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Step One: Bachelor’s Degree

A degree in educationÌýwill be a great first step. You can focus on elementary education or secondary education, and within secondary education, you’ll have a variety of different specializations to choose from, depending on your interests. A good bachelor’s degree program in education will give you knowledge of current education theories and practices and will prepare you to meet the challenges of the modern classroom head-on.

Step Two: Get Certified to Teach In-State

Every state handles things differently, but the basics are the same. You’ll need to: (1) earn a bachelor’s degree; (2) complete a student-teaching program; (3) pass the Praxis exam in your subject matter; and (4) pass a criminal and professional background check.

Step Three: Master’s Degree

A great next step would be getting your master’s, particularly one that focuses specifically onÌýcurriculum and instruction. After all, your end goal isn’t just to become a teacher; it’s to become a board of education member, which involves more educational oversight and curriculum planning. A master’s degree in that field will give you the knowledge you need to plan and develop a curriculum. This should include topics like curriculum theory and design, educational psychology, and research.

Step Four: Work Experience

You’ll want two kinds of experience: teaching and administrative. It’s best to start with teaching experience before you think about becoming an education administrator, since the upper ranks of education typically require years of experience anyway.

Step Five: Get Appointed or Elected

This is the part of the process that most heavily depends on where you are. Some school board and board of education members are appointed or hired; others are elected. If you’ve got your eye on a particular post, do some research to figure out the particular steps you need to take in that state.