Getting Promoted in School: It's Not Just for Fifth-Graders

By Joe Cooper
Learning & Life Columnist
October 6, 2006

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A career in education is filled with endless challenges, rewards, and opportunities to grow. It takes many different kinds of people and jobs to make education effective for students. If you want to move up while making a difference, education is a great place to build a career.

Are you a teacher, administrator, teacher's aide or maybe a school volunteer? Read on. You can make your career growth happen through a little research, determination, and education.

Growth Spurts

Schools need strong leaders! The US government has predicted that student enrollment at elementary and secondary schools will grow 5-7% in the next 8-10 years. New curriculum guidelines and state standards will also create more opportunities for educators. If you want to take the next step in your educational career, you may get the opportunity to manage new responsibilities, enjoy a higher title, and earn a higher salary. Staying in your current field means you have a strong foundation from which to move up.

Facts & Figures

There are many salary levels in education. In order to determine your career path, identify where you are now, and where you would like to be. Take a look at these median annual salaries of various positions within education (K-12), reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Teachers: $41,400 to $45,920
Assistant Principals: $63,398 - $68,945
Principals: $74,062 - $82,225

Wherever you rank within the education system, there is always room to grow. The next step is to build your path to your desired position. There are a few ways to do this.

Climbing the Ladder

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends several ways to boost a teacher's salary, all of which can also contribute to job growth:

Leading after-school activities (clubs, sports teams, etc.)
Summer school
Earning a degree

This last way is the most effective means of moving up. A bachelor's degree and teaching credentials are great starting points. A master's degree in education or a teaching specialty can give you the qualifications and the knowledge need to succeed in a higher position in education.

You don't have to go to school full time to earn your degree, either. It can be done part-time, at your own pace, and even online. Further education could blaze the trail you're looking for in education.

Sources

About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

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