Career And School Info For Elementary And Secondary School Administrators

Schools by State for This Career

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What Kind of Person Has This Career?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Natural Abilities	% Choosing
Oral Expression	97%
Oral Comprehension	94%
Written Comprehension	85%

Full List

Work Values	% Choosing
Relationships	89%
Independence	89%
Pleasant Working Conditions	83%

Full List

Areas of Personal Interest	% Choosing
Starting And Leading Activities	95%
Working And Communicating With People	89%
Following Instructions	56%

Work Style Characteristics	% Choosing
Leadership	96%
Dependability	96%
Integrity	95%

Full List

Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Personal Skills	% Choosing
Active Listening	93%
Reading Comprehension	92%
Monitoring	91%

Full List

Important Professional Knowledge	% Choosing
Education And Training	96%
Administration And Management	90%
English Language	88%

Full List

Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Common Work Conditions	% Choosing
Telephone	99%
Face-To-Face Discussions	98%
Electronic Mail	96%

Full List

Common Job Activities	% Choosing
Establishing And Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	91%
Making Decisions And Solving Problems	91%
Communicating With Supervisors, Peers, Or Subordinates	89%

Full List

Information Sources

BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Elementary and Secondary School Administrator Job Description

Successfully running a school full of growing young people takes skill and experience. School administrators, or principals, of elementary and secondary schools must manage the day-to-day activities that take place for students, teachers and parents, as well as providing instructional leadership. Specific responsibilities include:

• Setting and maintaining high curriculum standards based on national, state and local standards
• Setting educational goals and objectives
• Establishing policies and procedures to support standards and goals
• Developing academic programs
• Monitoring students' progress in learning: reviewing learning materials, visiting classrooms and observing teaching methods
• Hiring, supervising, training and motivating teachers, counselors, managers, librarians, support staff, coaches and other employees
• Managing student services such as career counseling or meal service
• Preparing budgets, administering recordkeeping, tracking attendance and other operational duties
• Handling relations with prospective and current students, parents and the larger community, fundraising and public relations
• Advocating for new schools, or expansions and repairs to existing schools
• Developing partnerships with area businesses, including student school-to-work transition programs
• Establishing school child care programs for before and after school hours, as well as anti-drug programs, family resource centers and other social services

During summer break when school is out of session, principals plan for the upcoming year. They oversee any summer school, supervise building repairs and improvements, and participate in workshops for teachers and administrators.

Degrees and Schools

A bachelor's degree in education from a four-year college or university forms the foundation for elementary and secondary school administrators. Master's degree programs in educational leadership or education administration are available at many postsecondary schools.

Classes

Beginning in their sophomore year, bachelor's degree students in education take classes specific to their major and participate in student-teaching internships. Areas of study include:

• Mathematics, physical and social sciences, English, music and art
• Teaching methods
• Philosophy of education
• Psychology of learning
• Use of computers and other learning technologies

Master's degree students in education administration divide their time between classroom and research. Courses typically include:

• School leadership
• Curriculum development and evaluation
• Finance and budgeting for schools
• Politics in education and community relations
• Counseling
• Laws related to schools
• Research design
• Data analysis

Online Classes and Programs

Undergraduate degrees in education and graduate degrees in educational leadership and administration require extensive practical experience, and usually focus on preparing the school administrator for state licensure. Therefore, online courses are usually offered through campus-based universities and colleges as part of their traditional degree program. In order to be licensed in most states, applicants must be graduates of accredited programs, either through the United States Department of Education (USDE) or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Online programs should be affiliated with an accredited university or college.

Employment Requirements

Most principals in elementary and secondary schools started as teachers. They may have become assistant principals or worked for the school district prior to their present position. A minimum of a master's degree in educational leadership or education administration is usually required, especially in public schools.

Public school administrators must be licensed in most states. Licensure requirements vary by state, but nearly all require either a master's degree or other graduate-level education, and many require candidates to pass an assessment exam. Mentorship while on the job is being required or recommended more and more. States do not require private school principals to be licensed.

Although not required, accreditation through the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) may assist school principals in fulfilling licensure requirements.

How to Evaluate Schools

Here are some questions to consider when comparing master's degree programs in educational administration or educational leadership:

• State licensure - Is the program focused on preparing students for state licensure assessment exams and other requirements? Is the school accredited through the USDE or CHEA?
• Practical experience - Is the program well-organized in the practical experience opportunities it provides? Are the opportunities compatible with the student's research interests?
• Research focus - What research projects are being done by faculty? How easy is it to get to work with professors on these projects?
• Learning technologies - What academic and non-academic tasks are students able to complete online? How many courses are available online?
• Tuition and financial assistance - What research funding is available? Does the school assist students in selecting and obtaining other financial support, such as scholarships, student loans and work study?
• Outcomes - How many students who begin the program complete it? What kinds of jobs do they find upon graduation?

Example Job Titles

(Titles per survey respondents and career experts.)

• Administrative Assistant
• Art Coordinator
• Assessment Coordinator
• Assistant Principal
• Athletic Coordinator
• Athletic Director
• Attendance and Discipline Vice Principal
• Commission for the Blind Director
• Curriculum and Instruction Assistant Superintendent
• Curriculum Assistant Principal
• Curriculum Director
• Dean of Boys
• Dean of Girls
• Director of Admissions
• Director of Athletics
• Director of Physical Education
• Director of Pupil Personnel Program
• Director of Special Services
• Director of Testing
• Early Childhood Services Coordinator
• Education Supervisor
• Educational Administrator
• Educational Program Director
• Elementary Principal
• Elementary School Principal
• Headmaster
• High School Principal
• Home-School Coordinator
• Instruction Assistant Principal
• Instructional Supervisor
• Instructional Support Services Director
• Junior High School Principal
• K-12 Principal
• K-8 School Principal
• Middle School Principal
• Mother Superior
• Principal
• Program Coordinator
• Pupil Personnel Services Director
• School Administrator
• School Business Manager
• School Coordinator
• School Principal
• School Superintendent
• Secondary School Principal
• Site Administrator
• Special Education Administrator
• Special Education Coordinator
• Special Education Director
• Special Education Superintendent
• Special Education Supervisor
• Special Programs Director
• Special Services Director
• Student Dean
• Student Services Director
• Sub Master
• Superintendent
• Teacher
• Team Coordinator
• Testing Coordinator
• Title I Director
• Transition Specialist
• Vice Principal
• Vocational Training Director
• Vocational-Technical Education Director

Related Careers

• Elementary School Teachers
• Middle School Teachers
• Secondary School Teachers
• Teacher Assistants
• (All Careers)