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Education administrators are responsible for the daily life within a school environment. They oversee everyday activities and manage the teachers and faculty, making sure they are performing their duties effectively. Administrators often respond to both student and parent needs in all areas including social, academic, and emotional. Successful administrators have firm leadership and decision-making skills, can think on their feet, and have the ability to motivate people and communicate effectively. People on an education administration team are also confident and innovative, and tend to build strong interpersonal relationships with ease.

How to Prepare for a Career in Education Administration

Typically school administrators have substantial work experience within schools. Administrators commonly start out in the field as teachers. You must first earn a bachelor's degree in an area of education before becoming an administrator. Additionally, most careers in this field require a master's or doctoral degree in education administration or educational leadership. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree, a master's degree takes around 2 years or 60 hours to complete. An education administration higher education program may require the following types of courses: counseling, school finance, curriculum development, school leadership and politics in education. The job outlook for education administrators is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2008 and 2018. Salaries are dependent upon many factors, including titles and school locations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of an elementary and secondary school administrator is $83,880. Other titles for people in this field include:

• Superintendent
• Headmaster/Headmistress
• Principal or Vice Principal
• Department Head
• Dean
• Curriculum and Instruction Specialist.