Has it been a while since you’ve been in the high school teaching trenches?
Lesson planning, grading endless assignments, handling classroom drama, and trying to get students to pay attention—you have dealt with a lot. And since you’re stuck in the same routine for quite some time, you must have been wondering if there’s something more out there for you in the education world, right?
The good news is that high school teachers have a massive opportunity to step up and make an even bigger impact in the education sector.
Want to know how you can level up in your career? Read this guide, for we’ll share a few strategies.
1. Specialize to Stand Out
You’d second that there is no dearth of high-school teachers. That is why you need to set yourself apart from them if you want to stand out.
How do you do that? The answer is specialization.
Specializing will benefit you in plenty of ways. According to North Penn Now, you will gain deeper knowledge in the field, which will make teaching more effective. Specialization will also equip you with innovative teaching strategies, so you will be able to support students better.
From STEM education to educational technology, you have plenty of options when it comes to specialization.
Personal preference matters, but evaluate your strengths before deciding on any specialization. Love literacy advocacy?
Work on programs that boost reading engagement. Interested in special education or mental health? Get certified in student support services and become a resource for struggling kids.
The best part? Specialization will lead to speaking engagements, workshops, and other professional perks that put you on the map.
2. Invest in Further Education
Yes, you already have a degree and have probably spent years in the classroom honing your skills.
But if you want to move up in the education sector, continuing education is key.
Now more than ever, teachers have a wealth of opportunities to pursue further education. Higher education is one of the best ways to advance your career.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, pursue a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.). This degree will reinforce your understanding of educational concepts, theories, curriculum, and instructional techniques.
Already have a master’s? Step it up with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). This degree will equip you to drive positive change and greater outcomes in schools, government, healthcare, and public and private organizations, says Marymount University.
If you are already swamped with lesson planning and grading, squeezing in a full-blown doctorate program might be difficult. Consider enrolling in an online program.
Online doctorates in education offer flexibility since you can learn at your own pace while still managing your job and personal life. It also opens doors to leadership roles like principal, district administrator, policymaker, or even a professor training future educators.
Most importantly, you’ll gain advanced skills in curriculum development, educational leadership, and research. That will empower you to make a bigger impact in education.
3. Engage in Educational Research
Teaching isn’t just about showing up, following a lesson plan, and hoping for the best. The best teachers are always asking questions, testing new strategies, and figuring out what actually works.
So, get involved in research. Engaging in research means diving into real-world issues in education and finding solutions that can actually make a difference.
According to Sage, you can find solutions to issues arising in your classroom or school. You can explore new teaching strategies and test what works best in your classroom.
Alternatively, you can research student learning behaviors to improve engagement or study the impact of technology in education and how it changes learning outcomes.
Research can also help you underpin professional learning of knowledge, skills, and understanding.
4. Expand Your Professional Network
You know the saying, “It’s not just what you know, but who you know”? That applies to teaching, too.
Investopedia explains that who you know may be just as important as what you know when it comes to getting professional opportunities.
Expanding your professional network in education can open doors you didn’t even know existed, from new job opportunities to collaborations that make a real impact.
So, how do you grow your network? Attend conferences and workshops. These events can help you connect with experienced educators, administrators, and policymakers who can offer valuable insights and even job leads.
Join professional organizations like the National Education Association (NEA) or the ASCD to gain access to mentorship, training, and exclusive job listings.
Don’t forget to join LinkedIn. It has a thriving education community where you can discuss trends and collaborate.
Stepping up in the education sector doesn’t mean working yourself into exhaustion. It means finding smarter, more engaging ways to teach while making your life easier.
Whatever path you choose, just remember that you’ve already mastered one of the toughest jobs out there. Everything else is just a new lesson plan waiting to be written.