Education Administration Jobs to Grow

In the mood for some spit wads and paper airplanes? If you've been considering a career in education administration, your timing is terrific! The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job prospects for school principals and assistant principals will be "favorable" in the years ahead. Translation: With the proper training, you’re likely to find (and keep) a job you’ll love! Here’s the skinny on earning your degree in education administration.

Education Administration: A Growing Career Field

There are pockets in the country where growth of teaching and education administration positions will be greater. In Virginia's Loudon County, for example, the number of students is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next six years. The number of new schools being built is estimated at 23.

At the same time, a large number of education administrators are nearing retirement age, members of the baby boomer generation whose numbers add up to about 70 million. New school principals will be needed to replace retiring principals.

Challenges in Education Administration

While there's lots of opportunity for those interested in education administration careers, there are also many challenges. The No Child Left Behind Act placed more accountability on school principals, requiring them to comply with federal standards relating to student performance (primarily on standardized tests).

At the same time, some complain that school administrator pay is not generous enough. It's a common woe among teachers and their advocates too.

That could change, however. New York City recently announced a plan to increase the pay of its teachers to lure more to their school system. Perhaps similar efforts will emerge to attract qualified school principals. At the same time, some might argue that school principals make pretty good salaries -- according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries for senior high school principals were $82,225 during the 2004-2005 school year.

Education administration jobs fetching the largest salaries were in postsecondary institutions. Chief academic officers, for example, earned average salaries of $127,066. Academic deans of business schools earned about the same.

Training for Education Administration: Be Head of the Class

Education administration jobs typically require a master's degree in education. The programs generally require two years of full-time graduate study after successful completion of a bachelor's degree. There you'll learn how to run a school in terms of meeting budgets, ensuring classrooms are clean and well-equipped, and making sure that students and teachers are meeting a minimum standard of achievement.

A career in education administration may have its share of challenges, but it also offers opportunity tremendous rewards and personal satisfaction. If it’s true that children are our future, why not shape and mentor them to be the best adults they can be?

Sources
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Washington Post

About the Author
Sarah Clark is a freelance writer specializing in career development and postsecondary education.

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