College of Education

First Nation Administrator and Knowledge Keepers Admissions

First Nation Administrator and Knowledge Keepers

Admissions

Before applying to the program, applicants must:

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the highest degree earned,
  • Possess a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (unless you are applying to the Master’s + Principal License program),
  • Possess a current teaching or personnel service license,
  • Have three years of successful licensed teaching or personnel service experience,
  • Identify a current licensed administrator with at least three years of licensed experience to serve as your mentor,

1. To apply for FNAKK program admission, you must supply the following to Dr. Maria Tenorio:

  • FNAKK application questionnaire (below)
  • Copy of CIB (Certificate of Indian Blood) or documentation of Indian descendancy information
  • Copy of current teacher's certificate (Standard, Provisional or Reciprocal are accepted)
  • Copy of unofficial transcripts

2. Please keep your receipt for the $67 application fee to the Principal License program so that you can receive reimbursement from FNAKK.

3. Your written responses to the following questions will help determine your admission into the First Nation Administrator and Knowledge Keeper Principal License Program:

  • Name, mailing address and residence/cell/work phone number(s):
  • Current employer, address and phone number

4. One of the requirements of the FNAKK program, a requirement from the U.S. Office of Indian Education for admission into the program, is that you must obtain employment as a principal or as an assistant principal within six months after you've graduated in a school serving Indian students. Do you foresee any issues in meeting this program requirement? If unsure, or if you envision a problem, please describe.

After reviewing the program requirements, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Maria Tenorio by email at tenorio@pdx.edu or by phone at 503-483-7009.

Admissions instructions

  1. Check the application deadline for your program.
  2. Make sure you have everything ready from the Application Checklist.
  3. Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
  4. Select "Start New Application" and then "Graduate Application." Do not select "Non-degree". You will not be able to upload the necessary documents with the non-degree application, and your application will not be considered.
  5. For the college, select "College of Education"
  6. For the program of study, select "Educational Leadership and Policy: Principal License, License Only"

To validate your admission you must take a course during the term in which you have requested to be admitted. Should you not take a course in that term, your application will be cancelled and you will need to reapply to the next cohort.

Questions about the application process?

If you have questions prior to submitting your application, contact Stefanie Randol, MS Ed., Admissions Recruiter & Advisor, at askcoe@pdx.edu.
If you have questions about the application process or your application status once you have submitted your application, contact elpadmit@pdx.edu.

Application checklist

  • Program-specific application
  • Unofficial transcripts are accepted by the College of Education for the program application. You only need to submit transcripts from institutions that you earned a degree from and where any graduate coursework was taken. Additional unofficial transcripts may be sent in if it significantly improves your application GPA. If admitted, you must send in official transcripts from each degree-granting school and any graduate school. More information on submitting official transcripts can be found on the Graduate Admissions page.
  • After you are admitted, you must submit official transcripts to:
    • The Graduate School
      Portland State University
      PO Box 751
      Portland, OR 97207 - 0751
      Electronic official transcripts should be sent to graddocs@pdx.edu
  • Personal goal statement (writing prompt located within the application)
  • Résumé
  • Two electronic recommendation forms from current licensed administrators (forms are provided within the application)
  • Copy of teaching or personnel service license, or a screenshot of your information from the TSPC system
  • Designation of Mentor form

Retention of Student Documents

All application documents submitted to PSU become the property of the University and may not be copied or returned to a student. Transcripts from other institutions cannot be copied.