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Job outlook for instructional coordinators in the United States
Instructional coordinator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected instructional coordinator job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 15,000 new jobs for instructional coordinators are projected over the next decade.
Instructional coordinator salaries have increased 7% for instructional coordinators in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,723 instructional coordinators currently employed in the United States.
There are 25,255 active instructional coordinator job openings in the US.
The average instructional coordinator salary is $48,344.
Are instructional coordinator jobs in demand?
Instructional coordinator job and salary trends over time
Instructional coordinator jobs over time
Instructional coordinator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,723 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 12,046 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 12,169 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 11,288 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 10,847 | 0.00% |
Average instructional coordinator salary over time
Instructional coordinator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $48,344 | $23.24 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $47,853 | $23.01 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $46,525 | $22.37 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $46,020 | $22.12 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $45,088 | $21.68 | +0.3% |
Instructional coordinator jobs by state
Most common states for instructional coordinators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 539 | 19% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 140 | 19% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 170 | 18% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 109 | 16% |
| 5 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 445 | 15% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 321 | 15% |
| 7 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 238 | 14% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 120 | 14% |
| 9 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 532 | 11% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 431 | 11% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 457 | 7% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 84 | 6% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 46 | 6% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 404 | 5% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 240 | 4% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 211 | 4% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 173 | 4% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 145 | 4% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 53 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 25 | 4% |
Most common cities for instructional coordinators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Collins | 2 | 1% | $51,285 |
Instructional Coordinator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of instructional coordinator experts
Southern Oregon University
Catholic University of America
California State University - Long Beach
Edgewood College
Plymouth State University
Boise State University
University of Alabama at Huntsville
Calvin University
Western Illinois University
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Winona State University
California University of Pennsylvania
Grand Valley State University
University of California, Irvine
University of La Verne
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Terry McDaniel Professor Emeritus: The first thought is patience. Most districts will always look first at candidates with experience. It is important that you put on your best appearance . It starts with a strong letter of intent. The letter should not only express your great interest in their wonderful district but be the anticipatory set to introduce you as the best possible candidate for the position. The resume follows. Besides the usual, highlight your leadership experience, not just with education but within the community and outer activities. Use bullet points under each opposition held to identify the accomplishments in those experiences. If you are fortunate to get an interview, be sure to know the district. Do your research. The best candidates are the ones so well prepared that they know more about the district than those that are conducting the interview. Remember- patience. Each time you apply and interview should be a learning experience. Use that experience and be optimistic about the next opportunity. Also do not apply just because you want to be an educational leader. Apply for the positions that fit you. If you get an interview, remember to be interviewing the district as you are being interviewed. Is this a place you want to work? Can you see yourself being happy and satisfied there? Are the challenges opportunities you can see yourself handling? NEVER apply for an educational leadership position unless you believe you are the best candidate. Somewhere in that first interview you are going to be asked something to the effect of why are oy applying for this job or why should you be selected. Personally, I ask this as must last question to every applicant I have interviewed. I am looking for only one answer, that the individual is the best person for the job. When a candidate tells me ( in some terminology)there are probably better applicants, I know to look for those candidates.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Rich Miller III: People enjoy the variety of problems encountered and the need for quick thinking, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box. Dislikes include the rapid advancement of technology, which can make it challenging to stay ahead.
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rich Miller III: Educational Technology is a booming field that leverages technology to enhance teaching and learning. It allows for the simulation of real-world tasks for students, making them better prepared for the real world.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Rich Miller III: Ed tech is an all-encompassing field that can involve hands-on support, teaching and learning, project management, installing A/V equipment, and more. No two days are alike, and problem-solving skills are essential.
