A Closer Look at a Career as an Education Administrator
When it comes to setting goals for an educational institution, very few people know that it’s an education administrator who is the master planner behind the measures and efforts to ensure the school reaches the targets it has set for itself. While not as in direct interaction with the students on a daily basis–unlike teachers–education administrators are equally important in paving the path for the students’ academic future.
If this career is something that rouses your interest, continue reading below as we delve deeper into this profession that’s extremely important in building a well-integrated and efficient community.
Education Administrator – What You Need to Know
Education administrators are more commonly known as the school’s principal and vice principal for public schools or head master or head mistresses for private schools. They work onsite in the school, typically working long hours than normal during the entire term. However, like with teachers, they do get much-needed respite from work during school breaks, including the summer break.
Education administrators’ main tasks is to oversee the teaching staff and ensure they hand over their lesson plans and syllabi for the academic year, which they would have to approve. It’s the education administrator who is responsible for administering a student code of conduct, often working with with students and parents directly to address disciplinary violations or other issues. Education administrators are also accountable for the safety and security of the student body not just within the campus grounds, but also during school-sponsored events and field trips.
Apart from ensuring the school is in line with academic objectives, education administrators are also in charge of keeping to district enrollment standards and ensuring that operational expenses are in line with annual budgets. At times, they are also required to contribute to the hiring process should additional staff be required and make hiring recommendations. Should the school find itself short-staffed, education administrators must see to it that a handful of supply teachers is in place. Additional tasks also include providing mentorship to teachers, as well as teachers.
Salary
According to PayScale.com, education administrators can earn a salary within the range of $36,065 – $105,684 a year with potential for bonus.
Skills
Since an education administrator is essentially the manager of the school, they should possess excellent management and leadership abilities. As they interact with students, teachers, parents, and school staff and collaborate with them to achieve common objectives, an education administrator will require impeccable communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well in a team and the skill to motivate others and build learning communities. Education administrators must be able to lead, support, and motivate teachers and other staff and faculty members and build solid relationships with students, parents, and fellow educators.
Challenges are also common in educational institutions and therefore education administrators must also be a strategic problem-solver and systems thinker to resolve complex problems and handle stress effectively.
A master’s degree in education administration or education leadership is often mandatory for anyone aspiring to be an education administrator so they can acquire the knowledge of best practices in instructional strategies, assessment and evaluation and the enhancement of student achievement in the school they will be assigned to. It’s also necessary for education administrators to have proper licensing for the area in which they work. At times, however, each educational institution has specific requirements as determined upon consultations with the school division or employment authority.
Pros and Cons
Working as an education administrator can be taxing as he or she bears the burden of leading the school and achieve the goals in line with the educational institution’s mission and vision. A lot of patience and diplomacy is also required to be able to resolve issues with students facing disciplinary actions and handle complaints from parents regarding any decision that affects the students. At times, problems can stem for the sudden change of tasks on a daily basis. According to a CBC article, some principals and vice principals in Ontario are so swamped with work that they also have to deal not just with the academic curriculum but also property maintenance and such.
However, the profession is rewarding as education administrators play an integral role in a student’s success as a valuable community member in the future. To have an opportunity to make a positive difference in an individual’s life is something that not everyone has, and this is certainly something education administrators don’t take for granted.
SOURCES:
https://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/best-jobs/2016-top-8-education-jobs/
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