If you are an educator looking for a new challenge, further study in educational leadership may be for you. Educational leadership spans roles like school principals, administrators, athletic directors and more, opening many opportunities for greater responsibility and higher earning potential.
In K-12 education, effective leaders can make a massive difference for their staff and pupils. That is why completing a specialized program like Northwest Missouri State University’s online Education Specialist (Ed.S.) – Educational Leadership K-12 program is an investment in a future career in educational leadership.
What Is an Ed.S. Degree?
An Ed.S. is a postgraduate degree that allows professionals to specialize in a particular education topic and gain advanced skills. Due to cost and time investment, Ed.S. degrees represent a compromise between a master’s and a doctoral degree, since they provide graduates with valuable insight and experience in a specialized field.
Indeed notes that Ed.S. degrees typically focus on a specialization. With the increase of e-learning, this may be a popular route to pursue for some. In an Ed.S. degree program, students take courses on curriculum planning, educational technology, administration and more.
Graduates with an Ed.S. degree have many opportunities. With a specialization in K-12 education, graduates may become elementary/middle school/high school principals, assistant principals and coordinators at educational institutions in public or private education.
Why Is Educational Leadership Important?
A recent article by ThoughtExchange succinctly expresses the importance of educational leadership and all that it entails: “Educational leadership greatly impacts a school’s climate, attitude, and reputation. Educational leaders manage all aspects of the organization, ensuring schools run smoothly, and motivating their communities to contribute to student success.”
The article also notes the importance of an “inclusive” leadership approach. Focusing on becoming an inclusive leader with the right resources could be an area of focus within an Ed.S. program. Furthermore, there are many different approaches to leadership that future leaders can explore and adopt to find what works best. These include instructional, coaching, democratic, constructivist and transformational leadership.
Educational Leadership During COVID-19
If looking for concrete examples of the effect of educational leadership, consider the impact of this role during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reaction brought about school closures and many challenges for educators, students, parents and educational leaders. It gave educational leaders a chance to steer their institutions in a positive way and support various stakeholders, each with different concerns.
Schools were affected by positive and negative leadership during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As the authors of a study published in Policy Futures in Education explain, “Although K-12 school leaders are no strangers to managing crises, dealing with government shutdowns and repeated school closures on a global scale in modern history presented unprecedented hurdles in school governance and leadership.”
The authors note that many schools lacked preparedness for the transition to online learning. Knowing how to distribute limited resources in this situation was also a major concern. Experienced educational leaders can thrive in these areas, finding solutions or planning crisis responses in advance. At the very least, the pandemic has shown educational leaders the importance of preparing for exceptional circumstances.
Women in Educational Leadership
New Leaders recently referenced some findings from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) regarding the presence of female leadership in the education system. According to the article, “Over three-quarters of all teachers are women, but only about one-quarter of school superintendents and close to one-half of principals are women.”
While that figure may change, hearing stories of women in leadership roles can be inspiring for up-and-coming leaders. New Leaders features a variety of women leaders and their stories on its site. Education specialist degrees are additional opportunities for women looking to elevate their roles as educators and embrace the world of leadership.
No matter what has inspired you to pursue a role in educational leadership, a degree program like the Northwest’s online Ed.S. Educational Leadership K-12 is a great place to start. Focused courses like Foundations of Educational Administration and The Principalship prepare graduates for their future roles with enriching content and hands-on experience in a collaborative environment.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online Educational Specialist – Educational Leadership K-12 program.