Jesse Longhurst
Associate Professor and Chair of EducationSouthern Oregon University
Educational Administration And Supervision
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jesse Longhurst: Try to work in as many roles in higher education as possible. Get a sense of how academic affairs and student affairs intersect. What are the priorities and pressures associated with all the different elements of higher education? Try to understand the entire higher education landscape (private and public) and the role of policy in that landscape.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Jesse Longhurst: A graduate degree is going to be the best way to start your career at a higher salary. Because higher education is in the business of teaching and granting degrees, formal education credentials in the field will serve you well. Additionally, be aware of how salary structures work at various institutions. Are there collective bargaining agreements? Can new hires negotiate salary or is it a pay structure? Choose an institution that has a structure that allows for professional advancement and salary increases that match increases in skill and responsibility.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Ellen Fisher: To maximize salary potential in educational leadership, it's essential to demonstrate a combination of experience, expertise, and continuous professional development. Pursuing advanced degrees or certifications, such as principal certification or specialized training like Google Certified Educator, can enhance your qualifications and make you more competitive in the job market. Additionally, actively seeking out leadership opportunities, taking on additional responsibilities, and consistently delivering results can position you for salary advancement. I went on many trips, conferences and experiences at the start of my career. Networking and building strong relationships within the educational community can also provide valuable insights and potential career opportunities.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Ellen Fisher: Starting a career in educational leadership is exciting. I started as a volunteer teacher overseas and then fell in love with the profession! My advice to new graduates would be to prioritize continuous learning, seek mentorship, and be open to diverse perspectives. You never know where an opportunity, discussion or job may pop up. I've received job offers from schools I had never heard of because I was constantly networking. The field of education is constantly evolving so there are new opportunities and areas to explore.
Don Haviland
ProfessorCalifornia State University - Long Beach
Educational Administration And Supervision
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Don Haviland: The work of an educational leader varies by the day and even by the hour, and it depends on whether they work in K12 schools or higher education. One minute they might be troubleshooting an issue that has popped up, the next meeting with parents of K12 students or faculty members. However, whatever the task, the best educational leaders are always thinking about how what they are doing in that minute can help students learning and succeed.
Christopher Rivera PhD
ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Christopher Rivera PhD: While it's true that educators may not be amongst the highest in salary earnings, there are several things beginning teachers can do to maximize their salary potential. The first piece of advice would be to ask about what incentives each school/district is offering first year teachers. There are often several bonuses that are provided to educators, particularly to those in high needs areas (e.g., math, special education, science). Each district may offer different incentive packages, so it's important that beginning teachers do their homework and shop around. Many states also provide pay raises for teachers who receive their National Board Certification (https://www.nbpts.org/). I encourage all teachers to see what the requirements are and if their state will provide some sort of incentive for obtaining this certification. In North Carolina, teachers can get 12% pay increase as well as other incentives.
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Rivera PhD: While it's true that educators may not be amongst the highest in salary earnings, there are several things beginning teachers can do to maximize their salary potential. The first piece of advice would be to ask about what incentives each school/district is offering first year teachers. There are often several bonuses that are provided to educators, particularly to those in high needs areas (e.g., math, special education, science). Each district may offer different incentive packages, so it's important that beginning teachers do their homework and shop around. Many states also provide pay raises for teachers who receive their National Board Certification (https://www.nbpts.org/). I encourage all teachers to see what the requirements are and if their state will provide some sort of incentive for obtaining this certification. In North Carolina, teachers can get 12% pay increase as well as other incentives.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Christopher Rivera PhD: Prepare yourself mentally. Teaching internships and being a first-year teacher are two different kinds of experiences. As an intern, there are certain scaffolds that are put in place to protect you and guide you through your teaching experience. Every school has its own culture and will not always align with your experience during your internships. Be prepared to experience work dynamics that can't always be accounted for or replicated while in your teacher preparation program (e.g., dealing with upset parents, dealing with disgruntled colleagues). I think it's also important to keep in mind, unlike many other professions, teachers have several schools they can select from when searching the job market. Take your time to interview to multiple schools and see which best fits you.
