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 representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

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 Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a head teacher does, you may be wondering, "should I become a head teacher?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, head teachers have a growth rate described as "slower than average" at 3% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of head teacher opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 53,100.

On average, the head teacher annual salary is $51,715 per year, which translates to $24.86 an hour. Generally speaking, head teachers earn anywhere from $32,000 to $83,000 a year, which means that the top-earning head teachers make $65,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a head teacher. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include an infant and toddler teacher, teacher associate, assistant daycare teacher, and elementary school teacher.

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12 Head Teacher Resume Examples

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Ann Hughes Head Teacher Contact Information Columbus, OH (720) 555-5590 ahughes@example.com Skills Classroom Management Safety Procedures ESL Small Groups Child Care Counselors Developmental Problems Individual Needs Medical Personnel Class Activities Employment History Head Teacher 2020 - Present KinderCare Columbus, OH Maintain classroom management to ensure the safety of each child. Implemented strategies to fulfill NAEYC re-accreditation criteria and followed through for the entirety of the re-accreditation process. Ensured classroom management at all times. Established clear objectives for all lessons, units and projects. Welcome and trained employees for KinderCare, DHR and NAEYC guidelines. Result: Classroom management system was implemented from preschool through school age classrooms. Administrator Assistant/Teacher's Assistant 2019 - 2020 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Buffalo, NY Worked with age groups 0-6, following written curriculum. Assist Lead Teach with age appropriate activities in the infant room. Supervised youth of all age, devolved daily activities. Created lesson plans focusing on communication to foster pro-social behavior. Assist with classroom management 3. Worked in a variety of student settings, including one-on-one, small groups and large groups. Summer Camp Counselor 2015 - 2019 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Buffalo, NY Gained essential knowledge of child-care, First-aid, and obtained CPR certification. Created treatment plans in collaboration with patients identifying and utilizing patient's strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences. Planned and supervised daily activities of the guests. Education Bachelor's Degree Early Childhood Education 2012 - 2015 University of Akron Akron, OH


Alexis Price Head Teacher Contact Info Charlotte, NC (400) 555-9220 aprice@example.com Skills Social StudiesDaily CarePatienceClassroom ManagementClear ObjectivesPre-KindergartenPre-KAppropriate CurriculumDaily ActivitiesMathematics Employment History Head Teacher 2020 - Present The Sunshine House Charlotte, NC Developed and implemented unit and lesson plans for classes in World History I& II. Assisted four teachers in their daily classroom activities. Floater/Assistant Teacher 2016 - 2020 Newark Public Schools Union, NJ Support the child care teachers in planning and implementing activities meeting physical emotional, intellectual, and social needs of children. Provided one to one academic and emotional development time for children with disabilities and/or learning delays. Supervised children ages 2-3 in a child care setting. Prepare lessons and identify age-appropriate activities to encourage learning and development through play-based curriculum and sensory-rich experiences. Facilitated small group instruction to deliver various academic lessons. Teacher Internship 2015 - 2016 Bright Horizons Union, NJ Maintained effective classroom management strategies. Establish and maintain open communication by conducting conferences with parents, students, principals, and teachers. Worked in cooperation with teaching team members to assure the individual needs of each student were met. Involved with parents, specialists, and special education students. Assist lead teacher in developing and implementing daily classroom plans. Education Bachelor's Degree Early Childhood Education 2012 - 2015 Kean University Union, NJ


Laura Hunt Head Teacher San Diego, CA (860) 555-5834 lhunt@example.com Experience Head Teacher2017 - Present KinderCare•San Diego, CA Designed an appropriate room arrangement to support the goals and developmental level of the children in the infant classroom. Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum which reflects observations and goals of individual children. Planned and coordinated daily activities - sensory, motor activities, etc.Helped establish and maintain various programs Headstart Teacher2016 - 2017 Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System•San Diego, CA Instructed small groups of students in basic concepts and goals stated on their IEP's. Supported classroom teachers in implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum for a group of 16 preschoolers. Delivered presentations for NAEYC workshops. Programming Internship2015 - 2016 Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System•San Diego, CA Interact with residents during daily activities. Summit, NJ Affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons 1993 - 1994 Resident Physician, Transitional Internship Program Prepare weekly lessons for adult individuals with intellectual disabilities. Skills Leadership DevelopmentProgram DevelopmentSocial StudiesInstructional MaterialsNaeycOne-On-One AttentionStrategies GoldJavascriptCommunicationOpen Communication Education Bachelor's Degree Early Childhood Education2012 - 2015 Ashford University•San Diego, CA

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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.

