Five Career Opportunities Available to Professionals Holding a Master's in Educational Leadership

Master's in Educational Leadership Career Opportunities

• School Principal
• District Administrator
• Instructional Coordinator
• University Registrar
• Education Policy Analyst

Teachers seeking advancement into schools' uppermost echelons to impact more students' learning will find there are many careers for a master's in educational leadership. Although becoming a dean or provost generally requires a PhD, a master's can open other top-level education administration jobs where the 10-year projected job outlook is 9 percent. As student enrollment increases, master's-trained administrators will be needed to oversee school operations and teaching staff for an optimal learning environment. On-site and online master's in educational leadership programs will sharpen your managerial skills for orchestrating school policies that boost student performance. The following are five educational leadership jobs where your master's degree will be well-regarded.

1. School principal

School principals are PreK-12 headmasters who oversee the effective management of daily learning activities to produce high student achievement data. Principals may have an assistant/vice principal to help implement curricular and safety standards set by state or federal government. Their wide-ranging duties include evaluating teachers, disciplining students, meeting with parents or guardians, organizing professional development, establishing the school budget, purchasing materials, and coordinating safety drills. School principals must have a master's degree with specialized endorsement from the state's Board of Education.

2. District administrator

Also called superintendents, district administrators act as CEOs for supervising all public school buildings located within city or county lines. Since 1911, superintendents have held unilateral power in creating the policy reforms that enhance struggling schools' ability to teach. Their vast responsibilities include establishing the district's vision, leading board meetings, shaping best instruction practices, approving budgets, directing academic programming, and communicating to local media. District administrators should have a master's or PhD in education and the AASA National Superintendent Certification.

3. Instructional coordinator

Instructional coordinators are typically licensed teachers who've earned a master's degree to advance into curriculum development in a certain subject, such as math, social studies, or foreign language. Under the Common Core, coordinators work with school staff to implement age-appropriate curricula and suggest effective textbooks. Their other duties include planning teacher training, using test data for improvement, suggesting new pedagogical methods, coaching staff on updates, and advising principals on new technologies. America's 151,100 instructional coordinators mostly work in elementary/secondary schools, colleges, and government.

4. University registrar

University registrar is one of the post-secondary careers for a master's in educational leadership that focuses on overseeing college students' academics. Registrars are responsible for keeping accurate record systems that confidentially secure enrollees' data for their transcripts. Additional tasks include adding or dropping courses, scheduling class times, inputting grads from professors, advising students on degree requirements, planning graduation ceremonies, and producing diplomas. Becoming a university registrar often requires a master's degree, leadership experience, and computer proficiency.

5. Education policy analyst

One of the more unique master's in educational leadership careers outside the PreK-12 or college setting belongs to education policy analysts. Policy analysts use their education background to influence lawmakers on the best means to support student learning on a state, regional, or national level. Their responsibilities include researching current educational issues, forming suggestions to meet long-term goals, market ideas to politicians and the public, and write columns or papers on their proposed solutions. Positions for education policy analysts generally prefer a master's with government experience.

Heading back to a CAEP-accredited graduate school will generally take 18 to 48 months, but your master's degree can certainly pay off with income much higher than a teacher salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that educational administration jobs offer a mean annual wage of $95,390 at the K-12 level and $105,770 at the post-secondary level. Other great careers for a master's in educational leadership include admission director, vice principal, educational consultant, student affairs coordinator, athletics director, and Chief Learning Officer (CLO).

Related resource:

Top 20 Cheap Online Educational Leadership Master's Degree Programs