Curriculum and Instructional Coordinators: Shaping the Future of Education

School teachers who want to move out of the classroom but stay in education should think about taking advantage of the growing demand for curriculum and instructional coordinators. Online programs now exist that enable you to earn the necessary graduate degree without going back to college full time.

Why Be a Curriculum and Instructional Coordinator?

Curriculum and instructional coordinators are deeply involved in education. But unlike school teachers, they are one step removed from the face-to-face situation of the classroom. Their job is to take the wider view, and work towards improving the quality of education overall. The job involves:

• planning curricula, which includes developing objectives, activities to help teach the objective, and ways of assessing what students have learned
• consulting with and supporting school teachers
• developing teaching strategies
• choosing textbooks and teaching materials
• evaluating curricula in terms of how well they meet students needs and/or regulations and standards

Curriculum and instructional coordination is varied, flexible, and challenging work. It was featured in The Wall Street Journal's list of "Best Careers" for 2006 because of the high levels of job satisfaction and relatively low levels of stress. The employment outlook in the field is currently excellent, and salary levels average around $50,000 but can reach as high as $90,000.

School teachers with a bachelor's degree already have the minimum levels of education and experience to move into the field, but employers prefer candidates with a master's or a PhD. For the best chance of success, you should consider going back to school or enrolling in an online degree program.

Studying for an Online Degree in Curriculum and Instructional Coordination

The big advantage of online study is that you can earn your graduate degree and prepare for a change of direction without having to give up your job or disrupt family life. A variety of online master's and doctoral degree programs are now available and offer excellent preparation for a new career in curriculum and instructional coordination. So why not go ahead and make the first move in your career change now?

Source:

• University of Phoenix Online
• U.S. Dept Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics
• Wall Street Journal

About the Author
Jane Smallman combines freelance writing with running a mountain guiding business with her husband. She has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in the Social Sciences.