Education is a wonderful field, especially for those who enjoy helping others. There is a special feeling of fulfillment that one gets knowing that they have contributed to the education and betterment of others. Teaching is undoubtedly one of the noblest professions. However, it also comes with challenges and problems, and teachers around the country report having experienced incredibly high-stress levels. Does that mean one shouldn’t opt for studying education? Not at all! There are many wonderful career options in education besides teaching if you think you can’t handle the pressures of the classroom. This article will tell you about some alternative career paths you can pursue other than teaching with a degree in education!
1. Career Guidance Counselor
Career guidance counseling is an extremely important role in schools as the person who fills it is responsible for ensuring every graduating senior is given their best chance at higher education. This role primarily requires understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each child and honing them throughout their high school years. Additionally, a counselor is responsible for being aware of the requirements and offers of different universities and colleges, financial assistance schemes, and scholarships. An educational psychologist or consultant usually fills this role; hence a degree in education can help you find a role as a career counselor.
2. Curriculum & Instruction Training
A very important sub-field of education is that of curriculum and instruction training. Teachers teach students, but who teaches the teachers about how the curriculum is taught, the mediums of instruction, and problems inside and outside the classroom? This is the role of curriculum and instruction professionals, also known as a teacher coach. To be a teacher coach, you must obtain a master’s in curriculum and instruction. These programs train one to work with teachers and school staff to improve instruction. If you’re a full-time teacher looking to switch to a teacher coach position, you can opt for one of the many online Pre-K-12 graduate programs offered at colleges such as Emporia State University.
3. Curriculum Designer
Another pivotal field in education is curriculum design. Curriculum designers, also known as instructional designers/coordinators, are responsible for developing the curriculum taught in a school. This requires analyzing the learning requirements of each year as per the state education board and ensuring the curriculum is developed to incorporate the same. Additionally, the curriculum for each year must cover the entire syllabus for the state exams. Curriculum designers work with the teachers and administration to develop a comprehensive curriculum that covers all the state requirements and contributes to the additional learning of students. As an education professional, you understand the working of a classroom and the curriculum and are a good fit for a curriculum designer position.
4. Private Tutor
Not all teaching happens at the forefront of a classroom; not all learning occurs within those four walls. Many children require extra attention, which can be provided through one-on-one sessions with a teacher. Unfortunately, full-time teachers usually do not have the time to dedicate such undivided attention and time to students. For this purpose, parents often hire private tutors, who are educators that work privately with students on a one-to-one basis. This allows the child to have the total attention of the tutor, who can focus specifically on the weak areas and help the child improve their academics. As an education professional, private tutoring is a great career option as it allows you to avoid the stress of the classroom and a full-time commitment to the school. Not to mention, the rates of private tutors are quite high, making it a great earning opportunity.
5. Student Coordinator
Maybe you like working with students in a school environment but only have trouble teaching in a classroom. You can look into becoming a coordinator! A student coordinator is required in every school, and their role revolves around the development and growth of students. Student coordinators plan class schedules, activities, events, tournaments, etc. They help and oversee the management of clubs, extra-curricular activities, and academics. These make the school experience for students enriching and memorable. In an administrative position, student coordinators work closely with the management and administrative staff to ensure everything is running smoothly. With a degree in education, you can easily find a coordinator position at any school!
6. Corporate Trainer
A degree in education teaches you many things, including the art of teaching and delivery. These are skills that can also help you succeed as a corporate trainer. Companies and firms hire corporate trainers to coach their employees on a specific subject or teach them a certain skill set. Corporate training is a fantastic career option if you think you can be more effective in managing adult professionals rather than children. Most corporate trainers work on a consultancy basis and are not bound by an organization. The freedom to work at will is a great benefit of this career. However, even as a full-time corporate trainer at a company, there is a lot of potential in this position, as corporate training is a lucrative profession. Your education degree makes you an eligible candidate for a corporate trainer role!
7. Education Researcher
Research is a strenuous field, only suited to those who are more academically inclined and wish to spend their time studying and testing new theories. With a degree in education, you can work as an education researcher and contribute towards developing better theories and resolving issues in the education sector. The work primarily requires you to work with pre-existing data and information from the existing school systems; however, there is a lot of space for new data and findings. Education research helps schools, teachers, students, and the public by providing ways to improve learning and education. By helping develop better practices and policies, education researchers give students a chance to be more successful in life.
Final Words
Teaching is a great job that is extremely rewarding and fulfilling. However, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and most people realize that after taking the plunge into the field. However, with the above alternative options, you can make use of your education degree without teaching while also continuing to do meaningful work.
