Educational Administration Careers
Those who like the idea of becoming involved with education, but feel that becoming a teacher might not be a good fit for them could look into educational administration as an alternative. Just as students need qualified teachers to guide their education, teachers need qualified leaders and administrators to help them become more proficient at their jobs.
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Specifically, education administration jobs involve managing and leading teachers, offering administrative support, oversight, and guidance. Administrators also help ensure schools and education institutions operate smoothly and that students have the skills and knowledge they need for a well-rounded education and to prepare them for the future workforce. With more and more people going back to college to earn a degree and more parents enrolling their children in preschools, the job opportunities for educational administrators have never been better.
Understanding the Job Role of an Educational Administrator
In order to become a true success and give students the intellectual tools they need to succeed, education administrators are needed to act as managers and CEOs of schools, universities, colleges and preschools. Examples of the most common positions for educational administrators include:
- Preschool director
- School principal
- Vice/Assistant principal
- Superintendent
- Administrator of the school district
- University/College president
- Private school dean
- Director of Admissions
Successful Qualities in Educational Administration
Current teachers who would like to advance in their careers might be interested in jobs in educational administration. That being said, there are some qualities that administrators often possess, qualities that allow them to be more proficient and better qualified to do their jobs. For instance, educational administrators should be able to properly manage their time, have interpersonal skills and possess business knowledge.
An administrator or management leader should also be committed to making his or her school and its students their absolute best. Having problem solving skills is also a helpful quality that administrators should possess; in addition to being able to acclimate to quickly changing situations. Finally, a passion for education and all of the benefits it offers is a good attribute for aspiring educational administrators.
Becoming an Educational Administrator
A majority of school administrators start off as teachers as a way to understand how schools, students, other teachers and the education system works, which can serve as a good foundation for a career as a leader. Earning a master’s or doctoral degree is the next step, and some individuals take on other duties while acting as classroom teachers and offer up ideas at faculty meetings.
In regards to graduate degrees, those designed for future administrators are focused on making sure graduate students are well prepared for national or state certification requirements. Some of the courses often found in programs include:
- Designing a budget
- Leadership skills
- School management
- Forming community relations
- Educational politics
- Creating and evaluating a curriculum
With the time commitment that comes with being a full time teacher, some individuals find it beneficial to enroll in an online degree program rather than a traditional on-campus one. With a distance learning program, graduate students are able to learn at their own pace and may not have to make as many compromises when it comes to balancing work with earning a degree. Programs are offered all over the world, and students often have the ability to learn from a quality program that may be located at a far-flung school.