Educational leadership is an umbrella term for guiding vision, culture and improvement across learning environments, while educational administration is a specialized area within that field. Educational leadership typically focuses on developing a strategic vision for the school or school system and establishing school culture, whereas educational administration — often a K–12, licensure-focused path — emphasizes managing day-to-day operations while also playing a key role in shaping and bringing that vision and culture to life, according to this Loeb Leadership article.^{(See disclaimer 1)} 

If you’re an experienced educator who is interested in taking the next step in your career, you might consider a switch to school leadership or administration. Before doing so, you’ll likely want to take a closer look at the differences between leadership and administration, as well as the similarities. You’ll also want to consider your degree options and potential career outcomes.

What is educational leadership and administration? Let’s look at each of these concepts by themselves before comparing the differences and similarities.

At its core, educational leadership is about establishing the direction for an academic institution. Educational leaders focus on the “big issue” questions, such as what the school’s long-term direction is, how the school can best serve its students and how the school’s leadership can empower its educators and staff.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

An educational leader is someone who establishes the strategic vision for the institution and then communicates that vision to others who help execute it. Leaders can inspire their faculty and staff, as well as the students and parents. They also focus on cultivating a positive, supportive school culture, and they may continually strive for improvements.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Educational administration is fundamentally about management and about executing the strategic vision established by school leaders. Educational administrators may focus on everything from the financial aspects of running a school to the maintenance problems affecting the school’s facilities.

Some of their duties may include:^{(See disclaimer 1)}

• Developing a budget and tracking financial expenditures
• Allocating resources
• Delegating tasks
• Handling staffing needs, such as hiring
• Ensuring regulatory compliance

In other words, an educational administrator handles the daily operations of the school or school system.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

A successful school needs both visionaries and operations-focused leaders. When a school has both, it can ensure teachers have the support and resources they need to do their jobs well, and students have the right culture and instruction to be successful.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

In fact, research from the Wallace Foundation demonstrates that student outcomes benefit from a distributed leadership model in which leaders establish strategic vision and direction, and teachers wield meaningful influence within the school ecosystem. In terms of impact, the two greatest school-related factors in determining student achievement are classroom instruction and school leadership.^{(See disclaimer 2)} 

What is an educational administration role compared to an educational leadership role? It’s a common misconception that these roles involve different job titles. In fact, it’s typical for a school to have one individual who fulfills the dual roles of visionary leader and school administrator or manager. These professionals need to establish the direction and execute it through daily operations.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

This juxtaposition can be challenging at times for professionals who need to focus on the smaller details as well as the larger picture. As a leader, you will develop a strategic vision and inspire others. As an administrator, you’ll need to execute the vision and supervise others.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Another discrepancy lies in the competing values of change vs. stability. Leaders are typically change-makers who are willing to take calculated risks for the betterment of the school, such as by embracing new instructional strategies or creating a shift in school culture. Yet, as administrators, these professionals typically recognize the need for operational continuity and stability. Achieving both types of goals requires careful planning and a balanced approach.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Whether you’re an experienced school administrator or you’re a teacher who is considering pursuing this role, you should carefully consider your potential career options in academic management. School administrators handle different job responsibilities depending on the level of education their school provides.

Preschool and Daycare Education Childcare Administrator

At the daycare and preschool level, education administrators focus on maintaining strict compliance with the health and safety compliance requirements, ensuring their facilities are aligned with local, state and federal regulations. They also handle staffing issues, making sure that a safe child-to-teacher ratio is maintained.

Family communications is also a significant component of this role. They may give tours of the facility to families considering the daycare or preschool for their child. Administrators can also respond to parental concerns and ensure parents receive regular updates about their child. They may alert parents to potential signs of developmental delays or similar issues.

Kindergarten and Elementary Education Administrator

The older the students are, the greater the focus is on structured learning and academic progress. Education administrators at the kindergarten and elementary level strive to prepare students for middle and high school.

They may handle responsibilities such as:

• Develop curriculum standards aligned with state and federal requirements
• Observe and evaluate teachers
• Connect faculty to professional development opportunities
• Allocate resources
• Establish security protocols and procedures
• Meet with students, as well as with parents and teachers, to discuss academic progress and disciplinary issues

Secondary Education Administrator

Middle and high school students are preparing to graduate and enter the workforce or move on to postsecondary education or a vocational school. At this level, administrators focus on academic performance, school safety and student behavior. Older students are coping with the social-emotional challenges of growing up, and behavioral/discipline issues may be more complex here than in elementary school.

Secondary education administrators will still handle the same general job responsibilities as those in elementary school, such as budgeting, staff evaluation and parent communication. They’ll also monitor and address problems such as chronic absenteeism, as well as coordinate sports and other extracurriculars.

Postsecondary Education Administrator

At the postsecondary level, the work of an administrator is typically more specialized. At a small college or university, a postsecondary administrator may handle a broad range of responsibilities. More typically, however, they’ll focus on one particular area.

A postsecondary administrator leads and manages a department in a college or university, such as admissions, student affairs, academics or student athletics. These administrators supervise their departmental staff members, address the needs and concerns of students and may collaborate with administrators from other departments.

When you’re ready to take the next step in your own academic journey in order to better support students in your school, you can turn to Grand Canyon University. The College of Education offers both a master's in educational leadership and a master's in educational administration. 

Both educational leadership and educational administration master's programs are designed to prepare educators to take on greater responsibility within schools and districts. Coursework commonly explores topics such as school culture, teacher development, organizational management, strategic leadership, data-informed decision-making and school improvement. While the programs share many core concepts, each offers a unique approach to preparing professionals to lead teams, manage operations and support student success.