In the broadest sense, educational administration is the leadership of people, space, time, and resources at all levels within a school system.
Educational administration is defined as an academic discipline that deals with the policy and practice of managing organizations that provide education.
The concept and philosophy of educational administration make it an appealing choice for professionals looking to work in education.
Education should be managed in all forms, whether it’s a formal classroom, a formal community center, or a school playground.
Educational administration is also a necessity that should be embraced by those passionate about education. This blog post examines educational administration as a career and the roles played by administrators in education.
What Is Educational Administration?
Educational administration is a field that specifically pertains to the management and leadership of educational institutions at all levels.
It involves performing such tasks as implementing policies and procedures, overseeing budgeting for staff salaries, and making sure that best practices get implemented in the classroom.
Among the responsibilities of this department are; the management of schools and school systems, including initiatives to improve teacher effectiveness, boost student achievement, and more.
It is also a function of the educational sector related to running a school or school system. They help enhance organizational efficiency, clarify relationship issues (governmental, local community, staff, parents, and students), improve employee satisfaction and commitment, and provide quality educational opportunities for all students.
Educational administration deals with two main aspects of schools;
- The hiring of teachers and other staff
- And the management and executive duties involved in running a school system.
Who Is an Educational Administrator?
An educational administrator is an individual who oversees the delivery of educational services at a school or institution, such as a principal, supervisor, or chief officer of a school district.
The educational administrator is the head of an institution’s education department and is responsible for the school’s policies. Also, educational administrators help ensure that teachers complete their work properly and effectively.
Also, their duties typically include evaluating teacher performance, managing budgets, and other non-teaching duties. This type of job requires strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to lead and manage people.
What Is the Importance of Educational Administration?
A solid administration is essential to the smooth running of a school. Without it, conflicting rules and regulations, and a lack of communication, could result in chaos in the classrooms and playground.
Also, a qualified educational administrator ensures all policies are adhered to and that teachers, parents, governors, and children alike are aware of what to expect from them.
In addition, one notable contribution of educational administration to the enhancement of curriculum and instruction has been the development of school-based management frameworks.
Among its importance is the use of deliberate planning, organizing, and managing processes to;
- Improve student learning
- Establish policies
- Provide necessary resources
- Develop staff that has professional capabilities, qualifications, and effectiveness;
- Create sound working relationships with families, community organizations, state and federal agencies, and other organizations.
All these roles contribute to the improvement of education.
What Are the Benefits of Educational Administration?
You have a chance to become part of a dynamic team, with the opportunity to work in different schools and contribute to a successful education for all.
Also, there is plenty of support to use if you need it, with training available in areas like school improvement planning, special educational needs, and parent liaison.
Listed below are some benefits of educational administration and being an administrator.
1. Helping Students to Reach Their True Potential
Administrators help students to reach their true potential. They also provide the essential foundations necessary for building a successful educational system.
Educational administrators help run schools and make sure they run efficiently while providing a safe environment for all children to study in.
2. You Can Help Improve Literacy Rates
An educational administrator helps improve literacy rates in children by setting policies regarding children’s education.
In addition, they evaluate teachers and analyze student achievement to narrow the gap between successful learners and struggling students.
They also advocate for a high-quality educational system, which is important because education shapes the future earnings potential of both students and teachers. These duties are done by school principals, superintendents, assistant principals, etc.
3. Develop a Positive Learning Environment
School administrators develop and maintain a positive learning environment in schools. They establish goals and objectives, manage the school’s affairs, and help improve student achievement. Teachers and parents also work with them to enhance and educate students.
A school principal, for example, manages the finances and schedules of the school, making sure that its resources get used wisely to enhance the educational experience for everyone.
4. Coordinate Efforts to Support Student Learning
Supporting student learning is the responsibility of educational administrators. They ensure that equitable opportunities exist for all students regardless of race or income, fostering successful and healthy school communities.
This multidisciplinary field includes principals, assistant principals, and other education administrators.
