Job Discussion Forums

[Audisadi]

Hi all,

Currently my qualifications are: B.A. Honours History (Canada) & PG Dip. Primary Ed. (Australia) + teaching experience.

I'm looking to make the transition into school administration (deputy principal/principal type work). Where do I go next?

I'm currently checking out online MEd courses in School Admin/Leadership studies, though I'd appreciate hearing from others about what flavour of MEd is most worthwhile in terms of progression into admin.

Any info would be great.

Cheers.

[Glenski]

If you are planning to get into administrative positions overseas, the first obvious question is...do you have the foreign language skills (speaking, reading, and writing)?

[Audisadi]

Mmmm...well I am a native English speaker and know basic French. Considering the administration I've seen at previous schools however most seem to know only English if they are from Western countries.

[Glenski]

Let me ask this.

What country do you propose to work in as an administrator?

[Audisadi]

Well to be honest I'll go anywhere. I suppose I will have to go to Asia to build up experience for the most part.

[Glenski]

Frankly, I think you are being unrealistic about your chances. In Japan, anyway, you will find it impossible to nearly so to land a principal's job without knowing Japanese.

[The_Hanged_Man]

I'm guessing you are talking about international schools right?

With no prior admin experience your chances are practically nil to be directly hired, as admin positions at international schools are extremely competitive. What many people without experience do at international schools is to get hired as a teacher, work their butts off, and then get promoted within the school.

Also, in addition to the experience most schools expect you to have the appropriate degree (MEd in Leadership or something similar) and certification to be a Principal in your home country.

[ecocks]

DOS positions don't seem to require fluency in both languages. Some places refuse to have a Native-speaker DOS but that has really seemed to be more financially related than really having anything to do with fluency requirements.

Owners/operators with the sense to hire assistants and support people seem to get by.

So. I don't see the need for it although some schools certainly have this requirement in place.

[Audisadi]

While I can appreciate that second language capabilities may be required in some cases, I've known quite a few and spoken to even more admin staff who do not have a second language. In fact a number of schools run a co-principal system whereby a Western principal acts alongside a Non-Western principal.

Additionally, the object of the question was not to hear feedback on how I can't do this but rather how I should go about doing it.

[Audisadi]

And yes, I'm referring more to International schools.

[The_Hanged_Man]