School leadership is an avenue to enhance the school setting. Whether it is a teacher, counselor, or curriculum specialist, school leadership focuses on growing and developing students and impacting others. For the school administrator, there are a variety of ways to make an impact on student learning. The administrator has multiple tasks that impact student learning, safety, and teacher professional development. Although there are similarities in elementary and secondary administrators, there are some differences when it comes to the administration and supervision of schools. To learn the daily task of a school administrator it is vital to understand the experiences at each level.
The Administrative Experience: Elementary
A day in the life of a principal is different every day. The typical elementary school includes grades K-5. In elementary schools, there is a need for guidance counselors, math and reading coaches, and especially administrators. Administrators collaborate with teachers and other faculty and staff to improve student instruction and create a positive environment for social-emotional learning.
At the elementary setting, administrators are held accountable for students’ reading and math enrichment as this is the foundational period for students in their educational career. Elementary schools usually consist of the head principal and at least two assistant principals. At the elementary level, school administrators supervise teachers, have bus and car duty, student discipline, textbooks, and complete scheduling of classes for students.
Additionally, school administrators focus on providing professional development in curriculum and instruction. Depending on the district or building administration’s priorities, one administrator may be assigned specifically in the area of instruction. One clear difference between elementary school administrators and secondary administrators is the time spent in the school building.
Respectively, all school principals and assistant principals spend a majority of their time on school campuses. However, due to the lack of extracurricular activities in the elementary setting, principals are able to leave earlier than their counterparts at the secondary level. An example of a school hours of operation will be from 7:20 AM to 2:30 PM. This does not include dismissal and car pick-up. Although this is just an example of a school time frame, the times will vary depending on the district or state objectives.
The Administrative Experience: Middle and Secondary
Both middle schools and high schools are included in the secondary level. Most middle schools serve students in grades sixth through eighth, while students in grades ninth through twelfth are served at the high school. In middle school, administrators have textbook duties, bus, and car-line supervision, as well as teachers’ observations and growth and development. During the middle school years, students have learned their basic elementary concepts in the areas of math, language arts, social studies, and science and now have a more advanced teaching and learning process. School curriculum is more advanced and so are the issues facing students, teachers, and administrators.
The high school administrator has many goals and objectives on a daily basis. The high school principal and assistant principal have long hours during the work day. This includes classroom observations, collaborating with school counselors to schedule classes, and implementing student discipline. An example of a high school schedule time is from 8:25 AM to 3:30 PM. However, in addition to the daily schedule for classroom instruction of students, there are also multiple events and extracurricular activities.
Outside of classroom instructional observations, high school administrators have to supervise athletic events, coordinate activities such as prom, JROTC Programs, and participate in the graduation ceremony. In the high school setting, there is the school principal and at least three to four assistant principals depending on the size.
Certification and Graduate School Requirements
For an aspiring administrator, it is important to know what steps must be taken to become a building administrator. Principals and assistant principals lead schools based on their previous teaching experience as well as the professional development they receive and the school district’s priorities. Certification requirements vary from state to state, however, as a general rule, school administrators must have a minimum of three to five years teaching experience.
There are specific graduate programs that certify an educator to become a school principal. An M.Ed. in Educational Administration or Leadership is the most common degree. However, there is also an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. Examples of coursework in M.Ed. Educational Leadership and M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction programs include the following:
- Introduction to Research and Statistics
- School and Community Relations
- School Law
- Curriculum Management
- Supervision and Evaluation of Teachers
- Ethical Leadership
For those who want to further their education, educators can also pursue an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership or a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. It is important to know that most administrators choose to go to either the elementary or secondary setting. This usually is dictated by whether or not the teacher has experience in the elementary or secondary setting. Generally, an administrator will get a certification in one or the other, however, some programs certify educators for administration grades K-12.
Administrators in schools have many tasks that change daily. Motivating staff as a school administrator is just as important as improving student achievement. Building-level administrators use data to analyze student success, meet with parents, and the school board for enhanced community relations, and serve as a model of professionalism for students, teachers, and other colleagues. Being a school leader is rewarding no matter what the role is. This can be in the classroom as a teacher, as a guidance counselor, or a school principal.
However, the school principal has a unique role in the growth and development of the student and the school as a whole. The many different hats worn by the school principal is a reflection of the different skills they use to enhance the school combined with the different priorities of the school district and board. All of these examples are ways that administrators on the elementary and secondary level positively impact the lives of students and the community.
A graduate degree in administration prepares you to lead as a principal, superintendent or other school administrator and help shape the future for generations of students. Check out our available leadership and administration graduate degrees and get started today!
