Tifton, Georgia — Tift County Schools is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Valdosta State University to launch a district-wide cohort for school system employees who are seeking leadership certification and degree programs. This initiative aims to cultivate internal leadership talent, fostering a "grow-your-own" approach to developing future school assistant principals, principals and district leaders.
Through this partnership, a cohort of up to 25 teacher-leaders and staff will have the opportunity to engage in a 12 or 18 month program in Educational Leadership, designed to blend academic theory with real-world district challenges. Tift County School teachers who already have a Master’s degree will have the opportunity to gain their leadership certification add-on and those with a Bachelor’s degree can complete a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership; both of these programs will be cohorts of Tift County Employees taught in a Tift county facility reducing the need for our staff to travel to Valdosta weekly for their classes.
Christina Robitzsch, Director of Human Resources, explains “Tift County Schools has about 65 positions that are classified as administrative positions across building and system level positions. As of 25-26, 40% of individuals filling those roles have 25 years or more of service in education, which means they are within 5 years of being eligible for retirement. As such, we can anticipate there will be large turnover in our leadership positions in the next few years.”
Superintendent Natalie Gore explains, “ to ensure the long-term success of our school system, we must ensure we have a robust pipeline of future leaders." Mrs. Gore explains, "This collaboration allows us to address specific systemic challenges and strengthen the leadership capacity within our schools."
"Valdosta State University’s Educational Leadership program, in conjunction with the Tift County School System, is taking steps to provide educators with the opportunity to acquire leadership certification in an abbreviated period. VSU hopes this program will serve to enhance one’s ability to acquire educational leadership certification" said Mike Bochenko, Educational Leadership Program Coordinator at Valdosta State University.
Tift County Schools is currently soliciting interested staff and, if the numbers are sufficient to support the program, VSU anticipates the Tift Leadership cohort will begin classes in the Fall of 2026.
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