Education Careers: Middle and High School Job Titles

Are you thinking about becoming a high school or middle school teacher, either as your first job or as a complete change in your career trajectory? How about a different job working in a school? There are plenty of occupations to choose from within the education industry.

In recent years, the demand for qualified teachers in the United States has become critical. A 2021 survey of district and school leaders by Education Week found that 40% said teacher shortages were severe or very severe. 

However, not everyone necessarily wants to be a teacher. If you enjoy working with children and young people, there are still many career options available to you in either public or private schools. From coaches to nurses, schools need a large staff to help keep students encouraged and safe. 

Jobs in High Schools and Middle Schools

Admissions Director

Typically hired by private or parochial schools, the admissions director is responsible for recruiting and evaluating new students. They will give campus tours, discuss curriculums with parents and students, manage entrance exams, distribute scholarships, and attend private school fairs to represent the school. 

Other administrative positions with schools include:

• Academic Director
• Admissions Recruiter
• Assessment and Curriculum Programs Coordinator
• Assistant Principal
• Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
• Communication Specialist
• Director of Equity and Compliance
• Human Resources Assistant
• Human Resources Director
• Principal
• Resource Coordinator
• School Community Relations Coordinator
• Superintendent
• Supervisor of Instruction
• Supervisor of STEM Programs
• Vice Principal

Athletic Coach

Coaches are needed in both middle and high schools for a wide range of sports. From soccer to swimming, many schools offer many sports and extracurricular activities for students. The coaches help students practice and improve their performance for competition and represent the school at meets. Some job titles for sports-related roles in schools are: 

• Athletic Director
• Football Coach
• Health / Physical Education Teacher
• Soccer Coach
• Softball Coach
• Tennis Coach
• Track and Field Coach

Behavior Specialist

In both public and private schools, autism and behavior specialists are becoming more common. These specialists are responsible for helping students with special needs, such as autism or other behavior disorders, get the support they need to succeed in school. The specialist evaluates each student and works with the family and the student's doctors to come up with a plan. The specialist may determine whether the student needs extended time for taking tests or a smaller classroom, for example. Other specialized student support roles include:

• American Sign Language Education Assistant
• Behavior Analyst
• Behavior Specialist
• Bilingual Education Assistant
• Coordinator of Behavior Programs
• Director of Guidance
• Educational Assistant
• ESL Teacher
• Guidance Counselor
• Learning Disabilities Teacher / Consultant
• Life Skills Teacher
• Occupational Therapist
• Resource Room Teacher
• Special Education Compliance Coordinator
• Special Education Teacher
• Speech and Language Pathologist
• Teacher’s Aide

College Counselor

College counselors play a large role in the lives of high school students. They help students identify their interests in a potential major, consider colleges and universities, apply for admission and scholarships and even help students apply their AP credits for college credit. Here are some job titles for people counseling students in higher education: 

• Chief of Career Pathways and Integrated Learning 
• Director of Guidance
• Parent Involvement Specialist
• Student Assistance Counselor
• Success Coach

Food Service Specialist

In many schools, food service specialists do far more than just serve meals. They often are responsible for coming up with nutritional plans for students, making sure students have access to a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, and minimizingunnecessary calories. 

• School Chef
• Food Service Worker
• Food Service Assistant

Librarian

Librarians maintain the school libraries, keeping the school stocked with educational books and novels. They catalog and manage book circulation, help students with research, and work with other libraries to get other resources.

• School Librarian
• Library Aide
• Library Assistant
• Library Technician
• Technical Service Assistant
• Circulation Assistant
• Webmaster

Music Teachers

Music teachers can teach the history of music, but also can instruct students on how to play certain instruments. In larger schools, the music teacher may have a student orchestra to run and maintain, planning concerts and managing practice schedules. Other teachers that specialize in student electives include:

• Art Teacher
• Business Education Teacher 
• Choral Music Teacher
• Computer Science Teacher
• Family and Consumer Science Teacher
• Industrial Technology Teacher
• Instrumental Music Teacher

School Nurse

The school nurse ensures all students have the appropriate vaccinations, waivers, and medicines on file if needed. They perform evaluations during certain milestones to check height, weight, hearing, and eyesight to make sure all is normal. In the case of an illness or sports injury, the nurse can provide care until the student can be taken to a doctor or hospital, as needed. 

• School Nurse
• School Psychologist
• School Social Worker

Transportation and Maintenance Roles

Transportation and facilities maintenance personnel are vital to keeping school operations running smoothly and safely. Some specific jobs that you may find in this area include: 

• Bus Driver
• Crossing Guard
• Custodian
• Groundskeeper
• Maintenance Technician