School Administrator

What is a School Administrator?

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in school administrator roles:

• Recruit, hire and train staff, teachers, and other faculty members
• Ensure schools adhere to any federal, state, and local regulations
• Help establish curriculums, programs, and classes to benefit students and meet education goals
• Manage budgets, set schedules, and oversee school operations

A Day in the Life of a School Administrator

In daycare facilities, school administrators oversee preschool and other educational programs. When preschools and daycares are funded by federal or state Head Start programs, school administrators are required to ensure programs meet regulatory and educational standards set by those programs. They also hire staff to teach preschoolers and monitor children during non-educational, daycare-only hours. They also manage facility budgets and allocate funds to programs designed to help meet school goals.

In elementary, middle, and high schools, school administrators usually serve in vice principal, principal, or superintendent roles. These school administrators are leaders who ensure that all people who interact with the school—students, parents, teachers, staff, etc.—have the tools needed to achieve success. They manage and set curriculums, set school goals, oversee operational processes, and report school and district progress to the community and school board.

The day-to-day responsibilities of a school administrator may require working with multiple different types of people and managing a variety of tasks. They may assist with student disciplinary issues or consult with parents when questions are asked or concerns need to be addressed. They establish professional development opportunities for staff members and step in when disagreements arise. They also serve as the face of their schools to community members, school boards, and government officials.

Typical Work Schedule for School Administrators

Most school administrator jobs are full-time roles. Administrators work daytime, weekday hours and are off on major holidays. Unlike teaching positions, school administrators work 12 months a year and spend summers preparing for the upcoming school year.

School Administrator Specializations

• Preschool administrators manage all educational and organizational aspects of a preschool or daycare facility.
• Vice principals assist principals with operational and educational tasks in elementary, middle, and high schools.
• Principals are the overall leaders of an individual elementary, middle, or high school and are accountable for all aspects of running a school that lead to the successful education of students.
• Superintendents Oversee multiple elementary, middle, and high schools in a district and work closely with a school board to present initiatives on behalf of schools, teachers, and students.

Career Progression

• Early Career: Teacher, Assistant Principal
• Mid-Career: Principal, Instructional Coordinator
• Late Career: Superintendent, School Board Member

Typical work schedule

School administration requires constant attention and supervision of different aspects of the school which means that administrators have to follow full-time working schedules with 40 hours per week. They occasionally need to work extra hours on evenings or weekends to meet parents and other community members as well as to attend different school events like concerts and sports competitions. On average, school they work more than 60 hours per week particularly in communities with high prevalence of poverty where there are more problems to solve and handle. The range of tasks will vary depending on the size and budget of the school or college. School administrators have to work during the summer as well as other vacations in order to supervise the buildings’ maintenance, hiring staff members, training as well as ordering supplies. However, the workload is usually lower during the vacations compared to the school days. In some instances, school principles are involved in police investigations particularly related to domestic violence or child abuse.

Projected job growth

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of school administrators is expected to grow by at least 4 % between 2019 and 2020. This rate is similar to the average of other jobs and this rate will be affected by student enrollment and number of new educational institutes to be established. School administration is a managerial level position which means that it is mostly not a vacancy available to fresh graduates. Yet, if you are interested in such position, then you will have to equip yourself with the necessary skills and certifications especially in management, leadership and education.

Typical Employers

There are currently around 100,000 public schools and more than 35,000 private schools in the US. These are the main employers for school administrators. There are some differences in the work between public and private schools including the process for hiring staff. Additionally, working in public schools is usually more financially rewarding compared to private schools. School administrators can move at some point of their careers to a position at the Department of Education or other higher administrative entities. They can also participate in the curriculum development.