Career in Education Administration
There is a growing need for education administrators, especially at the preschool and post-secondary level where many institutions are experiencing increased enrollments. Administrators are needed to efficiently manage the operations as well as set policy and improve academic standards. If you have good leadership and management skills, are interested in a career in education but want to advance beyond teaching, pursuing a career in education administration might be a good choice.
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General Functions
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Education administration is the day-to-day management of operations at an educational institution. Education administrators are responsible for setting educational standards and creating the plans to achieve these standards. Administrators play a public relations role with the community, prospective students and parents. They work with teachers to develop academic programs, train staff, administer the record-keeping, prepare budgets and monitor their schools' academic progress. Other duties vary depending on the positions and the educational institution.
Preschool Administrators
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At independent preschools and daycare center, the administrator is in charge of all operations. They hire and train teachers and staff, prepare budgets, maintain the facilities, purchase supplies, set schedules and make sure the school or center meets all state and local regulations. Mean annual wages for administrators at preschools and day cares were $46,370 as of May 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
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Elementary and High School Administrators
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Principals, assistant principals and deans are the administrators at most elementary and high schools. Principals set performance goals, advise staff, hire and train teachers, observe classrooms, prepare budgets, report to school boards on attendance and academic achievement, work with teachers to develop curriculum and oversee purchases of supplies and building maintenance. The assistant principal or dean aids the principals in various areas. They are often responsible for ordering supplies, maintaining student discipline and overseeing areas such as custodial services and the cafeteria. School administrators may also work at regional or district levels. Mean annual salaries for administrators at the elementary and secondary school level were $86,060 as of May 2008, according to the BLS.
College and University Administrators
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At colleges and universities, education administrators take on many roles including provost, chief academic officer, academic deans, faculty deans, department head or department chairs. Faculty appointments, tenure decisions, budgets, policies and program decisions usually fall to the provosts and academic officers. Deans coordinate activities of individual colleges and faculty within that college. The department head or chairperson coordinates class schedules, teaching assignments and budgets within a specific department. According to the BLS, administrators at the post-secondary level earn mean annual salaries of $92,920, as of May 2008.
Training Requirements
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Education administrators often start out as teachers. However, some educational programs allow you to earn your teacher certification while pursuing an advanced degree in administration. Preschool administrators usually need a bachelor's degree. Private elementary and high schools might only require a bachelor's degree, but often prefer an advanced degree. Administrator positions at public elementary and high schools require a graduate degree, such as a Master's in Educational Leadership. Post-secondary positions require a master's degree at minimum and many top positions require a doctorate degree.
Education Administration Licensing
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Both preschool administrators and administrators at public elementary and high schools must be licensed. Licensing standards vary by state. Preschool administrators usually need a certain amount of experience and coursework. Some states require a bachelor's degree. Elementary and high school administrator licensing usually requires a master's degree and successful completion of a licensing exam.
Job Outlook
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The BLS predicts average growth for all education administrators through the year 2016. Job growth may be higher at the preschool and post-secondary level. More parents are choosing to enroll their children in preschool programs, and more states are expanding public preschool programs, creating a higher demand for preschool administrators. Likewise, more students are enrolling in post-secondary level programs creating the demand there. Private and for-profit schools are seeing significant growth.
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