Education Specialist Degrees in New Mexico
The importance of education is already clear to you; after all, that’s why you dedicated your career to New Mexico education. However, education isn’t just important for the students you teach. It is also an essential part of your professional growth and trying to reach your full potential as a teacher. No matter how you would like to improve your teaching skills, an education specialist degree may be an important tool to utilize.
This post-Master’s certificate is ideal for teachers who would like to take their training to the next level, but who do not want to work in research or go through the process of earning a PhD.
Role of Educators With an Ed.S Degree in New Mexico
Students only get a set amount of time in school, and it’s up to you to use that time as effectively as possible. Find out how an education specialist degree could make you a more efficient teacher.
Improving your education in a specific area of teaching could have a significant impact on New Mexico students. In the 2014-2015 school year, New Mexico saw a drop in its graduation rate (EdWeek, 2016). Students need the support and teaching skills of local teachers to see their education through to the end.
Secondary education isn’t the only option in New Mexico. In fact, early education has started to catch the attention of education professionals. Experts note that early education needs additional funding and support in New Mexico, since differences in early childhood education tend to correlate with educational gaps later in students’ lives (Santa Fe New Mexican, 2016).
It’s up to you to take control of your career. Discover your options below and learn how to get an education specialist degree.
Getting Your Educational Specialist Degree in New Mexico
The education specialist degree was created as an alternative to a doctoral degree. Many working teachers were interested in furthering their education and training, but did not want to go into research or postsecondary teaching.
The 30-credit Ed.S degree focuses exclusively on one area of teaching practice, giving working education professionals usable knowledge for their careers. Since this degree is fairly short, generally about two years, it’s important to choose an area of specialty that can serve you in your classroom work.
Some Ed.S degree options in New Mexico include:
- Educational Leadership
- Teacher Education
- Elementary Education
- Secondary Education
- Curriculum and Instruction
Most of the courses you take are conventional courses. For that reason, and due to the fact that most Ed.S programs have rigorous admissions requirements, you may be able to complete most of your degree online. This option does require intense motivation and self-direction.
Curricular requirements are set by experts in each subject area. In a program that leads to an educational administration degree, you may meet program expectations in courses like:
- Educational Leadership in a Democratic Society
- Data Informed Instructional Leadership
- Leadership for Conflict Resolution
- Leadership and Organizational Change
- Education, Politics, and Policy
- Community Learning as Leadership
Curriculum and instruction programs may cover curriculum development as a general skill or relate directly to a grade level or subject. New Mexico programs tend to provide guidance on the struggles that are unique to this state’s education system.
Courses commonly required in curriculum and instruction degree programs include:
- Education in New Mexico
- Current Topics in Education
- Teaching of Reading in Elementary Schools
- Teaching of Science in Elementary Schools
- Teaching of Mathematics in Elementary Schools
- Issues in Secondary Education
- Experiential, Project-Based, and Service Learning
- Curriculum in the Elementary School
- Curriculum in the Secondary School
The value of an education specialist degree is in the leaders it creates and the confident classroom, administrative, and material development specialists that come out of these programs. Regardless of which role you want to play in the education system of New Mexico, spending more time on relevant research and current techniques can only improve your daily work.
Working With an Education Specialist Degree in New Mexico
Once you have earned your education specialist degree New Mexico, the next step is determined by your current teaching license and how you want to use your degree. The New Mexico Public Education Department awards licenses based on your area of postsecondary education, with separate licenses for bilingual, gifted, reading, and TESOL education. In addition, separate licenses are in place for information technology, library media specialist, and technology coordinator positions.
Each specialty has its benefits. Below, find some options with average salary information and expected job growth through 2022:
- School administrator: 19% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
82,660 average salary (BLS,2016 ) - Instructional coordinator: 23% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
63,350 average salary (BLS,2016 ) - Secondary school teacher: 20% expected growth (O*Net, 2016); $
53,920 average salary (BLS,2016 )
As an Ed.S student, you should start to develop your natural leadership skills and understand your place in the teaching community of New Mexico. This experience and your education should put you in a position to guide and mentor new teachers. Some local organizations you can get involved in include National Education Association of New Mexico and New Mexico Association of Classroom Teachers.
You are passionate about education in New Mexico. Why not use that to drive change in this state? Start evaluating your options with the list of schools below.
