Organizing, planning, communication, management of roles, and the development of curriculum appeal to you. So why not take that enjoyment a step further? An education coordinator, also called an instructional coordinator, is an exciting career that’s sure to utilize your many educational skills. It’s also a chance to level up in the field of education, nonprofits, or other areas. If you’re considering this in-demand career, read on to learn what an education coordinator does on a daily basis, get an in-depth understanding of the skills needed, and discover how bright the future of this career looks.
What Does an Education Coordinator Do?
An education coordinator is responsible for the educational planning and coordination of a school, program, or department. Education coordinators may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, museums, or nonprofits. Many education coordinators specialize in a particular subject area, such as science or math. Some may focus on compliance with state and national education learning standards and ensure compliance with the goals of the school, the wider district, and teachers. Others may focus on a specific age group, such as early childhood, elementary, or middle school. In this role, you will develop schedules, choose textbooks and materials, understand the needs of the student population, and train teachers. Education coordinators also work with parents and students to ensure everyone has the resources they need to be successful.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like for an Education Coordinator?
The day-to-day duties of an education coordinator vary depending on the level of education in which you work. For example, if you’re working in Early Childhood Education (ECE), you may spend your days developing curriculum and working with teachers to instruct young children. In higher education, you may focus on academic advising, career services, and coordinating events like orientations. No matter the level, as an education coordinator you will spend much of your time communicating with others. Check out what an education coordinator can expect to do at the early childhood, elementary, middle, high school, or college level.
Early Childhood Education Coordinator Duties
As responsibilities will vary by the type of students you work with and their grade level, an ECE coordinator can expect to work with younger students and elementary school support staff to assist with academic programs. For instance, according to EdJoin.org, you might expect the following duties as an education coordinator in an early childhood or elementary school setting:
- Assist with the development and implementation of curriculum
- Work with individual teachers to help them develop and improve instruction methods and serve as a resource on instructional best practices
- Observe classrooms and provide feedback to teachers
- Hold meetings with parents to provide assessments and discuss their child’s progress
- Develop and coordinate educational extracurricular activities like field trips
Elementary School Education Coordinator Duties
Like an early childhood education coordinator, an elementary school education coordinator typically works with teachers and support staff to assist with students and in academic programs. EdJoin.org explains that you might expect an education coordinator in an elementary school setting to take on duties and responsibilities such as:
- Assist with the development and implementation of elementary-level curriculum
- Assist teachers to help them develop and improve instruction methods
- Tailor classroom instruction to students with different needs
- Serve as a resource on instructional best practices
- Observe classrooms and provide feedback to teachers
- Provide assessments and discuss children’s progress with teachers, staff, and parents
- Plan and implement educational extracurricular activities such as educational excursions and field trips
Middle School Education Coordinator Duties
Middle school means working with students and staff in slightly different ways than you would in early childhood education and flexing as an education coordinator to meet the needs of students and teachers. Chron details what you can expect to experience as a middle school education coordinator, and while the above duties also apply to the middle school level, there are a few additional tasks:
- Monitor student progress and identify areas of improvement
- Oversee the development and implementation of curriculum
- Coordinate clubs, sports teams, and other extracurricular activities
High School Education Coordinator Duties
High school ups the ante even more. At this phase of life, high school students are contending with a lot of major decisions. On top of school responsibilities, students are weighing career options, next steps after high school, and extracurricular responsibilities that can have a significant impact on their future. In addition to the duties listed above, high school education coordinators can expect to advise students on their academic and career goals and work as a sounding board for fellow teachers and staff for feedback and improvement.
Postsecondary Education Coordinator Duties
At the college level, you can expect — yes — increased duties as a postsecondary education coordinator. Undergraduate and graduate students deal with more responsibilities than they ever have in their academic careers, and your role as an education coordinator will be to support them during this time. Expect to assist them through major decisions such as navigating career and academic choices, along with helping collegiate staff with postgraduate curriculum.
For instance, at the postsecondary level, you might:
- Advise students on their academic and career goals
- Work alongside faculty to develop instructional strategies tailored to diverse styles of learning
- Manage the development and implementation of curriculum
- Coordinate events like orientations and study abroad programs
- Serve as a resource for faculty regarding instructional best practices
What Skills Does an Education Coordinator Need?
To be successful in this role, you’ll need to have strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, as well as project management experience. You’ll also need to be able to work to independently and comfortably take on a leadership role. As an education coordinator, you’ll need a firm understanding of the educational system and an up-to-date knowledge of current trends in education.
Some areas to consider honing in preparation for this career include:
- Communication skills: to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including teachers, parents, and students. You’ll need to be able to listen carefully and understand what others are saying, as well as be able to explain complex concepts in a simple way that’s easy for others to understand.
