With thousands of schools and learning facilities in the US, education majors are always needed to teach, motivate and mentor future generations. With spirit and support, international students can open doors for other students through careers in education. Whether you are interested in a career in early childhood education or secondary education, whether you become a principal or a special education teacher, education jobs can be rewarding and insightful.
Education is a popular major for many college students. Students who study education do so because they are committed to the growth of future generations and want to help in the enrichment of lives through learning, mentorship and guidance. International students looking for education jobs have a much wider spectrum of career choices and advancements available to them than they may realize. Education is a broad major and students will have plenty of opportunity to find rewarding careers in education if they determine exactly what they are looking for in a job and where their skills lie.
Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education
Early childhood educators are at the foundation of learning. Careers in this field of education include child care administrator or director, preschool teacher, parent educator, social services coordinator, family services worker, nanny, coach, disabilities specialist and more. Early childhood educators can work in a wide variety of places, including child care programs, public schools, non-profit organizations, churches, social services agencies and other settings. International students interested in a career in early childhood education should work towards advancing healthy development for children, constructing suitable learning atmospheres, and should be willing to work together with families. Students should also know how to multitask, encourage, communicate, and be patient.
Elementary educators should possess the same skills and goals as early education educators. Most elementary educators will be working in elementary schools with elementary-aged children, which can differ depending on the local area. Generally, elementary school will include grades K-5 or K-6. As kindergarten teachers, international students will work with young children to prepare them for higher grades, giving them a foundation that they will be able to take with them throughout the rest of their education. Kindergarten teachers must learn basic concepts in math and reading, create lesson plans, develop social skills, monitor progress and communicate the improvement to the parents, and prepare the students for state tests. Rising kindergarten teachers are encouraged to complete courses in child development, educational psychology, child health, safety and nutrition and classroom management. Similar skills are required for international students interested in other grades of elementary education, but should be tailored for the age group they will be teaching.
Secondary Education
Those interested in furthering the education students received during preschool and elementary school should find a career in secondary education. These careers mostly involve middle schools and high schools and can include teachers for middle or high school students with a specialized subject such as math, science, English, art, Spanish or social studies, as well as careers as a guidance counselor, coach, school district superintendent, school librarian, teacher aide and more. International students should choose a specialization so they can be qualified to teach that particular subject.
Special Education
Special education teachers work with students with different disabilities, such as learning, mental, emotional or physical disabilities. International students interested in becoming special education teachers can work with either early childhood, elementary, or secondary educators. The skills needed in this field are similar to those required in other education fields, including strong communication skills and patience, but special education teachers also require skills such as an understanding of psychology and how to teach a variety of disabilities.
Principal
Principals work as managers as well as educators. They are responsible for supervising teachers and staff, overseeing budgets, handling issues, ensuring the school is exceeding local, state and federal standards as well as a constant focus on how to improve educational programs. Principals should know what resources are needed to help the students at their school, and should keep up with the evolving educational climate. International students interested in becoming a school principal should first have a master’s degree and years of teaching experience. They are encouraged to take courses on educational leadership and assessment as well as finance, law and public policy.
Adult Education
Adult educators help adults learn basic or specialized skills, depending on the type of education. The most common are adult literacy teachers and GED teachers. These teachers plan curriculums and work with the students to help them toward their goals. GED teachers should be familiar with the GED test and understand how to teach for that particular test, as well as how to teach for learning permanency. Adult education employees should also have information available for community resources, job placement assistance and other services that will help their students both at a personal and professional level. Adult education careers also include workplace education, education outreach, post-secondary education, religious education, social advocacy and others.
Careers in education can also include careers in curriculum and educational policy. International students studying education should keep in mind the education jobs that they are interested in and plan out the coursework and other opportunities that will help them gain their goals accordingly. Most careers in education require a bachelor’s degree or higher and the appropriate certificates. There are a wide variety of education jobs available for students, and with a specialization and a passion, you can land a job you love, motivating and teaching those who hunger for knowledge.