Suzanne Otte Allen Ed.D. '14 (AHH-tee/she, her)
Associate Dean and Director of Ed. Leadership/Sr. LecturerEdgewood College
Educational Administration And Supervision
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Suzanne Otte Allen Ed.D. '14 (AHH-tee/she, her): Making major strides in equity, diversity and inclusion will continue to be paramount. If graduates are skilled at being culturally sensitive and culturally sustaining, then we will all do better. AI, digital learning tools, gamification, etc. are relatively new tools with which educational professionals will continue to grapple. Understanding how to use them effectively to enhance learning will be imperative. Effective leadership is becoming more complex as school districts and higher education institutions deal with the myriad issues facing the field: mental health issues, school safety, teacher shortages, more politicized school boards, shrinking budgets and shrinking student populations. Effective leaders will be ones who can navigate these issues for better outcomes.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Suzanne Otte Allen Ed.D. '14 (AHH-tee/she, her): Look for positions that are hard to fill, build that skill set, and don't be afraid to negotiate.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Robert Moody Ph.D.: Looking ahead 3-5 years in virtually any field, adaptability will be crucial. The rapid pace of technological advancement demands that professionals stay abreast of new tools and methodologies. Data literacy will become increasingly important, as data-driven decision-making becomes the norm across industries. Additionally, soft skills such as emotional intelligence, cross-cultural communication, and collaborative problem-solving will be highly prized as the workforce becomes more diverse and team-oriented.
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Robert Moody Ph.D.: Looking ahead 3-5 years in virtually any field, adaptability will be crucial. The rapid pace of technological advancement demands that professionals stay abreast of new tools and methodologies. Data literacy will become increasingly important, as data-driven decision-making becomes the norm across industries. Additionally, soft skills such as emotional intelligence, cross-cultural communication, and collaborative problem-solving will be highly prized as the workforce becomes more diverse and team-oriented.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Robert Moody Ph.D.: As you embark upon your professional journey post-graduation, I would advise you to remain both curious and diligent. The world of work values those who are lifelong learners, always seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills. Networking is not to be underestimated; it is often through your professional connections that opportunities arise. Be proactive in seeking mentorship and do not shy away from challenges, as they are the crucibles in which your capabilities are refined. Maintain a balance between humility and confidence; recognize the value of others' contributions while also advocating for your own ideas and abilities.
Christian Bisson Ed.D.
Professor of Adventure Education Adventure Education Program CoordinatorPlymouth State University
Outdoor Education
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Christian Bisson Ed.D.: The normal path for increasing one's salary in the field of outdoor adventure education or recreation, is to quickly accumulate a lot of good field experience, let say 100 weeks of field work within 3 to 4 years, then start seeking promotions within a good organization or send applications to other companies/schools/organizations offering management or administrative leadership positions.
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christian Bisson Ed.D.: It seems that in the near future, the use of modern technologies for safety and promotion of outdoor experiences. The industry is also aiming at offering experiences to a more diverse population, so being able to offer targeted programs and work with minority groups will be essential.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Christian Bisson Ed.D.: My common advice to our senior students is to take any contract or position that will help them build various experience in outdoor leadership with the clientele they prefer and with organizations who are accredited by professional associations. I also advise them to continue their professional development by pursuing professional certifications in specific outdoor activities and by attending professional conferences.
Lisa Lopez
Instructor of M.Ed. Educational Leadership Programs Director of Principal Preparation and Outreach ProgramsWhat general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Lisa Lopez: When a graduate successfully secures a leadership position, such as an assistant principal, the best advice is to listen, observe and support the principal of the school in their vision/mission for success and be ready for working long hours. It's also critical to do your research on successful school leaders AND networking with positive leaders is extremely important.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Lisa Lopez: No one talks about this enough, although building strong relationships with leaders, teachers, students, parents and other school community leaders is imperative in becoming a successful school leader. Positive communication skills, appreciating those you serve in a school community, and having a relational style of leadership as opposed to a "rule with an iron fist" style of leadership are all skills that must be learned through various experiences. Leading by fear is NOT what gets results in the long term, which leads to the fact that focusing on true "servant leadership" is absolutely imperative to the success of a great school. Future school leaders must also know how to use data to drive great instruction in classrooms, which is not new, but THE most important skill in my opinion is to focus on the "human connections" within an organization and not just be concerned with numbers.
