Whenever children are asked what they want to be when they group, there is always someone who wants to be a teacher. So, why choose a career in education? Let’s discuss it in detail.
It’s a well-known fact that every individual needs someone to believe in them or a hand to shape them into the person they want to be tomorrow. That particular someone is an educator with the skills and opportunity to lead others toward a brighter future.
Pursuing the field of education is personally and professionally rewarding. You not only get to make a living but also have a variety of roles to fill in. Every role is a gateway to making significant changes in the education industry, from improving the quality of education to overcoming challenges that hinder an individual’s growth.
Besides nurturing young minds, educators also have several opportunities to advance their careers. One route is pursuing higher education. Getting a master’s degree in education enhances an educator’s teaching skills and opens doors to high-salary jobs.
With the arrival of technology, learning has become more convenient than a few years ago. Now, you also can get a master’s in education online if you don’t have the time to attend classes in person. That way, you can learn at your pace and flexibility.
If you are wondering how the education field can help expand your career, there are a few options you can consider.
1. School Principal
Aside from teaching, being a school principal is the perfect career choice if you have excellent management skills outside of classrooms. As a principal, you work at different educational levels, from elementary to high school.
Responsibilities of a school principal include going through the budget from time to time and upholding education standards. Apart from that, a school principal supervises the teacher’s performance and ascertains that the school complies with federal regulations.
A school principal doesn’t interact with students directly unless there are severe issues like classroom misconduct. Moreover, they closely work with staff members to resolve student-related problems.
Safety is of the utmost importance, so as a school principal, you closely monitor the security measures, from staff hiring to setting up training sessions to deal with emergencies. To become a qualified principal, a candidate must earn a master’s degree in education leadership or administration.
The average salary of a school principal is $87,760, depending on years of experience and education.
2. Librarian
It is often regarded that education is only within the classroom, but that is not always true. Helping others in their learning process or research-related work is also a part of education. If you are interested in pursuing that role, consider being a librarian.
A librarian’s prime responsibility is helping people find the information they want on any subject. Librarians work in every educational institute, from school to college. Besides that, some librarians also work in public libraries, whereas others work in either law, medical, or government settings.
To ensure that people are provided with the right study and research material, a librarian has to coordinate with all sorts of patrons to advance search efforts. It also means you must maintain and keep track of all the databases containing precise information. Since libraries often run on a tight budget, you must select only the required material carefully.
Several factors determine a librarian’s salary. The factors include the type of library, responsibilities, education level, and job location.
3. Special Education Teacher
Disabled children overcome many obstacles that interfere with their learning. As an educator, you can help these individuals increase their knowledge and shape their tomorrow. If you want to help mentally and physically challenged children, the role of a special education teacher is the perfect fit for you.
To ensure students meet their goals, a special education teacher creates an individualized education program tailored to every pupil’s needs. What sets these teachers apart is that they work one-on-one with the students. Lessons are prepared to ensure students have a firm grasp of the material.
Although the curriculum might be similar to the traditional education system, different teaching methodologies are adopted to help students process information.
Besides teaching traditional courses, a special educator also works on improving communication and literacy skills in students with severe disabilities. Throughout the academic year, teachers routinely update IEP to report progress on individual or collective goals.
To help disabled individuals reach their maximum potential, a special education teacher works closely with other educationists like school counselors, students’ parents, and teacher assistants. The average salary of a special education teacher ranges between $47,097 to $78,240. Factors like certifications, additional skills, and years of professional experience play a huge role in salary.
4. Superintendents
These are the chief executive officers of schools that oversee every aspect of the school district. Being a superintendent, you are responsible for improving the quality of education in several ways, from developing policies to regulating budgets and managing school staff.
Within the confines of state allocation, a superintendent works with the department of education and legislator to increase the institution’s funding and manage its needs. As a superintendent, you are the one to make decisions when challenging situations arise.
A bunch of other issues a superintendent is responsible for overseeing include school safety concerns and workplace injuries. Work usually starts early in the morning and ends with a meeting in the afternoon.
Besides years of experience, working in a professional organization and interacting with administrators give you an edge over others in the job market. The salary varies depending on the school district’s size.
5. Academic Dean
As an academic dean, you are assigned the role of overseeing a particular department within a university or college. Among the list of responsibilities, the most common include developing the curriculum, recruiting new faculty, and handling budget-related tasks.
To become a qualified academic dean, you must have leadership and administrative experience. Academic deans are either hired full-time or on a year-round basis. A dean evaluates the curriculum, makes changes accordingly, maintains academic policies, and thoroughly evaluates current staff members to ensure academic success.
A highly qualified academic dean is recognized for essential qualities like strong communication skills, solid task delegation ability, and impeccable time management skills. An academic dean earns between $57,000 and $161,000 per year, with bonuses as high as $15,000.
Conclusion
The education sector enables you to nurture young minds and opens several doors to expand your career. One way to increase your earning potential is by getting a master’s degree that equips you with the knowledge and skills to help others succeed.
Besides education, if you want to climb the ladder of success in the field of education, becoming a superintendent, special education teacher, or an academic dean is a lucrative option. These roles help the future generation meet their goals and play a critical role in upholding an institution’s education standards.
