Early Childhood EducationCareer Possibilities

By: Lynzi Harris

Potential CareersDaycare Director

Elementary School Teacher (K-3)

School Psychologist

School Counselor

Preschool Teacher

School Social Worker

Own a daycare/preschool

Teacher’s Aide

Daycare Director Responsibilities:Administrative

Processing enrollments, keeping records, ordering supplies, and keeping files up to date is part of the director’s job.

Managing Hiring, training, supervising, making work schedule, following

ratio guidelines, and conducting evaluations is part of the director’s job.

Instructional Overseeing the curriculum, reviewing teachers lesson plans, and

filling in for absent teachers is part of the director’s job. Communication

Handling concerns and questions, discussing incidents, and collecting payment is part of the director’s job.

Compliance Updating licensing paperwork, and ensuring records are in

compliance is part of the director’s job.

Daycare Director (continued)Requirements:

Earn a degree Some states require a college

degree. Gain Experience

The amount of required experience varies by state.

Work at a Licensed Facility This helps you gain experience to

prepare for credentials required. Acquire Appropriate

Credentials Most states require a CDA to

become a director.

Continue Education Staying up to date with continuing

education is usually a requirement.

10% 25% 50% 75% 90%$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

$90,000

$27,210 $33,340

$42,960

$60,630

$85,110

Salary

Public School TeacherResponsibilities:

Instructing a class on several subjects is part of the job.

Fostering all aspects of development is part of the job.

Creating and implementing lesson plans is part of the job.

Public School Teacher (continued)

Requirements:A bachelor’s degree

from a teacher education program is required.

All states require a license in teaching.

•Job Outlook:

Employment in this field is expected to grow by 13% between 2008-2018.

10% 25% 50% 75% 90%$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

$90,000

$34,390 $41,750

$51,660

$64,890

$80,140

Salary

School PsychologistResponsibilities:

Creating a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment is part of the job.

Addressing students learning and behavior problems is part of the job.

Evaluating the effectiveness of an academic program is part of the job.

School Psychologist (continued)

Requirements:A specialist degree is

required in most states -This includes

education and psychology coursework.

10%

25%

50%

75%

90%

$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

$39,010

$50,360

$66,810

$86,250

$108,670

Salary

Elementary School Counselor Responsibilities:

Providing guidance services to students is part of the job.

Evaluating strengths, problems, or special needs is part of the job.

Helping students deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems before they get worse is part of the job.

Note: Elementary school counselors do less vocational and academic counseling than high school counselors.

Elementary School Counselor (continued)Requirements:

Usually a master’s degree is required to become licensed.

10% 25% 50% 75% 90%$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$31,630 $40,750

$53,380

$68,620

$86,250

Salary

Preschool TeacherResponsibilities:

Nurturing, teaching, and caring for children who have not entered kindergarten is part of the job.

Planning and implementing a curriculum is part of the job.

Introducing children to all subject areas is part of the job.

Helping children with development in all areas is part of the job.

Preschool Teacher (continued)Requirements:

The requirements vary for each state. A minimum of a high

school diploma to a college degree is usually required.

Trainings are usually required.

10% 25% 50% 75% 90%$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

$45,000

$50,000

$17,200 $20,080

$25,700

$34,420

$46,830

Salary

Social WorkerResponsibilities:

Aiming to improve social and psychological functioning of children and their families is part of the job.

Requirements:Some states require a license.A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement.

SalaryAverage salary= $54,000

Daycare OwnerResponsibilities:

Hiring the director is part of the job.Advertising for the business is part of the job.Overseeing all operations is part of the job.Obtaining a license and the required

certifications is part of the job.

Daycare Owner (continued)Requirements

Owner must meet licensing requirements.

Education requirements vary by state.

Meeting the needs of children is a requirement.

Obtaining certifications is a requirement.

Average Salary= $37,000

Comparing Degrees…

Associate’s Degree:

Pre-school TeacherTeacher’s Aide

Bachelor’s Degree:Public School (K-

Third)School Social

WorkerSchool Psychologist

It Pays to Further Your Education!

My GoalsShort Term Goals

I have a goal to graduate from Ivy Tech Community College in May this year.

I want to find an assistant job in the early childhood field this summer.

Long Term Goals

I have a goal to graduate from Ball State University in 2014.

I have a goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

ReferencesOccupational Outlook Handbook. (2010).

Retrieved January 29, 2012, from Bureau of Labor Statistics : http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm

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