Educational Leadership Careers

The best educational leaders understand that informed decision-making is founded on research and data. Rather than creating a plan or policy based on supposition, they carefully review the facts and figures available to chart the best path forward.

Working in education means bringing together educators, students, administrators, and parents of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Creating a welcoming and inclusive space facilitates communication and leads to equitable progress for all.

Some leadership skills are innate, but many others are learned. A strong leader not only takes responsibility for their organization, but they also develop a keen sense of empathy and understanding of their employees and peers, knowing when to compromise and upon whom to delegate.

No educational leader can accomplish all they need to on their own, which makes it important to learn how to build teams and network with others. Building enthusiasm toward a shared vision is critical for anyone working in this arena.

Whether addressing the school staff to let them know about budgetary matters, discussing disciplinary issues with a parent, or helping a student understand the processes of getting into college, school leaders must know how to communicate clearly and effectively, both in writing and in person.

Attending conferences, networking with other professionals in the field, and keeping up with the latest industry trends are three driving factors behind career success — and membership with a professional organization enables you to do all three. The following organizations cater to principals, superintendents, deans, administrative staff, and other educational leadership professionals.

The School Superintendents Association: Founded more than 150 years ago, AASA boasts a membership of more than 13,000 superintendents, school administrators, financial officers, and other educational leaders. The organization promotes advocacy initiatives like Educating the Total Child and holds several conferences throughout the calendar year. Certain members, such as retirees and “small-school” district leaders, may qualify for discounts on membership .

National Association of Secondary School Principals: This association caters to educational leaders who oversee middle and high schools in the United States. Members may take part in school improvement research, enroll in professional development courses, and/or work with fellow members to promote advocacy initiatives. NASSP publishes several periodicals and recognizes outstanding principals, assistant principals, and other school administrators across the country in an annual awards ceremony.

National Association of Elementary School Principals: NAESP focuses on the same goals and efforts as its sister association, NASSP, albeit at the elementary level. In addition to improvements in curriculum, standardized test scores, and administration strength, this organization also targets issues that are common among learners, such as identifying students with special needs and fostering literacy among young children.

National Association of School Superintendents: Superintendents often serve as the go-between for school officials and district administrators. NASS strives to provide networking opportunities for superintendents and their support staff at public schools across the country.

Association of Deans & Directors of University Colleges & Undergraduate Studies: The goal of this organization is to “establish a community of professional colleagues responsible for academic programs and services for undergraduates.” Any dean, director, assistant or associate professor may become a member. AD&D holds a national conference every spring.

In addition to formal college courses taken as part of an accredited degree program, students can access open courseware. Some of these specialized online courses are taught by faculty members at top schools like Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University. Additionally, these courses are typically offered free of charge.

Economics of Education – Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Whether an educational leader is charged with overseeing an elementary school or a four-year university, maintaining a balanced and sustainable budget is one of their top priorities. Using economic theory and institutional texts, Prof. Frank Levy explores the various financial challenges faced by today’s school systems. Other topics include the educational labor market, strategies for boosting a school’s rate-of-return for teachers, and the role new technology plays in employee skill demand.

Concept-Centered Teaching – Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Many educational leaders become well-versed with various learning theories over the course of their academic studies. Concept-centered instruction emphasizes repetition and retention of key ideas of fundamental value to a particular subject or course. Although this open course focuses on science education, the topics can apply to virtually any academic department.

Entertainment Education for Behavior Change – Johns Hopkins University: Young learners in particular can benefit from education that stimulates their creativity through games, multimedia presentations, and other entertainment-based platforms. This course is taught by Esta de Fossard, an entertainment-education specialist who discusses what she calls the “ingredients of successful entertainment” — emotions, empathy, efficacy, and empowerment — and how they may be applied in today’s classrooms.

Gifted and Talented Education – University of California, Irvine: Curriculum approval is a serious consideration for public school leaders. Classroom materials must not be too difficult for the majority of students to digest. By the same token, the curriculum should also challenge young minds, particularly those who are considered advanced. This course explores strategies that help principals and administrators identify the appropriate curricular pathway for gifted and talented students.