5. Act as Liaison between the School, the Community, and the Administration
Educational administrators act as liaisons between the school, the community, and the administration. This is a challenging role because they must manage multiple demands and expectations.
As a liaison, they need to understand the needs of all constituent groups while also facilitating communication among them. Educational administrators have a reputation for being the glue that keeps everything together.
If community members work with education administrators, it can benefit the whole system.
6. Educational Administration Help Develop School Policies
The main responsibility of an educational administrator is to administer the policies of a school or district, providing leadership and guidance to the teachers that are in the school.
Also, these school policies could include certain discipline procedures, teacher hiring practices, measures to ensure a safe environment for students, or providing special accommodations for students with disabilities.
To aid in developing school policies, educational administrators may research their effects on students and schools.
They also maintain a safe and clean environment for students and represent interested groups.
7. Provide Professional Development Opportunities for All Staff Members
To promote the staff’s professional development and their students’ learning, the education administration supports staff members’ professional development.
Also, educational administration includes support strategies for teachers throughout their entire professional life span. Evidence shows that educators who have had access to formal opportunities for continuing development have a high level of commitment to the profession.
They also tend to maximize their potential and make significant contributions to the learning process.
8. Promote Positive Relationships with Staff, Parents, and Community Members
It is helpful for students’ overall development when positive relationships among teachers, parents, and community members exist.
Educational administration helps officials communicate with the community and establish and maintain communication systems with parents.
Also, the administration promotes a team-oriented environment where staff can feel comfortable working together to keep students safe.
What Are the Challenges Faced in Educational Administration?
Stricter management constraints and increased accountability have led to more challenges administrators face today.
Furthermore, the increased rate of turnover and the replacement of experienced administrators due to retirement or other reasons have contributed to the different challenges facing today’s educational administration.
In addition, some of the challenges faced in education administration include creating an environment conducive to learning, ensuring student enrollment, training teachers, identifying course materials, and motivating students.
Multiple aspects make up the job description of an educational administrator, including; self-motivation, the ability to lead a team and community, the ability to set up effective collaboration, and the ability to multitask.
Educational administrators must have patience, emotional maturity, and an empathy gene, in addition to a professional demeanor. There are tight deadlines and demanding expectations placed on educational leaders and strict policies related to student testing.
Administrators with these attributes can overcome the challenges that affect educational administration and manage the school system effectively.
FAQs
Is educational administration a good career?
Yes, educational administration is a rewarding career.
The role of an educational administrator can be both challenging and rewarding, especially if you are the right person for the job. Furthermore, it is a great way to achieve career stability.
As a profession, it attracts individuals who relish being in control of all aspects of a school, whether directly or indirectly. Benefits include serving the community and assisting with developing the future leaders of tomorrow.
How much does an educational administrator earn?
The 90th percentile of school administrators earns about $84,000 annually, while the average school administrator earns $58,000 annually.
The salary for an educational administrator depends on factors like the district size, state, qualifications, and responsibilities.
Does a teacher earn more than an educational administrator?
No, a teacher does not typically earn more than an educational administrator.
An educational administrator is usually the head of an entire district or an individual school with ultimate decision-making power in the academic atmosphere in their jurisdiction.
A teacher, however, has no power to alter what is taking place in a school.
Conclusion
Educational administration is a broad career path that involves working closely with educationally-related departments within the school.
Educational administrators may work in elementary, secondary, post-secondary, vocational, or continuing education schools.
Additionally, in all of these roles, they perform administrative tasks such as hiring and firing faculty, ordering and budgeting for supplies or curriculum materials, or developing parent outreach and school policies.
Finally, while educational administration is vital to the education system, the job is never complete without teachers. Yes, teachers play a greater role in all students’ academics than administrators.
Although teachers need to get more qualifications and certifications to become administrators, they are crucial to the development of students. Here are reasons why teachers are vital to education and why they should receive the proper valuation.
I hope you found this article helpful. Thanks for reading.
