As a school administrator, whether at the elementary school level or in the higher education sphere, you’re a leader in a position to impact decisions related to hiring within the organization, budget allocation, school policies, and more. Your specific duties may depend on your job title. For instance, you may be in charge of managing assets. You’ll be responsible for accurately keeping track of the status and whereabouts of the school’s assets, such as sports goods or loaner equipment. In some cases, there could be “ghost assets”—assets that are visible in your records but are actually lost.
Assets that move could end up lost if you’re unable to update them. An asset management software can help a school asset manager avoid losing any remote and onsite assets. With robust technology, you can track maintenance, repairs, and more in real-time in one convenient place. You’ll also be able to save time and money with the accessibility of centralized asset data and the ability to add unlimited users. High-quality asset management software allows you to efficiently keep track of your assets from purchase to disposal, helping you reduce your asset downtime and receive detailed reports that promote smarter future purchases.
Keeping accurate records and removing the possibility of ghost assets occurring is beneficial because such inaccuracies could cause a school to spend more on taxes and insurance expenses—sapping the school administration’s budget.
Administrators in schools that use software solutions and rely on spreadsheets and paper logs regarding business and financial matters should consider using durable tax preparation folders to keep information organized. The best tax folders may have high-quality personalized foil stamping and printing. Non-personalized tax return folders are available and allow you to make it personal and add business cards in the inside sleeve as necessary.
Typical responsibilities for administrative professionals include supporting faculty, assisting students, keeping academic records, and more. No matter the specific job title, a patient, compassionate, organized, and adaptable person is likely to be a great candidate for a school administrator position.
School administrators, unlike teachers, typically work 12 months a year. During the summer months, they may focus on tasks including, but not limited to, hiring new teachers and staff, managing curriculum development, or coordinating infrastructure maintenance. Some administrative responsibilities may be overwhelming for both new and experienced administrators. Following the tips listed below can help school administrators to perform effectively in their roles.
1. Get to know the school staff.
Administrators must know their staff. Getting to know all staff members—the teachers, assistants, secretaries, custodians, and more—can help you understand the dynamics between team members at the school.
2. Seek specific information relevant to your school.
As an administrator, you’re in a position to make changes at your school. Before implementing any changes, you should acquire more information about the school and its nearby communities and how your school district functions. With more information, you can make more beneficial changes and create initiatives that can benefit students, teachers, and the community.
3. Determine your school’s needs.
When you find out what your school needs, you can begin exploring ways to contribute to the organization according to your strengths and skills. Determine any needed or requested changes to the school curriculum and any suggested improvements to the school grounds.
Should the school need a renovation or construction job, school administrators would have to find a storage space for safekeeping of school furniture, possessions, or appliances that could sustain damage during such projects. Searching “how much does a storage unit cost?” can lead you to a service that makes finding a storage unit from a reputable U.S. storage company in your local area a more efficient process. Available self-storage units have varying sizes, amenities, prices, and discounts that can securely hold all types of belongings and equipment for the best storage unit prices.
For instance, schools need clean water to fulfill water needs such as drinking, making hot beverages, and cooking. As an admin, you could be responsible for finding a suitable water filtration system for the school’s water sources. Connecting a water filtration system to your current water supply can help reduce contaminants and impurities that could be harmful. The filtration system filters the water before dispensing it, making the water healthier and more refreshing for teachers, staff members, and students. A professional team of filtration experts regularly service and maintain the equipment.
As an admin, it may also be your responsibility to keep track of such services, work orders, and requests, confirming the completion and costs of the labor and any equipment.
4. Embrace challenges that can help you grow.
Being an administrator is a job that can expose you to some difficulties and stressors. Whether the challenges relate to staff interactions, student performance, safety, or adhering to district policies, in most cases, an administrator will have to take a position and create a solution. Learn from uncomfortable or challenging incidents and conversations instead of avoiding them. In addition to learning from challenges themselves, you can also grow in your role by learning from other staff members who may help you forge new paths to solving challenges and improving the school.
5. Ask for help.
New and experienced school administrators can benefit from asking for help when they need it. Asking for help and input from your colleagues and staff members is a way of learning, as well as showing your team that you’re receptive to suggestions and respect others’ opinions.
6. Acknowledge the building’s history.
Students, parents, teachers, and community members in the school neighborhood can influence the school culture. Validate, recognize, and honor the hard work and contributions these influential individuals put into the school.
7. Get involved in the organization and be visible.
To be sure of what’s going on in your school, make yourself visible. Go into as many classrooms and spaces as you can. Doing so enables you to make observations, get to know students’ strengths and weaknesses, and create initiatives and solutions that encourage learning and growth.
8. Recognize and honor the talent of the organization
When making observations of students’, teachers’, and other staff members’ performance, be sure to recognize and acknowledge strengths. Making your school a comfortable place for people to demonstrate their skills and improve them can benefit educational outcomes.
9. Be as approachable as you can.
In addition to being receptive to and accepting advice from others, make sure your colleagues and staff feel comfortable approaching you for advice and suggestions.
10. Find ways to be supportive.
A school administrator has many responsibilities to take care of in what can feel like so little time. Still, the students, parents, teachers, and other staff members will require your help and expertise. For this reason, it’s crucial to make yourself available. Be able to set aside time to assist others and support them.
Making decisions as a school administrator can be stressful. Your administrative decisions can impact students, teachers, special education teachers, secretaries, other staff members, and families. For this reason, taking the time to make sure your choice is the right one is crucial.
Your first year in your new position as a school administrator is likely to be a year of growth. Progress takes patience, which is a crucial component of leadership and working hard to serve others.
