School of Education has three divisions:
- The “Teaching” division includes the Teacher Induction Program, the Teacher Intern Program, and the Teacher Residency Program.
- The “Leading” division includes the Leadership Institute and the SCOE 21CSLA program.
- The “Technical Support” division offers teacher residency support through SRTAC.
For information about the SCOE School of Education, call (916) 228-2538.