Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 292,200 people employed as education administrators, kindergarten through secondary in the United States. The median annual salary is $98,420. Entry level employees earn approximately $61,480 per year and senior employees earn approximately $153,520 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Recommend personnel actions related to programs and services.
• Review and approve new programs, or recommend modifications to existing programs, submitting program proposals for school board approval as necessary.
• Develop partnerships with businesses, communities, and other organizations to help meet identified educational needs and to provide school-to-work programs.
• Review and interpret government codes, and develop programs to ensure adherence to codes and facility safety, security, and maintenance.
• Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment, and authorize purchases.
• Direct and coordinate school maintenance services and the use of school facilities.
• Organize and direct committees of specialists, volunteers, and staff to provide technical and advisory assistance for programs.
• Prepare, maintain, or oversee the preparation and maintenance of attendance, activity, planning, or personnel reports and records.
• Mentor and support administrative staff members, such as superintendents and principals.
• Establish, coordinate, and oversee particular programs across school districts, such as programs to evaluate student academic achievement.
• Coordinate and direct extracurricular activities and programs, such as after-school events and athletic contests.
• Advocate for new schools to be built, or for existing facilities to be repaired or remodeled.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee school logistics programs, such as bus and food services.
• Teach classes or courses to students.
• Meet with federal, state, and local agencies to keep updated on policies and to discuss improvements for education programs.
• Write articles, manuals, and other publications, and assist in the distribution of promotional literature about facilities and programs.
• Collect and analyze survey data, regulatory information, and data on demographic and employment trends to forecast enrollment patterns and curriculum change needs.
• Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and use, and to ensure that school activities comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques, and to determine areas where improvement is needed.
• Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
• Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.
• Direct and coordinate activities of teachers, administrators, and support staff at schools, public agencies, and institutions.
• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff.
• Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavioral or learning problems.
• Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
• Create school improvement plans by using student performance data.
• Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out.
• Plan and lead professional development activities for teachers, administrators, and support staff.
• Participate in special education-related activities, such as attending meetings and providing support to special educators throughout the district.
• Plan and develop instructional methods and content for educational, vocational, or student activity programs.
• Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
• Prepare and submit budget requests and recommendations, or grant proposals to solicit program funding.

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