Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs that there is. However, a lot of the time, even though you might be interested in education, you might not actually want to step into a classroom. If that’s the case, don’t worry; there are still plenty of other roles that you can apply for, as there are many different potential career paths out there in the education sector – some of which are going to be discussed in more detail below.
Professor
The education system is not set in stone; changes need to be made depending on representation in the educational system, and it is down to the likes of professors to critique the current system and talk about whether or not there are any changes that should be made.
There are a number of issues in this regard; for instance, the question of "is there social justice in school subjects?" There are a lot of people who are currently looking into this. Not only that, but there’s this burning issue, too: do school subjects apply to a range of levels? Professors study these problems and prepare papers on them as topics; when the newer generation of teachers learns from these professors, they will be asked to think about these questions. It’s this kind of thinking that is necessary to instill change in the education system when it’s needed. If this sounds interesting to you, it could be your next career move.
Educational Psychologist
It is the role of an educational psychologist to help children and young people who are struggling with their learning abilities. These are common problems that children have, and as such, it is important that people are there to provide assistance as and when they need it.
Educational psychologists will work alongside parents, teachers, doctors, and social workers to ensure that children are supported as much as possible. In order to take on this kind of role, you will need to have a degree and a further qualification (usually a master’s or even a Ph.D.).
Counselor
Counselors are incredibly important when it comes to talking to young people about the problems they have and the feelings that they experience. You aren’t going to be telling people what to do but instead will be asking them questions and noting their responses. Once you have this information, you will then be able to work with that young person and create a plan of action that will assist them with overcoming whatever problems they are facing.
You tend to find that a lot of schools hire counselors, but if you don’t work in a school, it may be you are stationed in a children’s center or youth services instead. There are a number of qualities you need to become a successful counselor, but the most important are resilience, compassion, and patience.
Conclusion
Just because you are interested in education does not mean that your only career option will take place within a classroom; there are many different roles out there available to you. These include the likes of a professor who looks into critiquing the education system, an educational psychologist, and a counselor, to name only a few.