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What does a Head Teacher do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Diana Jones
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.

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Head teacher responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real head teacher resumes:

  • 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.

Head teacher skills and personality traits

We calculated that 26% of Head Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, Child Care, and Creative Curriculum. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical stamina, Communication skills, and Patience.

We break down the percentage of Head Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Classroom Management, 26%

    Instructed undergraduate students on lesson planning, classroom management and curriculum implementation, fulfilling the UM-Flint College of Education curriculum requirements.

  • Child Care, 13%

    Created and implemented developmentally appropriate specialized child care program.

  • Creative Curriculum, 5%

    Develop, implement, and coordinate developmentally appropriate curriculum using the following curriculum: Creative Curriculum.

  • Language Arts, 5%

    Design and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum in math, science, language arts, social studies and character development.

  • Pre-K, 5%

    Verified and edited Pre-K curriculum according to state and federal guidelines.

  • Mathematics, 5%

    Developed curriculum and lesson plans Instructed in reading, mathematics, science, spelling and language.

Most head teachers use their skills in "classroom management," "child care," and "creative curriculum" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential head teacher responsibilities here:

Physical stamina. One of the key soft skills for a head teacher to have is physical stamina. You can see how this relates to what head teachers do because "working with kindergarten- and elementary-age students can be tiring." Additionally, a head teacher resume shows how head teachers use physical stamina: "coordinated and instructed physical education programs, pre-k to grade 6. "

Communication skills. Many head teacher duties rely on communication skills. "teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators," so a head teacher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways head teacher responsibilities rely on communication skills: "fostered a classroom environment conducive to learning and exploration and promoting teacher/parent cooperation and communication. "

Patience. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of head teachers is patience. This skill is critical to many everyday head teacher duties, as "kindergarten and elementary school teachers must respond with patience when students struggle with material." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained patience, responsibility, and a positive learning environment. "

Most common head teacher skills

The three companies that hire the most head teachers are:

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Compare different head teachers

Head teacher vs. Infant and toddler teacher

An infant and toddler teacher is an individual who aids in the cognitive and social development of preschool children by teaching them the most basic skills that focus on play-centered learning and creativity. Infant and toddler teachers must help children develop positive self-images and encourage them to explore their interests and develop social skills. They must plan and carry out a curriculum that teaches children basic skills such as color, shape, and letter recognition. Infant and toddler teachers must also meet the children's parents to discuss concerns.

The annual salary of infant and toddler teachers is $22,109 lower than the average salary of head teachers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between head teachers and infant and toddler teachers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like classroom management, child care, and creative curriculum.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, head teacher responsibilities require skills like "language arts," "pre-k," "mathematics," and "pre-kindergarten." Meanwhile a typical infant and toddler teacher has skills in areas such as "physical development," "fine arts," "diaper changes," and "first aid training." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Infant and toddler teachers tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,267. In contrast, head teachers make the biggest average salary, $52,971, in the retail industry.The education levels that infant and toddler teachers earn slightly differ from head teachers. In particular, infant and toddler teachers are 8.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a head teacher. Additionally, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Head teacher vs. Teacher associate

A teacher associate is responsible for assisting the teacher in classroom operations and providing teaching support for the students. Teacher associates develop learning materials according to the instructions of the headteachers, helping them to track students' progress and observing class behaviors. They also take class responsibility if the teacher is away, ensuring to keep activity records and attendance for reference. A teacher associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling students' difficulties and working with the teacher to develop techniques to address those challenges.

A career as a teacher associate brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a head teacher. In fact, teacher associates salary is $17,708 lower than the salary of head teachers per year.A few skills overlap for head teachers and teacher associates. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "classroom management," "child care," and "creative curriculum. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real head teacher resumes. While head teacher responsibilities can utilize skills like "pre-kindergarten," "toddler," "parent-teacher conferences," and "teacher assistants," teacher associates use skills like "cleanliness," "math," "behavior management," and "drdp."

Teacher associates earn a lower average salary than head teachers. But teacher associates earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $32,745. Additionally, head teachers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $52,971 annually.teacher associates earn similar levels of education than head teachers in general. They're 4.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Head Teachers in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn Profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

Technology in the next 3-5 years -- That is a tough question because technology is continually changing. However, I would say whatever learning system their school provides (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, etc.), they should get to know. Also, the technology that involves making/editing videos of teaching would be necessary. The technique that includes exercise, fitness, sports such as heart rate monitors, Fitbits, etc. Finally, a technology that allows interactions between teachers and students and students and students.

Head teacher vs. Assistant daycare teacher

An assistant daycare teacher is responsible for performing support tasks in a daycare center. Most of the duties primarily revolve around maintaining a safe and healthy environment for children, preparing meals and learning materials, assisting children during bathroom or hygiene-related activities, and keeping the classroom clean and sanitized. Furthermore, there are instances when an assistant daycare teacher must come up with recreational activities, maintain student records, and help children improve their motor skills and basic knowledge in concepts such as recognizing the alphabet or coloring.

An average assistant daycare teacher eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of head teachers. The difference in salaries amounts to assistant daycare teachers earning a $24,191 lower average salary than head teachers.Using the responsibilities included on head teachers and assistant daycare teachers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "child care," "pre-k," and "cpr.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from head teacher resumes include skills like "classroom management," "creative curriculum," "language arts," and "mathematics," whereas an assistant daycare teacher is more likely to list skills in "kids," "diaper changes," "abc," and "behavioral issues. "

Most assistant daycare teachers achieve a lower degree level compared to head teachers. For example, they're 11.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Head teacher vs. Elementary school teacher

Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.

Elementary school teachers tend to earn a higher pay than head teachers by an average of $446 per year.While their salaries may vary, head teachers and elementary school teachers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "classroom management," "language arts," and "mathematics. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "child care," "creative curriculum," "pre-k," and "pre-kindergarten" are skills that commonly show up on head teacher resumes. On the other hand, elementary school teachers use skills like math, student learning, student achievement, and public schools on their resumes.In general, elementary school teachers earn the most working in the government industry, with an average salary of $56,048. The highest-paying industry for a head teacher is the retail industry.The average resume of elementary school teachers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to head teachers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of head teacher

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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