How can you transition from teaching ESL to school administration?

I agree, but make sure you are leaving because you want to improve systems, address difficult situations with students, teachers, and parents. Do you have ideas for improving student learning outcomes? How will you address the culture and climate of the school? Will you love your teachers? Will you love the students more? Are you going to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them? Are you willing to work long hours and many weekends? Make sure you know why you want to be an administrator. If you are ready, then jump in. There is nothing better or more transformational than a good administrator.

The change is huge but worth it. Classroom experience is necessary if you want to make this change. You need to know what happens inside a classroom to become a school leader. When I moved from the classroom to "my" office the first thing I brought was a nice family portrait. Eight years later I realise I rarely see it. As in the classroom, the day ahead is always different from the plan.

I was just talking about this with a couple teachers yesterday at Macmillan's Perú Teachers' Festival. The first thing you want to do is stand out from the crowd. Of course your teaching skills, charisma, etc are important, but to someone who's receiving 50 CVs for a position, your CV has to stand out. What are the best things you can have on it? A C1 advanced or IELTS band 7 is a great place to start, but many people have that. You need to have a CELTA or Delta, I'd strongly recommend taking the train the trainer, or have a master's in educational management, and it'd be great if you can start getting your name out there as a teacher trainer by presenting in your local TESOL or IATEFL chapters. Make your CV shine as much as you do.

Your professional background has to do with your education and qualifications as well as your experience and competencies. In my opinion, it is the combination of many factors that makes it easier for a teacher to become a school leader. Some skills are gained (and learned) in the process of becoming a good leader. Some others have to do with the person's essence, even belief system and attitude. As in the classroom, your eyes need to be in many places at the same time. You deal with different people: students, teachers, parents, stakeholders and many others depending on your role. You need to be organized, empathetic, a problem-solver, a planner,

Teaching ESL is preparatory ground for transitioninng to school admins?ation. The communication skills involved in the teaching build the teacher's confidence. The skills are essential in networking within the department, with the school community, and with other groups of ESL teachers. When vacancies arise for head of department, pastoral teacher, or deputy principal, the ESL teacher should apply. ESL teachers can boost their transition to adminstration through personal development, for example, acquiring new skills and qualifications. It is worthy investing in a leadership degree, and ESL teachers should find the studies accessible. ESL teaching involves collaborative tasks, and this makes the ESL teacher an effective team worker.

There are many PD courses you can attend to improve your leadership skills. But experience is gained when watching, sharing, and learning from others. I have never done any volunteer work of this kind, but I used to volunteer myself to organize or guide colleagues in different group tasks. Social skills are learned hands-on.

When applying for a leading position, you need to show them who you are. Prepare a nice resume, a proper cover letter and a portfolio but you need to shine in the interview. So, tell them about your experience and plans. Share the changes you need to see in the world to make it a better place. Persuade them. Learn about the institution. Show them how much the institution will benefit from having you as a leader. The best image is that of a lifelong learner willing to cooperate for a better world.

The school leader learns every day from everyone. There are lots of new tasks to accomplish. You will need to think ahead when organizing for future plans but you will also deal with everyday issues with teachers, students, families, and other members of the community. Your inter & intra-personal skills will be continuously in the spotlight. You need to care about people, the institution, and their aims. Sometimes, to your surprise, they are different. You will need to negotiate and balance a lot. Be persistent but learn to actively listen to others.