The Reading Warehouse

Education is a rewarding area of work that provides some of the most diverse career opportunities of any field. Written by educators with real-world knowledge of the profession, this information-packed guide provides the career explorer with concise information on the necessary skills, training, certification/licensure, compensation, and employment outlook for over 100 careers in a wide range of education settings.

This book describes careers that range from working with very young children to positions in traditional K-12 schools to educating adults in organizational settings. It discusses careers suitable for those who enjoy working with people as well as careers for individuals who are more comfortable with information or ideas. A particularly useful feature is information about alternative paths to working in education for those with degrees in related service professions. Careers outside of traditional settings include work in adult education, independent education, business or government settings, community-based educational services, and part-time opportunities, to name a few. Special attention is paid to positions in STEM and educational technology, one of education's fastest-growing careers, and careers of leadership including management, innovation, and accountability. The authors also provide a guide to self-assessment that helps readers to learn about those careers that best match their interests and temperament. Interviews with education professionals in a variety of arenas, such as middle school foreign language teacher, special education teacher, Head Start coordinator, and college athletic director, offer an in-depth look at different career opportunities.

Key Features:

• Covers 101 careers including necessary skills, training, certification/licensure, compensation, and employment outlook
• Includes career options for new teachers, those changing careers within education, and those seeking education as a second career
• Includes many career options outside of traditional school settings
• Presents interviews with 23 individuals in different educational positions
• Provides self-assessment questions, information pertaining to professional development, and guidance on the job-search process

John S. Carlson, PhD, NCSP, is a professor, doctoral program director, and director of clinical training of the School Psychology Program within the College of Education at Michigan State University (MSU). He is a licensed psychologist (Michigan) and holds a BS degree in child psychology from the University of Minnesota and MA and PhD degrees in school psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed his predoctoral internship in the Department of Psychiatry, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to his faculty work at MSU, Dr. Carlson provides mental health consultation to children, families, and schools within his private practice, Child and Adolescent Psychological Services, PLC, in East Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Carlson recently finished his term as associate editor of Journal of School Psychology, a leading peer-reviewed journal within the field of educational psychology. Dr. Carlson has authored or coauthored over 50 articles within peer-reviewed journals and chapters within books. He recently coauthored a book titled Counseling Students in Levels 2 and 3: A PBIS/RTI Guide. During his tenure at MSU, he has been instrumental in proposing, securing, directing, and codirecting training and research grant projects now totaling over $4 million. Dr. Carlson's numerous positions in education over the past 25 years have clearly identified a strong need for educators and professionals who are well trained and competent to address mental health issues in school settings.

Richard L. Carlson, MA, is currently an educational consultant. During the past 13 years, he and his prior firm supported over 75 districts and cooperative service educational agencies (CSEAs) across the state of Wisconsin, helping to recruit educational leaders (e.g., school superintendents) who met the identified profile requirements of the respective entities. He holds a BS degree in business administration, a BS in secondary education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and an MA in counseling (with certification in educational administration) from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Mr. Carlson has worked within the field of education in a variety of positions, including his working up the career ladder within schools as a high school social studies teacher, assistant high school principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of the Neenah Joint School District in Neenah, Wisconsin. Following his retirement from Neenah, he served as interim superintendent within four other districts in Wisconsin and brings a wealth of knowledge to this book with respect to the diversity of careers that exist within the field of education. Mr. Carlson authored several articles, participated on numerous panels, served on many community boards, and provided leadership across the state of Wisconsin. He has served as divisional leader for the United Way and was elected as a rotary centennial district governor. In 1984 he was selected for the Principal of the Year Award by the Department of Public Instruction, and in 1988 he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Mr. Carlson's positions in education over the last 50 years have clearly identified a substantial need for future leaders and administrators who have the talents, patience, and data-based decision making to bring effective solutions to tough problems facing schools.