- Organizational skills: in order to keep track of all the different aspects of your job, including scheduling, curriculum planning, teacher training, student advising, and more.
- Interpersonal skills: to effectively interact with all teachers and staff in order to build positive relationships. You should be patient, understanding, and respectful of other points of view.
- Team Leadership and autonomy: to make quick decisions, solve problems constructively, and provide direction when needed. You’ll take on a leadership role and be comfortable working independently.
- Knowledge of the educational system: in order to effectively coordinate education programs and services.
- Knowledge of current trends: in order to best meet the needs of your students and fellow teachers. Gaining an up-to-date knowledge of current trends may involve reading research articles, attending conferences, or taking courses related to new developments in education.
- Scheduling: to meet the needs of your students, teachers, and parents. This includes creating class schedules, teacher training, and events such as orientations or parent/teacher conferences.
- Curriculum planning: to choose appropriate textbooks and materials and develop curriculum plans that meet the needs of your students and fellow teachers.
- Teacher training: to effectively use the materials and curriculum they’ve chosen. You should also be able to provide guidance on best practices for teaching and working with students.
- Student advising: on educational opportunities and resources. This may include helping students choose courses, providing information on financial aid or scholarship opportunities, and helping parents navigate the school system.
What Makes a Good Education Coordinator?
Picture this: you’re preparing to enter into a role as an education coordinator. You’ve submitted job applications, and you get the call from the interviewer. You can already see yourself working at the school alongside students and staff. You just have to nail the interview. The recruiter asks you, “What makes a good education coordinator?” All of your experiences have prepared you for this moment. Some qualities that make for a successful education coordinator, according to education site Learn.org, include:
- Effective leadership and communication skills
- Ability to manage people and resources effectively
- Knowledge in curriculum planning and development
- Experience with teacher training
- Advising students and families on educational opportunities
- Continually learning and keeping up with new trends in the field of education
What Is the Salary for Education Coordinators?
Education/instructional coordinators saw a median salary of $63,740 annually or $30.64 per hour in 2021, based on data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Is it Worth it to Become an Education Coordinator?
The role of an education coordinator is an important one. If you have a passion for education and want to make a difference in the lives of students, then becoming an education coordinator may be worth it for you. With the median salary of $63,740 annually, the career can be financially rewarding as well. In addition, as the role of an education coordinator is expected to grow 10% over the next decade, there should be ample job opportunities available. What’s more, if you choose to prepare to become an education coordinator at a university such as the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), you won’t have to sacrifice experience for education. You can take classes 100% online, one at a time. That means you can balance work, family, and other commitments as you work toward your degree. A rewarding career as an education coordinator is attainable if you’re willing to work for it.
Overview: What Does an Education Coordinator Do?
An education coordinator not only oversees educational programs but is also highly involved in developing curriculum and training teachers. Education coordinators may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, museums, or nonprofits. Many education coordinators specialize in a particular subject area, such as science or math. Others may focus on a specific age group, such as early childhood, elementary, or middle school. No matter your specialty, all education coordinators share the same goal: to ensure students have access to high-quality educational experiences.
There are a few different paths you can take to become an education coordinator. Most people who enter the field have at least a bachelor’s degree in education, though the BLS indicates that most employers prefer candidates who have advanced training such as a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education Leadership*.
If you’re interested in becoming an education coordinator, you should start by researching the different educational pathways available to you. Once you know what education you need, you can begin the college application process. When considering your options, be sure to look for programs that offer coursework in curriculum development and educational leadership. These are two skills that will be essential in your career as an education coordinator. Speak to a UAGC advisor to learn more today.
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An online degree from the University of Arizona Global Campus does not lead to immediate teacher licensure in any state. If you want to become a classroom teacher, contact your state's education authorities prior to enrolling at the University of Arizona Global Campus to determine what state-specific requirements you must complete before obtaining your teacher’s license. The University of Arizona Global Campus graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a state-by-state basis that will include one or more of the following: student teaching or practicum experience, additional coursework, additional testing, or, if the state requires a specific type of degree to seek alternative certification, earning an additional degree. None of the University of Arizona Global Campus online education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which is a requirement for certification in some states. Other factors, such as a student’s criminal history, may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure or employment in this field of study. All prospective students are advised to visit the Education Resource Organizations Directory (EROD) and to contact the licensing body of the state where they are licensed or intend to obtain licensure to verify that these courses qualify for teacher certification, endorsement, and/or salary benefits in that state prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s policies and procedures relating to licensure as those policies are subject to change.
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.