Educational leadership is the work of guiding how a school runs and how students learn. Leaders hire and develop teachers, set curriculum, study student data and make sure teachers have the time, support and resources to do their best work.
Strong leadership shows up in student results. School leadership ranks second only to classroom teaching among the school-based factors that affect how much students learn, according to a Wallace Foundation synthesis of two decades of research.
Students learn more under a highly effective principal, the equivalent of about three additional months of progress in reading and math over a school year. The same research also ties effective principals to stronger student attendance and lower teacher turnover, benefits that extend well beyond test scores.
How do teachers become school principals?
Most principals start in the classroom and teach for several years before they lead, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
From there, the path runs through a graduate degree and, for public school roles, principal certification. Exact requirements vary depending on where you live or plan to work. In Arizona, for example, that means earning a graduate degree built for school leadership and then meeting the state's requirements for principal certification.
ASU's online Master of Education in educational leadership with a principalship concentration is intended for this exact step. The program pairs online courses with a supervised school practicum, so you graduate ready to pursue Arizona's Standard Professional Principal Certificate and complete the state's licensure exams.
The pay reflects the responsibility. Elementary, middle and high school principals earn a median of $105,870 a year, according to 2025 BLS data, compared with $72,040 for high school teachers.
A note on licensure: ASU's programs that lead to certification are designed to meet Arizona's requirements, and completing one may not meet requirements in other states. For details, visit ASU's professional licensure page.
What other educational leadership careers can teachers pursue?
For teachers drawn to leadership beyond the principal's office, ASU's online Master of Education in educational leadership opens a wide range of options. The degree is built for educators who want to rethink how and where learning happens, from starting a new kind of school to running community programs that widen access to education.
Graduates step into roles such as:
- Leading a charter or private school
- Working in district administration
- Launching an education startup
- Consulting for schools and education organizations
- Directing learning programs at a museum, library or cultural center
- Guiding a youth-serving nonprofit
Every one of these roles builds on your classroom experience and carries it further, from one group of students to entire programs, schools and communities.
Which educational leadership program is right for you?
ASU offers two online master's programs in this field, and the right one depends on the kind of leader you want to become.
If you're drawn to creating something new and rethinking how education systems work, the Master of Education in educational leadership is a great match. It's for educators who want to start and sustain their own education projects, with coursework that digs into the practical side, like business plans, grant funding and education policy.
The Master of Education in educational leadership – principalship is for those ready to lead an established school or district and put their vision to work for everyone in it, from students to teachers. The signature feature of this program is a yearlong internship spent learning directly from a certified principal, so you gain hands-on experience guiding teachers and running a school before you hold the title.
Is a graduate degree in educational leadership worth it?
For many educators, yes. The degree can raise your earning power and qualify you for roles not available with a teaching license alone. Beyond the paycheck, it multiplies the difference you make, from your own classroom to an entire school, district or system.
Start your educational leadership career online at ASU
You've already made your mark in the classroom, and a graduate degree can carry that experience into new roles across education. ASU's online Master of Education in educational leadership prepares you to address systemic challenges or start new education ventures, while the online Master of Education in educational leadership – principalship readies you to lead a school or district of your own. Both are built for working educators, so you can earn your degree online at ASU without stepping away from the classroom.
Ready to lead in a new way? Request information below to get started.