If you’ve been in the education field for a while, you may be curious about getting a doctorate. This could be the perfect choice for you depending on your disposition, where you are in your career, and your goals.
What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Education?
If you want to make more of an impact on school programs or be at the head of an institution, it could be a good option. There are tons of career paths available to those who get their doctorate, and some you may not have considered. Let’s take a look at a few things you could do with a doctorate in education.
College President
This is one of the most prestigious and fulfilling careers in education. Presidents are the number one leaders in universities and colleges. They’re the ones who are responsible for spearheading their school’s vision, identity, and culture. They will work on things such as raising funds for the school as well. As a president, you will also be asked to give out a lot of talks and lectures. You might have to speak in front of donors, faculty, government, or lawmakers, for instance.
Presidents need to work with people at various levels to ensure that the students get the best education possible. They might work with staff, faculty, and senior administrators to improve their student’s learning environment while maintaining high academic standards.
Not only is this a great job if you want to make a real impact on the life of students and the direction of your school, but it’s one of the highest-paid positions in the field as well. College presidents can expect to make as much as $272,203 per year on average.
If that’s something that interests you, but you’re currently holding a position, we suggest you start looking at a no-GRE online doctorate in education degree programs. Many of these will allow you to get your credentials much faster than traditional programs. This could be a great option if you have a tight schedule but still want to advance your career.
Chief Learning Officer
Chief learning officer is one of the top executive roles you’ll find in education. A chief learning officer’s role is to drive and develop strategies to help a school or university meet critical business objectives. Chief learning officers focus on creating development, training, and learning strategies. These are also those who are often responsible for rolling out and overseeing new technologies. They might be asked to work on a school remote learning program, for instance.
Provost
Provosts, or VPs, play a vital role in universities and colleges. These are the second in command after presidents. They will be asked to work closely with department heads and deans. They will help determine a school’s academic priorities and goals. They also play a hands-on role in the hiring of faculty members. Not only that, but they will also be responsible for helping to retain and onboard them. While presidents will often be involved with top administrators and officials, provosts are more involved in the school’s day-to-day operations.
School Principal
If you’d rather work at the middle, elementary, or high school level, working as a school principal could be a great option. Principals have a very diverse set of duties. They are the ones responsible for hiring new teachers and staff. They will also have to manage budgets. Also, they might have to enforce disciplinary rules and ensure the safety and well-being of students.
Principals influence the curriculum and how it’s dispensed as well. They have to manage conflict between students and teachers, and sometimes between teachers as well. They have to make sure that the school is up to code and that all safety measures are followed. This is an excellent job if you’ve been a teacher for a while and want to move to a better role.
School principals are also paid relatively well. The average school principal can expect to make as much as $95,310. Note that the level will also make a difference. High school principals make more than elementary or middle school principals, but their duties are a bit more demanding as well, so that’s something you’ll need to consider.
Superintendent
If you want to steer a whole district, then you should consider working as a superintendent. Their job will consist of overseeing and establishing a school’s budget, spending, and infrastructure. Your work will have a direct influence on the performance and well-being of students in your district. Additionally, you might also have to deal with teacher unions’ negotiations and occasionally have to settle a conflict.
A superintendent routinely has to work with the school board on policies and programs that will align with the district’s objectives for the short and long term. They will also help allocate resources towards those efforts.
Academic Dean
Deans play an essential role in every university. The role of a dean will differ depending on the institution. Still, they will usually be in charge of managing staff and faculty, setting academic goals, overseeing their department’s budget, helping with fundraising, and fostering student development, among other things.
Deans often play an essential role in admissions as well. They will lead and develop recruitment efforts. They will also look over applications, set how many students should be accepted for each program and who they should be. They will also be in charge of communication with students and their families.
You might also see the dean in research or student affairs, or they might work in development and help the school find new partners and donors. These might come from government, corporations, foundations, or alumni. This is a very diverse position and a great one for anyone who wants to work on a university’s daily operations.
What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Education?
As you can see, tons of doors could open to you if you get a doctorate in education. We suggest that you look at each of these opportunities and don’t hesitate to ask for advice.
