Getting your master’s degree in education allows you to work in a variety of roles in the public-school system. Most school principals hold this degree, as do others at higher levels of management in school settings. You could also work in an education clinic or program, run a private school or even use your degree to help those in the business world succeed.
The skills learned in this program allow you to manage and oversee a variety of education programs and to choose curriculum, plan offerings and even interact with students and families. Zoos, museums and other public facilities hire education coordinators to help teach the public about their offerings, while businesses hire education administrators to coordinate and facilitate learning in the workplace.
These five positions are common job possibilities for those with Master’s Degrees in Education Administration:
#1 School Principal
A school principal is in charge of virtually everything that happens in a particular school, from hiring teachers to choosing curricula and even planning a successful budget. A principal can work in an elementary, middle or high school and requires a Master’s in Education Administration to secure a job.
As a school principal, you would set education goals, oversee instruction, maintenance and even cafeteria services. A principal is also in charge of ensuring the school meets all Federal, state and local guidelines and that the school complies with district goals and policies as well.
A principal recruits, hires and evaluates teachers and support staff, assists in counseling or disciplining students and is the public face of the school. Principals prepare reports, ensure the school has safety and security protocols in lace and works to establish special programs, from afterschool options to special education offerings.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for school principals is $92,501 and at 6%, the field is seeing average growth.
#2 Special Education Teacher
A Master’s in Education Administration allows an individual to become a teacher in a specialty field, like Special Education. When you have this Master’s degree you are qualified to move into administration, but usually need several years of teaching experience to do so. A role as a special education teacher can help you gain that experience, since in addition to running a classroom, you’ll be in charge of other administrative duties as well.
A special education teacher needs to take on a more administrative role in many ways, since each child will have a different IEP and different goals. They also need to be able to work with other teachers and parents to evaluate students, create IEPs and formulate successful strategies for managing a diverse group of students with limited resources. Common duties of a special education teacher include:
- Running a classroom in a preschool, elementary, middle or high school for children with a variety of special needs
- Create strategies for individual students to help meet goals outlined in IEP plans
- Work on a team to help evaluate students for the special needs program
- A special education teacher needs an increased awareness of the disabilities, both physical and developmental, that a could prevent a child from learning in a traditional setting.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median salary for special education teachers in 2016 was $57,910 per year.
#3 Guidance Counselor
A Master’s Degree in Education Administration allows you to work as a guidance counselor in a school or education facility. In this role, you would assist students in determining their ideal career paths, counsel those experiencing difficulties and work with kids with a variety of developmental, social and behavioral issues. Some typical duties of a guidance counselor include:
- Providing college, career and further education advice for students
- Working with other team members to develop IEPs for children with special needs
- Welcome new students to school and ensure they are coping well
- Create emergency preparedness strategies to help students cope in the aftermath of an event that impacts your school or student body.
- Work with parents and families to improve the lives of students.
According to the Unites States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, school guidance counselors are experiencing average growth and have a median salary of $54,560 per year.
#4 Education Coordinator
A Master’s in Education Administration allows an individual to plan and coordinate education programs at facilities that are not schools. Zoos, museums, libraries and other facilities hire education coordinators to work on programs designed to educate kids and adults.
An education coordinator would take on an administrative and planning role and would also teach classes and programs. Typical duties include;
- Planning education outreach programs for kids and adults
- Budgeting for programs or applying for grants to support learning
- Planning special events designed to increase awareness and interest in the educational offerings
- Recruit and hire teachers and staff to offer classes and programs
- Manage and train volunteers who educate the public or who assist in classes.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that this field will see a 7% increase in jobs by 2024, which is considered average growth. The median salary in this field is $62, 460.
#5 Training and Development Manager
You can use Master’s in Education Administration to work in the business world, creating teaching and training materials designed to train employees and improve organizations. Training and development managers can work in any industry and are charged with onboarding employees, improving the knowledge level of existing employees and running educational programs for the organization.
From ongoing training needs to specific curricula and events, this is a management role that requires interaction with both upper level management and most employees within an organization. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is seeing average growth of 7% and median pay for training and development managers is $105,830 per year.
References
- School Principal. (2017, August 27). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm#tab-1
- Special Education Teacher. (2017, August 27). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm
- Guidance Counselor. (2017, August 26). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm
- Education Coordinator. (2017, August 27). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/purchasing-managers.htm#tab-2
- Training and Development Manager. (2017, August 27). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/training-and-development-managers.htm#tab-1
