What They Do
Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop educational material, implement it with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness.
Duties
Instructional coordinators typically do the following:
- Develop and implement the curriculums
- Plan, organize, and conduct teacher training, conferences, or workshops
- Analyze students' test data
- Assess and discuss the curriculum standards with school staff
- Review and suggest textbooks and other educational materials
- Recommend teaching techniques and the use of different or new technologies
- Develop procedures for teachers to implement a curriculum
- Train teachers and other instructional staff in new content or programs
- Mentor or coach teachers to improve their skills
Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, evaluate the effectiveness of curriculums and teaching techniques established by school boards, states, or federal regulations. They observe teachers in the classroom, review student test data, and discuss the curriculum with the school staff. Based on their research, they may recommend changes in curriculums to the school board.
Instructional coordinators may conduct training for teachers related to teaching or technology. For example, instructional coordinators explain new learning standards to teachers and demonstrate effective teaching methods to achieve them.
Instructional coordinators may specialize in particular grade levels or specific subjects. Those in elementary and secondary schools may focus on programs such as special education or English as a second language.
Work Environment
Instructional coordinators held about 232,600 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of instructional coordinators were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 36% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 9 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private | 8 |
| Educational support services; private | 7 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 7 |
Most instructional coordinators work in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, professional schools, or educational support services or for state and local governments. They typically work year round.
Work Schedules
Instructional coordinators generally work full time. They typically work year round and do not have summer breaks. Coordinators may meet with teachers and other administrators outside of classroom hours.
How to Become One
Instructional coordinators typically need a master’s degree and related work experience, such as in teaching or school administration, to enter the occupation. Coordinators in public schools may be required to have a state-issued license.
Pay
The median annual wage for instructional coordinators was $74,720 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of instructional coordinators is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Despite limited employment growth, about 21,900 openings for instructional coordinators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.