Directors of Secondary Education: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of directors of secondary education about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for directors of secondary education to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of secondary education expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for directors of secondary education.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Secondary Education?
Do directors of secondary education need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of secondary education typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for directors of secondary education to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Secondary Education
Jobs Postings for Directors of Secondary Education By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 1,179 (40%)
- Master's degree: 680 (23%)
- No Education Listed: 630 (22%)
- High School or GED: 326 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 103 (4%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of directors of secondary education. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 40% of positions. In 23% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 22% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Secondary Education
Jobs Postings for Directors of Secondary Education By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 293 (22%)
- 2-3 Years: 603 (45%)
- 4-6 Years: 407 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 23 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 27 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for directors of secondary education. In 45% of job postings for Directors of Secondary Education, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for directors of secondary education.
What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Secondary Education Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of secondary education, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective directors of secondary education, and in 2021 a total of 137,654 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective directors of secondary education.
Top Degree Programs for Directors of Secondary Education
Top 5 Degree Programs for Directors of Secondary Education (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | 32,735 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 32,685 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. | 16,842 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 13,892 |
| Educational/Instructional Technology. | 8,686 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | 32,735 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 32,685 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. | 16,842 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 13,892 |
| Educational/Instructional Technology. | 8,686 |
| Health and Wellness, General. | 6,105 |
| Nutrition Sciences. | 5,302 |
| Higher Education/Higher Education Administration. | 4,693 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General. | 3,121 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling. | 2,516 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision, Other. | 2,246 |
| Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. | 1,727 |
| Physical Fitness Technician. | 1,429 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,240 |
| Human Nutrition. | 1,197 |
| Superintendency and Educational System Administration. | 1,107 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. | 737 |
| Urban Education and Leadership. | 736 |
| Adult and Continuing Education Administration. | 462 |
| Administration of Special Education. | 186 |
| International School Administration/Leadership. | 10 |
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Degree Options for Directors of Secondary Education
Master the learning theories and models used in PK-12 education settings as a foundation for a variety of education-related careers.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Become a more relevant and responsive leader with a 100% online Ed.D. in PK-12 Leadership from Franklin. This 3-year program will help you become a visionary leader ready to solve the learning, technology and cultural challenges facing PK-12 districts and schools.
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Make a difference for children and families with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus in K-12 Building-Level Leadership. The streamlined, online program, aligned with National Education Leadership Preparation Program standards, can be completed in 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Satisfy the requirements to sit for Ohio’s principal licensure exam and earn your M.Ed. with Franklin’s 12-month online principal licensure program.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Design, develop and implement effective solutions to develop knowledge and improve performance for learners in a variety of settings.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Directors of Secondary Education Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of secondary education to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for directors of secondary education, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Secondary Education
Based on 2,381 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Secondary Education
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 343 | 14% |
| Project Management | 339 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 290 | 12% |
| Data Analysis | 243 | 10% |
| Marketing | 198 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Secondary Education
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,271 | 53% |
| Leadership | 823 | 35% |
| Teaching | 756 | 32% |
| Writing | 667 | 28% |
| Planning | 638 | 27% |
Based on 2,381 job postings related to directors of secondary education, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 14% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, learning management systems, data analysis, marketing and adult education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of secondary education, followed by leadership, teaching, writing, planning and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 343 | 14% |
| Project Management | 339 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 290 | 12% |
| Data Analysis | 243 | 10% |
| Marketing | 198 | 8% |
| Adult Education | 196 | 8% |
| Instructional Design | 169 | 7% |
| Student Services | 159 | 7% |
| Administrative Support | 151 | 6% |
| Data Entry | 141 | 6% |
| Special Education | 129 | 5% |
| Pedagogy | 124 | 5% |
| Distance Learning | 111 | 5% |
| Invoicing | 109 | 5% |
| Instructional Strategies | 105 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 100 | 4% |
| Course Evaluations | 92 | 4% |
| Google Workspace | 90 | 4% |
| Data Collection | 88 | 4% |
| Zoom (Video Conferencing Tool) | 88 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 1,271 | 53% |
| Leadership | 823 | 35% |
| Teaching | 756 | 32% |
| Writing | 667 | 28% |
| Planning | 638 | 27% |
| Management | 587 | 25% |
| Coordinating | 547 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 526 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 509 | 21% |
| Research | 458 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 405 | 17% |
| Operations | 394 | 17% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 383 | 16% |
| Customer Service | 361 | 15% |
| Organizational Skills | 355 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 347 | 15% |
| Coaching | 311 | 13% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 309 | 13% |
| Presentations | 291 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 290 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about directors of secondary education? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of secondary education.
What do directors of secondary education do?
How much do directors of secondary education make?
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