Education
9 satisfying careers in education outside the classroom
There are many careers in education in which professionals work closely with students, although they are not classroom teachers..
Education is wide open for professionals who want to be in the field but whose passion may not be as a classroom teacher.
"Educators aren't always classroom teachers," says Tracy Linderholm, Georgia Southern University professor and associate dean of graduate education and research. "Administrators, library media specialists, professional school counselors, these are all part of the educational field. You can be passionate about teaching, about education and about making a difference in a student's life without pursuing the more traditional classroom route," Linderholm said. Here are nine careers that usually don't require employees to teach.
- School counselor: When students need assistance with issues at school, handling stressful situations or determining their strengths for future careers, they're often directed to school counselors. In addition to individual and group counseling, School counselors are also involved in consultation and program coordination to meet the diverse academic and developmental needs of students. The position, which usually requires a master's degree, has an average starting salary of $53,000, according to the United States Department of Labor.
- School psychologist: School psychologists serve a variety of roles from crisis intervention to planning behavioral interventions. "In addition, school psychologists often administer psychoeducational assessments to help gauge students' individual emotional and academic needs," Linderholm said "They also can work with with parents and teachers to help address a child's social/emotional functioning in a school setting," she said. Rather than being stationed at one school, these employees generally serve a district-wide area. Linderholm said school psychologists in Georgia must hold an educational specialist (Ed. S.) degree, which is a degree between a master's and a doctorate. Salaries usually start in the $60,000 range.
- Reading coach: Districts and schools often turn to reading coaches when they want to improve students' abilities to grasp reading material. Reading coaches create programs that help students improve their reading scores. They also work with individual teachers to improve performance in specific subjects. "They might work with a science teacher to help students read better in that content area and help students increase their literacy in science," Linderholm said. These positions also usually require master's degrees and start with a salary in the $50,000 range.
- School Library Media specialist: School library media specialists usually are placed in charge of the library and any programs associated with that area of the school. They help teachers research topics for classes and assist students who are using the library to complete assignments. School library media specialists also help teachers with securing videos or other materials that might assist them in the classroom. The position requires a master's degree and has a starting salary between $40,000 and $50,000, Linderholm said.
- English as a Second Language specialist: Though not a specific position, many in the field of education outside the classroom are discovering the importance of ESOL certification. "With more non-native English speakers in the state, anyone who has an understanding of language acquisition and cultural diversity is extremely important to a specific school and the district in general," Linderholm said. Georgia Southern offers education majors a way to complete an endorsement program that will certify them in English as a Second Language, Linderholm said.
- School principal: Elementary, middle school and high school principals manage their assigned schools and all the employees within them. They coordinate classes, help finalize curricula and maintain a safe learning environment for both students and teachers, according to the Department of Labor. Though the position usually requires a master's degree in other states, Georgia recently began requiring teachers to have an Ed.S. degree, Linderholm said. Salaries start around $87,000 a year. Linderholm said many principals start as assistant principals and are later able to work their way up to other positions, such as superintendent.
- Instructional technologist: Schools are increasingly turning to trained instructional technologists who have the ability to help teachers and other educators integrate new technology into the classroom. Instructional technologists might work on an individual school's technology needs or they might work for a district. The job varies in scope depending on the school or district's needs, so job requirements and salary can vary.
- Superintendent: School superintendents are in charge of hiring principals for the schools in their district and are the final authority for all employees within the system. Though requirements vary across districts, many superintendents have doctorates, Linderholm said. The Department of Labor reports that the average starting salary for superintendents is about $100,000 a year.
- Speech therapist: Almost half of speech-language pathologists work in schools, assisting students with any speech, language or swallowing disorders, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Employees in this position often work with children with special needs and are able to help them communicate better with teachers, parents and friends. Most speech therapist positions require a master's degree. Salaries often start at about $70,000 a year.
This article is presented in collaboration with the College of Education at Georgia Southern University. Visit the website for more information on the College of Education and its programs and course offerings.
