Supporting Data-Driven Education

Supporting Data-Driven Education with Dr. Jason Kissoon

Every day Dr. Jason Kissoon makes data-driven decisions to support  students with disabilities, a skill he honed in Longwood’s Educational Leadership Endorsement. In his current position as assistant principal at the John G. Wood School at the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, Kissoon helps students receive specialized instruction and trauma-informed care.

“I believe all students can learn if given the appropriate tools and resources,” he explained. Originally, Kissoon had planned to be a teacher.

However, after successfully assuming a number of leadership roles and hearing praise for Longwood from his colleagues, he realized that the endorsement might just be the perfect fit.

“I decided that being an education leader would give me an opportunity to assist students in a different capacity,” Kissoon explained.

Kissoon praised Longwood’s cohort model, noting that his own diverse cohort included professionals from a variety of urban and rural school districts led by current and former school administrators who prepared him to join the next generation of leaders.

“The endorsement has prepared me to be a better administrator, to respect diversity and inclusion and to be more empathetic to students and staff,” said Kissoon.

“A few specific things that were valuable to learn in the program included using data to drive decisions impacting student learning, collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure student learning is maximized and understanding the importance of the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) standards.”

Kissoon also appreciated the convenience of the endorsement’s hybrid delivery model, which provides access to satellite locations throughout Central Virginia. This structure paired with the endorsement’s personalized approach allowed him the flexibility to take a semester off to complete his doctorate at Virginia State University.

“The endorsement was challenging, but with proper planning and organization, any educator can successfully complete it. I was also able to take the SLLA test and pass it on my first attempt thanks to the extended knowledge and practice I received.”

Kissoon completed Longwood’s Educational Leadership Endorsement in May 2020 and recommends it without reservations.

“Thank you to Longwood University for this outstanding endorsement, which gives educators the tools to become educational leaders of tomorrow.”