What do you do if you want to become an educational leader?

The experience is very important, as it allows an in-depth view of the school environment. In the classroom, over time, a lot of learning transforms the teacher, enabling new challenges such as coordination, direction or educational guidance. Lifelong learning is the factor that will make the difference throughout this process.

Totally agree, but in my experience as a teacher of 20 years in the classroom, most leaders in education spend little time actually in the classroom and so struggle to understand the children we have in education today.

If you want to become an educational leader, you should further your education and earn an advanced degree like master's or doctoral degree. You can consider studying for a master's degree in educational leadership. This will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to hold a managerial role in an academic institution. Alternatively, if you have a master's degree, you can continue to pursue a doctorate program in education leadership or educational administration. These advanced degrees will prepare you for leadership roles in higher education administration and research.

The master's degree and doctorate in the area of education mainly provide a systemic view of the educational process, making the leader knowledgeable about theoretical references, scientific studies and providing the practical application of studies, whether in the daily classroom or in school management.

Being a Center Director, we work with allllllll kinds of personalities, communication styles, learning styles, creativity levels, and even multi-generations! Our staff is like a box of crayons...all different and all beautiful together. Getting the colors to coordinate (not necessarily match) can be the key to a leader's success. Coaching yellow to see that green doesn't HAVE to be the grass but can be the color of the car or bike; showing red that they don't HAVE to be a flower but maybe the bricks of a fireplace; or that blue isn't just there to be the sky or water...they can show people that they can be a bird or curtains in the window. Teaching people to see that other's are multifaceted goes a long way!

When assuming the role of leader in the educational field, the role will require strong relationships in the internal and external environment. Internally understanding conflicts and main difficulties in relationships, seeking alternative solutions. In the external environment, links with companies, school environments, strong connections with the community, strategic partnerships and involvement in fairs, events and school Olympics.

The educational leader needs skills and abilities that enable him to fulfill the role of manager, as it requires self-knowledge, confidence, networking, among others. Written and oral communication must be well developed, as well as an understanding of bureaucratic activities, legislation and standards that govern and impact the school environment.

We know that each country, state and city has its own characteristics that involve education, therefore, the educational leader must understand the regulatory structure, public policies and laws of each scope, whether federal, state or municipal. In Brazil we have great complexity and changes at all times, especially in secondary education, so the leader must be attentive and monitor the changes, impacts and whenever possible contribute to improvements in the education ecosystem.

The leader needs to reflect his teaching practice, changes are certainly agile in all areas, but to promote learning, self-knowledge, dedication and partnership with actors in the school environment are necessary.

Aspiring educational leaders can voluntarily take on school projects - academic or administrative. Often schools/educational institutions do not have appropriate human resources to take on responsibilities of Project/Event Coordination. If one volunteers for such roles it can be one of the best platforms to gain insight and experience as well as experience inter/intra/cross department functioning. Skills that can be learnt: 1. Event Management 2. People Management 3. Crisis Navigation 4. Troubleshooting 5. Media Relations 5. Logistics & Administration Management 7. Purchase, Inventory, Billing

The first thing to consider is to know why you want to become an educational leader. Some people might do it for the money or the power or the prestige, but the key factor would be in wanting to make a positive difference, not only for the students, but for the staff, the parents and for everyone that you would come in contact with.