The Most Popular Career Paths for Early Childhood Educators

Early childhood education provides opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of children. Early educators are some of the first adults that young children interact with outside of their families, and they help instill a lifelong love for learning. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, you’ve likely got some questions about how to get started in the field of early childhood education and are curious about where this rewarding and exciting career can take you.

It should reassure you to know that there are dozens of highly sought-after career opportunities you will qualify for with your ECE degree in addition to becoming a teacher. 

Here are some popular career goals and opportunities for advancement outside of the classroom: 

Nanny 

A full-time nanny provides in-home care and supervision for children. They’re responsible for providing a safe and educational environment for children, planning activities that are developmentally appropriate, ensuring proper nutrition, and communicating with parents about the progress and growth of their children. Some nannies may even live in the client’s home. This career is ideal for motivated entrepreneurs who can manage a small business, including being responsible for marketing their services to parents and negotiating the terms of their salary and contract. 

Family Resource Worker 

If you have a desire to help children facing adversity or struggles with their home life, you might consider a career as a family resource worker. These workers provide critical social services to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families. Depending on your position, you might assist parents, arrange adoptions, or find foster homes for abused or neglected children. In the schools, you might address serious problems such as misbehavior, truancy, or teenage pregnancy. You might also advise teachers. 

Curriculum Consultant 

As a curriculum consultant your duties include assisting teachers design and improve their lesson plans. They typically work with an entire school to help them design, develop, and implement an effective curriculum for the entire learning institution. This job includes assessing student performance, surveying student progress under new changes, and establishing training programs for educational staff. They might also purchase books and learning materials for the school that align with the new curriculum. They also meet with administrators to discuss budgeting and performance. Curriculum consultants often work independently with schools, educational companies, or individual students. 

Childcare Center Director

Some teachers prefer to remain in the classroom, but for others, becoming the director of a childcare center is their long-term career goal. These directors, occasionally referred to as preschool directors or education coordinators, are responsible for the daily activities and operations of an educational childcare center or preschool. Many directors can still teach children, in addition to important administrative tasks, like budgeting, lesson and curriculum planning, and staff scheduling. Some common job duties include hiring, training, and supervising teachers and staff based on state and federal regulations to ensure the center/school meets these standards, assisting staff in developing curriculum, and parental communication. 

Interested in Teaching? Let’s Talk! 

Much like the potential of the bright young student minds, the diverse career path possibilities for those with a degree in early childhood education are nearly limitless. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, Athena Career Academy would like to hear from you! Contact us today for more information about our early childhood education degree program.