Most academic journals are available in a digital format, although they may only be available to paid subscribers. In contrast, open-access journals are free and accessible to anyone with an internet connection. The following list describes some of the leading open-access journals geared toward educational leaders.

AASA: Journal of Scholarship & Practice: This publication focuses on “methodologically sound research” that educational leaders can use to improve the overall performance of U.S. schools. Past entries discuss topics like core state standards, the administrator’s role within their school’s community, and methods of preparing students for mandated testing.

Behavioral Sciences: In public and private schools of all levels, educational leaders must often take on a disciplinarian role. This journal explores the scientific and psychological motives behind different types of behavior, as well as potential solutions for poor behavior, such as cognitive therapy and positive reinforcement.

Current Issues in Comparative Education: The field of comparative education focuses on the differences between school systems, which vary between countries, states, and even neighboring communities. This journal examines the cultural, political, and financial factors that influence not only schools, but also work-study programs, on-the-job training, NGOs, and other educational alternatives for adults and children around the world.

Current Issues in Education: Sponsored by the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, this catch-all journal explores trends in curricula, institutional leadership, policy, and other major areas of educational leadership. CIE’s archive dates back to 1998, and past entries have focused on topics related to pre-K, K-12, and higher education.

International Journal of Multicultural Education: Educational leaders in the U.S. must adopt strategies that address and incorporate our nation’s diverse cultural dynamic. IJME publishes journal entries that identify problematic trends in American schools that impact students of varying ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. It also proposes solutions that promote inclusivity, tolerance, and mutual respect.

There are fewer books targeting educational leaders than there are for teachers. However, the titles listed below are specifically geared toward principals, superintendents, deans, and administrative staff. The authors discuss topics like financial management, community presence, and other pivotal aspects for educational leadership professionals.

School Leadership That Works: From Research to Results: This 2005 title takes an academic approach to educational leadership. Authors Robert J. Marzano, Timothy Waters, and Brian A. McNulty consulted 69 different case studies — some dating back to the 1970s — and a nationwide survey of more than 600 principals to craft a list of “leadership responsibilities” that influence student involvement and performance.

The Principal as Instructional Leader: A Practical Handbook: This work, written by leadership expert Sally Zepeda, is geared toward principals and assistant principals. Zepeda discusses strategies for evaluating classroom performance (for both students and teachers), addressing problem areas, and creating a positive culture within the school for all faculty members.

The Essential Academic Dean: A Practical Guide to College Leadership: The author of this 2007 title — Jeffrey L. Buller — has held positions at four U.S. higher learning institutions, and he currently serves as the dean of the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University. This book is based on a series of workshops facilitated by Buller that address various concerns in modern college administration and management.

Funding Public Schools: Politics and Policy: Budgetary cutbacks, levy failures, and other financial woes burden just about every school administrator at some point. This 1999 work from Kenneth K. Wong explores the connection between fiscal management of public school systems and the policies enacted by federal and state lawmakers. Wong also notes the rules and regulations that dictate educational resource allocation at different levels of the U.S. government.

Industry magazines target a niche audience based on their profession. Periodicals aimed at educational leaders discuss strategies for improving the ways in which teachers, students, and administrative staff work together. Many also include information about professional organizations, conferences and seminars, continuing education courses, and other opportunities for career advancement.

Principal Magazine: This bimonthly publication is the official magazine of NAESP. Common topics include childhood mental and physical health, burgeoning educational technologies, disciplinary tactics, and promoting cultural understanding and tolerance to impressionable young learners. Archives of Principal Magazine date back to the 2004-05 academic year, and every issue is available online.

School Planning & Management: Aimed at teachers and educational leaders working in K-12 settings, SP&M primarily focuses on cost-effective strategies for managing a successful learning institution. Each issue includes feature articles, product blurbs, and columns that tackle more specific topics like school maintenance, safety and security, classroom technology, and finance.

University Business Magazine: In addition to news blurbs and feature articles, UB offers web seminars, industry case studies, and an extensive employment directory. Overarching topics include enrollment and retention, campus management, and financial analysis. Archived issues (dating to 2004) are available on the website in a digital flipbook format to readers who register for a free subscription.