 By Joy Hutton If you are an experienced teacher, you may be wondering what it would be like to take on new responsibilities and become an educational leader in your school or district. With many veteran education leaders retiring now and in the near future, there are many opportunities for teachers to advance their careers in the educational leadership arena. But because these leadership roles often require extensive education, certification and experience, you need to be prepared when that perfect opportunity opens up.
What Is Educational Leadership? Educational leaders are the experienced faculty members in an educational institution that direct departments, lead boards and committees, and provide accountability and leadership to the school's other teachers. They are distinct from educational administrators, who hold positions such as school principal, vice-principal or superintendant; education leaders often continue in teaching positions while administering their leadership capacities. Educational leadership careers are available at all levels of educational instruction, from preschools to universities. The smaller the institution, the fewer paid leadership opportunities will exist. However, taking on pro-bono leadership responsibilities in these smaller schools can help you gain experience that will enable you to move into a recognized educational leadership role in the future. Some common roles include the following: - college or university department chair
- high school department director
- special education department director
- university academic dean
- college department chair
- athletic director
Is Educational Leadership Right for Me? Educational leadership can be a rewarding career for educators with exceptional teaching and leadership abilities and management skills. As an education leader you will help teachers work better individually and as part of a team, and improve the quality of education in our schools and universities. As a department director, chair or dean, you will be responsible for the organizational and practical operations of your department or school, and you will answer to a higher-level educational administrator, such as a principal, president or superintendent. Good education leaders understand the ins and outs of the educational world and its processes and are able to balance the needs of teachers, students and other faculty. They act as representatives of the teachers, professors or coaches in their department during school or district planning, fulfill budgeting and fund raising goals and continually review and improve programs and curricula. If you are a passionate educator who cares deeply about the successful operation of our schools and universities and want to help others in your department succeed, educational leadership may be the career for you.
How Do I Become an Educational Leader? If you are interested in becoming a department chair or the director of your school's math, science, special education or language arts department, you'll need a graduate degree through an educational leadership program at an accredited college or university. Some states and institutions require doctorate level work for educational leaders; however, most require a master's degree in educational leadership or instructional leadership, teaching and leadership experience, and successful completion of aptitude tests. Graduate level educational leadership students are required to have a bachelor's degree along with state teacher certification before being accepted into an educational leadership program. Most people who enroll in these programs are experienced, practicing teachers looking to advance their career. If you enroll in an educational leadership degree program, you can expect to focus on issues such as the following: - team building
- improvement of school effectiveness
- structuring of educational institutions
- comparative international study of education reform
- policy analysis and development at the local, state and national levels
Classes will cover both research-focused academics and applied leadership training. Search our comprehensive directory to find an educational leadership program near you. |
