Educational supervisors, known as principals at elementary and secondary schools, are the primary administrators at a school or similar facility; they analyze budgets, allocate supplies, determine teaching schedules and handle other related tasks. Most importantly, educational supervisors set the tone at their workplace; they handle student discipline issues, evaluate the work of teachers and also communicate regularly with parents. One must have a few years' worth of teaching experience, in addition to at least a master's degree, in order to work as an educational supervisor.
Required Education
It takes many years of experience and education to become an educational supervisor; one must gain experience as a teacher and attend graduate school in order to advance to this position. Degrees of interest to prospective educational supervisors include a bachelor's degree in education, a master's degree in education, a master's degree in educational administration, a Master of Educational Leadership and a Doctor of Education. Most master's programs take at least two years to complete.
Skills Required
Educational supervisors must have strong leadership capabilities; they foster the atmosphere at a school by making decisions that impact students, parents, staff and faculty. In order to best run a school, it's imperative that educational supervisors have good communication skills; people in these positions frequently speak before all types of audiences and also write letters to a wide range of individuals and groups. Knowing how to formulate a budget is also a good skill to master.
Economic Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) reports that 240,000 jobs existed for school administrators at the elementary and secondary levels as of 2015. The BLS estimates that this field will grow by 6% between 2014 and 2024 with the most opportunities coming in locations that will see increased population, like the West and South. As of May 2015, the annual median salary for educational administrators at elementary and secondary schools was $90,410.
Alternate Career Options
Here are some examples of alternative career options:
Instructional Coordinator
This career also requires a master's degree and related work experiences; some schools may also seek applicants licensed as teachers or school administrators. Their work involves the development of teaching materials and coordinating their use with the teachers and administrators at colleges, secondary and elementary schools. An annual median wage of $62,270 was revealed for this profession by the BLS in 2015, and 7% growth was predicted for instructional coordinator positions, during the 2014-2024 decade.
Librarian
Usually needing a master's degree in library science, some positions also call for other types of degrees or a teaching certificate, to secure positions assisting patrons in their professional and personal research. Duties vary according to the type of library. Slower than average job growth of 2% was forecast by the BLS, from 2014-2024, and an annual median salary of $56,880 was reported in 2015.
