Most people can’t wait to get out of school and go out into the “real world” but there are those who just can’t wait to go back. You may call them whatever you want but there are those who just want to stay in school and be educators. If you are one of those people who love being with children and teaching, then a career in education administration might just be waiting for you.
You can call them principal or director, but they basically play the same role – the administration of the school. Most of them start out as teachers and then while teaching, continue their education by getting a master’s or doctoral degree. For you to become an education administrator, it is important that you have a background in teaching and at the very least, a master’s degree in education administration or educational leadership.
As was said, most actually started out as teachers and then later advance into becoming one. However, depending on the state, most education administrators are required to be licensed in that field. More than that, continuing education in an effort to keep you updated in the field might also be a requirement of the job.
Before you run away screaming because of all the requirements (a master’s degree, imagine!), just think of the kids that you will be influencing in your stint as an administrator? Don’t you want to inspire more kids to be better? Just think of how many kids you can influence in your stint as education administrator.
As school administrator or principal, you will basically be in-charge of running the school. Your every decision will affect a large number of students and teachers and everyone working around you so the job is one that holds a lot of power. You will be creating and implementing policies to make sure that state standards and student potentials are met. Most of all, you will be in charge of the employment of the school – meaning, hiring and termination will all be entirely up to you so the job is very crucial.
If you do become a principal, an assistant principal or school administrator, then you can take comfort in the fact that education administrators receive better compensations than a regular teacher, of course. Those who provide early childhood education get around $38,000 a year, while those in elementary education earn around $80,000 and more for those in higher education. So, why not start getting your master’s degree and work towards becoming an education administrator now?