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Head teacher vs certified teacher

The differences between head teachers and certified teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a head teacher has an average salary of $51,715, which is higher than the $50,708 average annual salary of a certified teacher.

The top three skills for a head teacher include classroom management, child care and creative curriculum. The most important skills for a certified teacher are math, mathematics, and kids.

Head teacher vs certified teacher overview

Head TeacherCertified Teacher
Yearly salary$51,715$50,708
Hourly rate$24.86$24.38
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs73,75692,051
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a head teacher do?

A headteacher is responsible for monitoring the students' overall learning process, managing and evaluating the performance of school staff, implementing effective learning strategies for the students, encouraging them to reach their maximum potential, and gain self-confidence. Headteachers often lead meetings, especially discussing school activities and the child's performance to their parents, implementing safety policies, and enforcing disciplinary actions for policy violations. A headteacher must have excellent leadership and communication skills to handle the students' needs and support their high-quality performance.

What does a certified teacher do?

A certified teacher is responsible for designing lesson plans and activities for the students by following the curriculum and the students' learning needs. Certified teachers manage the coordination of the students within the classroom setting, observe their behaviors, and identify their areas of improvement by determining every student's strengths and weaknesses. They also evaluate the students' performance and progress by conducting assessments and facilitating engaging activities that would not only help the students develop their mental skills but their social connections as well.

Head teacher vs certified teacher salary

Head teachers and certified teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Head TeacherCertified Teacher
Average salary$51,715$50,708
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $83,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MADanbury, CT
Highest paying stateMassachusettsConnecticut
Best paying companyGrand View HealthUniversal Health Services
Best paying industryRetailGovernment

Differences between head teacher and certified teacher education

There are a few differences between a head teacher and a certified teacher in terms of educational background:

Head TeacherCertified Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorEarly Childhood EducationElementary Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Head teacher vs certified teacher demographics

Here are the differences between head teachers' and certified teachers' demographics:

Head TeacherCertified Teacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 13.8% Female, 86.2%Male, 25.6% Female, 74.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between head teacher and certified teacher duties and responsibilities

Head teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Plan and implement cohesive, age-appropriate curriculum for severely disable children in Pre-K program.
  • Develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum for toddler program, ensuring that appropriate opportunities are provided in order to maximize learning potential.
  • Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.

Certified teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Prepare and implement daily lessons for reading, math, writing, science, social studies, and global events/locations.
  • Used PBIS behavior and academic model.
  • Serve on PBIS committee to drive school-wide behavior system.
  • Attend IEP meetings, apply accommodations to classroom instruction and assessment, work with co-teacher in inclusion classes.
  • Plan, prepare and demonstrate math instruction materials base on specific learning objectives for 6th , 7th and 8th grades.
  • Show more

Head teacher vs certified teacher skills

Common head teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 26%
  • Child Care, 13%
  • Creative Curriculum, 5%
  • Language Arts, 5%
  • Pre-K, 5%
  • Mathematics, 5%
Common certified teacher skills
  • Math, 15%
  • Mathematics, 15%
  • Kids, 13%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%

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