Education
Fact-checked

At PracticalAdultInsights, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What does an Education Director do?

Kasey James
Kasey James

An education director has many responsibilities in a school or other setting. He is often in charge of the school's academic curriculum and academic resources. School administrators often rely on the education director for guidance on how to support and train staff. Education directors work with teachers and paraprofessionals to provide best teaching practices to support student success.

Public and private schools use an education director to find and implement curricula for each grade level and subject in the school. They will choose specific textbooks and classroom materials. Sometimes directors will help to design and write educational materials as well. The education director will provide teachers with specialized materials they may need for certain lessons.

Education directors work with teachers to provide the best possible learning experience for students.
Education directors work with teachers to provide the best possible learning experience for students.

Once the education director chooses the academic curriculum for the school, he or she will train grade level teachers on how to implement it and use materials in the classroom. The director will conduct several training workshops for teachers before the school year starts. Throughout the year, the director will meet with teachers about the student success for the academic year.

Education directors run the day-to-day operations of a daycare.
Education directors run the day-to-day operations of a daycare.

Large school districts or private schools may hire an education director for each subject. Each director will be responsible for the curriculum development and student achievement for their specific subject. Many times, this position requires someone with a teaching certification and experience but also a degree in the core subject area. A math director would need a bachelor's or master's degree in math, plus several years of classroom teaching to be qualified for the job.

Education directors determine which methods of teaching should be implemented in the classroom.
Education directors determine which methods of teaching should be implemented in the classroom.

A special education director job specifically deals with the special education teachers and parents of the school. These directors will be present at special education meetings that discuss student placement and academic goals. They also help parents and school administrators to understand their rights within the law. Special education directors may modify academic curricula to support the students with disabilities. The teachers in the special education classrooms may ask for the director's support in the case of a challenging student.

Education directors may decide what educational resources are available for use in the classroom.
Education directors may decide what educational resources are available for use in the classroom.

Education director jobs can be found in other settings besides school. Museums, daycare, and private businesses use education directors to help run day-to-day operations. In a museum or daycare, the director can be responsible for the educational programs that are conducted for the children. In a business setting, the director will help to create company training materials and train incoming employees. They may also hold training meetings for any new company procedures for all employees.

Discussion Comments

SkyWhisperer

@Charred - We have a training director at our business. This education specialist focuses in on all manner of training relating to our product line. We sell software and so she coordinates training for our customers but also for other employees as well, to get them up to speed on the software applications.

She has worked in the business field for a number of years as an education director and also did a short stint teaching in a community college. She’s quite effective at her job and has outstanding communication skills. I think that’s one of the most important skills you need for this kind of work.

Charred

@miriam98 - I believe the biggest challenge is in special education. There is a big demand for special education teachers as it involves teaching, understanding the special needs child and lots of patience.

Of course you don’t get into this position of special education director very easily. I think they usually need to have a master’s degree, a number of years of special education teaching instruction and also several years of administration under their belt. It’s a tough field to get into but it’s a very rewarding one in many ways I think.

miriam98

All of my teaching experience is in ESL, so there are many things about teaching in the States that I don’t know much about. However, when I was overseas we did have an educational director that we hired in from Australia.

He had a number of years of experience teaching in schools over there and also wrote some books on childhood education. At the school I taught at he helped to craft the ESL curriculum and devised a set of standards that teachers were expected to follow.

He also spoke at some of the in service sessions we had at the start of each school year. I got to know this director very well and learned a lot from him.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Education directors work with teachers to provide the best possible learning experience for students.
      By: Ermolaev Alexandr
      Education directors work with teachers to provide the best possible learning experience for students.
    • Education directors run the day-to-day operations of a daycare.
      By: sdenness
      Education directors run the day-to-day operations of a daycare.
    • Education directors determine which methods of teaching should be implemented in the classroom.
      By: sdenness
      Education directors determine which methods of teaching should be implemented in the classroom.
    • Education directors may decide what educational resources are available for use in the classroom.
      By: pressmaster
      Education directors may decide what educational resources are available for use in the classroom.
    • Education directors are responsible for implementing curriculum programs in the classroom.
      By: libyphhoto
      Education directors are responsible for implementing curriculum programs in the classroom.