In addition to teachers leaving the classroom, there are also principals, vice principals, instructional coaches, and other education administrators interested in a new career path. Since they were likely classroom teachers at one point, our career transition resources also apply to administrators. These education professionals can apply for the same types of roles we recommend to transitioning teachers. However, there are also additional opportunities if you leverage your leadership experience. Read on for some insight on alternative jobs for education administrators.
Jobs For Education Administrators: Transferable Skills
First, let’s state the obvious. Education administrators have extra leadership experience that teachers often do not. You are responsible for managing staff, budgets, policies, and the day-to-day operations of your school. Leverage that experience when looking for a new role!
Strong leadership qualities will likely set you apart from other applicants. Alternative jobs for education administrators may not always require leadership experience. However, the skills you possess as a leader are sure to benefit you in any path you choose. Focus on the transferable skills that can bring you success in a different field. Here are some important qualities of a strong leader:
- Communication
- Empathy
- Accountability
- Flexibility
- Growth mindset
- Optimism
- Patience
- Problem solving
- Resilience
- Transparency
- Trust
Besides leadership, education administrators also have experience creating and enforcing policies and procedures. You collaborate with colleagues to draft handbook policies and behavior plans. You manage staff evaluation plans and develop strategies to keep the school running smoothly. Working with various stakeholders in a school setting is another valuable skill to highlight on a resume when searching for jobs for education administrators. Fellow administrators, teachers, parents, community members, and students are all parties that you have regular contact with.
Additionally, alternative jobs for education administrators will benefit from your advanced knowledge of the education system. You have insight into how schools are funded and can help an organization utilize that information. For example, think about ed tech companies trying to sell their product to school districts. They would be lucky to have someone with your knowledge of district purchasing trends and strategies.
Finally, don’t forget about the roles you held prior to becoming an administrator! Chances are, you also have classroom teaching experience. Explain those transferable teaching skills as you look for alternative jobs for education administrators.
Jobs For Education Administrators: Choosing A Path
In any career search, an important first step is choosing a path. If you are searching for alternative jobs for education administrators, you need to know what you’re looking for. While you can pursue the same career paths we recommend for transitioning teachers, you also have additional skills to leverage. Take a look at some specific roles that would benefit from your leadership qualities and supplementary skills.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Skills in focus:
- Knowledge of district policies
- Experience managing budgets
- Insight on district funding & decision-making
Roles to pursue:
- Educational consultant
- Ed tech account executive
- Ed tech customer success manager
- Human resources
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
Skills in focus:
- People management
- Delegating responsibilities
- Evaluating performance
Roles to pursue:
- Program director
- Project manager
- L&D manager
- Corporate trainer
- Other leadership/managerial positions
One of the first questions to ask yourself as you consider a new career path is, “Do I want to stay in education somehow?” If you want a complete break from the education world, then you can explore the aforementioned jobs at companies outside of the education sector. All these roles exist at most established companies. If you want to continue working within the education realm, then search for those roles at education companies.
Improving The Education System
For those administrators who still have a passion for education, there are additional avenues. Many education administrators started as teachers, and therefore want to advocate for teachers. If you are passionate about making positive changes in the education world, consider a career path that allows you to do so on a different stage.
Outside of a school or district setting, there are teacher support roles. Your knowledge of policies and procedures in a school district will help you stand out for positions impacting educators. There are companies, nonprofits, and government organizations that could use your expertise in their mission to improve the education system. If you became an administrator to make a difference, you can still do so outside of the principal’s office.
Jobs For Education Administrators: Next Steps
If you are an education administrator struggling to determine what new jobs could be right for you, take our free career quiz to help you get started. Our resources may seem geared towards classroom teachers. But you were a teacher at one point, and have the same skills (plus more!) to offer a new career.
One of the biggest mistakes that I see educators make is that they try to navigate this process alone. Often, they put off “researching” until the very last minute. Which sets them up for a very stressful application season. Teacher Career Coach wants to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. To know EXACTLY what you need to do (and not do) in order to get your foot in the door.
You don’t have to do this on your own.
With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, Daphne has created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom. Tap the button below to learn more.