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Most head teachers list "classroom management," "child care," and "creative curriculum" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important head teacher responsibilities here:

Arguably the most important personality trait for a head teacher to have happens to be physical stamina. An example from a resume said this about the skill, "working with kindergarten- and elementary-age students can be tiring" Additionally, other resumes have pointed out that head teachers can use physical stamina to "coordinated and instructed physical education programs, pre-k to grade 6. "

While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many head teacher duties rely on communication skills. This example from a head teacher explains why: "teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators." This resume example is just one of many ways head teachers are able to utilize communication skills: "fostered a classroom environment conducive to learning and exploration and promoting teacher/parent cooperation and communication. "

Another skill that is quite popular among head teachers is patience. This skill is very critical to fulfilling every day responsibilities as is shown in this example from a head teacher resume: "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. "

See the full list of head teacher skills.

After discovering the most helpful skills, we moved onto what kind of education might be helpful in becoming a head teacher. We found that 57.0% of head teachers have graduated with a bachelor's degree and 13.6% of people in this position have earned their master's degrees. While most head teachers have a college degree, you may find it's also true that generally it's possible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every seven head teachers were not college graduates.

Those head teachers who do attend college, typically earn either early childhood education degrees or elementary education degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for head teachers include psychology degrees or education degrees.

Once you've obtained the level of education you're comfortable with, you might start applying to companies to become a head teacher. We've found that most head teacher resumes include experience from Sheltering Arms, E Center, and Educational Alliance. Of recent, Sheltering Arms had 6 positions open for head teachers. Meanwhile, there are 4 job openings at E Center and 4 at Educational Alliance.

But if you're interested in companies where you might earn a high salary, head teachers tend to earn the biggest salaries at Grand View Health, Ramaz School, and Stanford University. Take Grand View Health for example. The median head teacher salary is $77,727. At Ramaz School, head teachers earn an average of $76,910, while the average at Stanford University is $71,498. You should take into consideration how difficult it might be to secure a job with one of these companies.

View more details on head teacher salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire head teachers from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include ESL Federal Credit Union, KinderCare Education, and Goddard School.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious head teachers are:

Sheltering Arms6 Head Teachers Jobs
Educational Alliance4 Head Teachers Jobs
E Center4 Head Teachers Jobs

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What Infant And Toddler Teachers Do

An infant and toddler teacher is a professional 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.

In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take infant and toddler teacher for example. On average, the infant and toddler teachers annual salary is $22,109 lower than what head teachers make on average every year.

While their salaries may differ, one common ground between head teachers and infant and toddler teachers are a few of the skills required in each craft. In both careers, employees bring forth skills like classroom management, child care, and creative curriculum.

There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. For example, a 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 how truly different these two careers really are.

Infant and toddler teachers tend to make the most money in the finance industry by averaging a salary of $37,267. In contrast, head teachers make the biggest average salary of $52,971 in the retail industry.

The education levels that infant and toddler teachers earn is a bit different than that of 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.

What Are The Duties Of a 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.

Next up, we have the teacher associate profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a head teacher annual salary. In fact, teacher associates salary difference is $17,708 lower than the salary of head teachers per year.

A similarity between the two careers of head teachers and teacher associates are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "classroom management," "child care," and "creative curriculum. "

But both careers also use 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," some teacher associates use skills like "cleanliness," "math," "behavior management," and "drdp."

It's been discovered that teacher associates earn lower salaries compared to head teachers, but we wanted to find out where teacher associates earned the most pay. The answer? The health care industry. The average salary in the industry is $32,745. Additionally, head teachers earn the highest paychecks in the retail with an average salary of $52,971.

On the topic of education, 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.

How an Assistant Daycare Teacher Compares

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.

The assistant daycare teacher profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of head teachers. The difference in salaries is assistant daycare teachers making $24,191 lower than head teachers.

Using head teachers and assistant daycare teachers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "child care," "pre-k," and "cpr," but the other skills required are very different.

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

Assistant daycare teachers typically study at lower levels compared with 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.

Description Of an 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 about $446 per year.

While their salaries may vary, head teachers and elementary school teachers both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "classroom management," "language arts," and "mathematics. "

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "child care," "creative curriculum," "pre-k," and "pre-kindergarten" are skills that have shown up on head teachers resumes. Additionally, elementary school teacher uses skills like math, student learning, student achievement, and public schools on their resumes.

In general, elementary school teachers make a higher salary in the government industry with an average of $56,048. The highest head teacher annual salary stems from the retail industry.

The average resume of elementary school teachers showed that they earn similar levels of education to head teachers. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 4.8% more. Additionally, they're less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Updated October 2, 2020