What is the difference between a teacher and an educator?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

The difference between a teacher and an educator is primarily semantic. When compared with educator, the teacher typically refers to a job title; a teacher is a person who teaches in a school. But, an educator is a person who educates students. A good teacher can be called an educator.

An educator is a person who provides instruction or education. An educator is usually seen as a mentor, instructor, or trainer. That is to say, an educator does not merely teach specific facts about an academic subject; an educator also instructs students' intellectual, moral, and social growth.

An educator is skilled at teaching -- they focus on development and evaluation. The educator will evaluate students' progress and adjust the course or their teaching to suit the students' level. A person can be an educator without being a teacher. For example, parents are a child's first and most influential educators.