Ross Perkins Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Educational TechnologyBoise State University
Educational/Instructional Media Design
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ross Perkins Ph.D.: The educational technology industry is easily into the billions of dollars annually, and given the increased prevalence of the use of technologies for learning in a myriad of settings, there will always be a need for experts who can help bridge the divide between a technical understanding of tools and the everyday concerns of teaching, learning, and curriculum (or training).
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Ross Perkins Ph.D.: The job attracts people who are curious and who are problem-solvers. Those who tend not to stay in the profession are those who are relegated to doing routine maintenance or only getting to implement devices in a context where all decisions are made at the top and passed down.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Ross Perkins Ph.D.: What someone who has the title of "educational technologist" does will depend a great deal on the needs of the organization that hired them. The title is not common outside of K-12 schools (private or public) or Institutions of Higher Education. In some cases, the "educational technologist" is focused on solving what are essentially information technology problems, such as troubleshooting hardware, setting up devices in classrooms or getting them ready for student use, or even running the back-end of applications or software used by the organization. In other cases, there is less IT-specific work, and more work focused on working with educators to help them integrate technology tools into the curriculum. This can happen at individual schools or within academic departments, or the educational technologist might work at the district or institutional level. No matter what the job duties are on a day-to-day basis, all such persons must be creative, flexible, excellent at problem-solving, interested in learning about ever-evolving tools and apps, and, of course, have a solid understanding of pedagogy and human learning.
Beth Quick
Dean and ProfessorUniversity of Alabama at Huntsville
Education
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Coordinator?
Beth Quick: It will be important to be adept in gathering and analyzing student learning data to inform instruction and being able to effectively differentiate instruction for the individual needs of students. A willingness to be flexible and willing to consider and embrace change will be necessary. Being able to clearly articulate evidence-based teaching strategies and approaches to policy makers and legislators and advocate for effective education is an increasingly important role for educators.
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Beth Quick: One might consider earning a graduate degree or advanced certification to increase the base salary. Some educators take on extra responsibilities, such as coaching, extracurricular activities, or teaching in an extended school year or summer program. Other educators also offer private tutoring or test preparation services or provide professional development workshops or seminars for other educators, parents, or families.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Beth Quick: One might consider earning a graduate degree or advanced certification to increase the base salary. Some educators take on extra responsibilities, such as coaching, extracurricular activities, or teaching in an extended school year or summer program. Other educators also offer private tutoring or test preparation services or provide professional development workshops or seminars for other educators, parents, or families.
Albert Boerema
Professor of EducationCalvin University
Educational Administration And Supervision
What Instructional Coordinator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Albert Boerema: Key skills identified by educational leadership graduate students include managing the human element of leadership alongside systems and structures, prioritizing trust as a two-way street, focusing on equitable decision-making, maintaining an open door policy for communication, emphasizing teamwork over individual leadership, fostering gratefulness and celebration, creating meaningful connections among school community members, and navigating governance board dynamics with transparency and respect.
What will help Instructional Coordinators increase their earning potential?
Albert Boerema: I think that working to maximize a salary in an educational leadership position is the wrong focus. Probably the best answer to that question is to go to law school.
This may be countercultural and completely crazy, but I see salaries in the teaching and educational leadership world as something that you are given so that you are able to do the important developmental work that is teaching and leading. In other words, it is not a measure of your value or recognition of your work.
There are moments, and I think they are coming more frequently, when no amount of salary will make up for the sleepless nights, the gut-wrenching decisions, the incessant nattering about every little thing, and the wondering if you did the right thing for some student or group of students. But for those who find themselves called to this work there is great satisfaction in leading a school-in the moments when walking through the halls and seeing students and teachers engaged in the work of learning, in the moments when the staff are working together to address the challenges they face in their work, and in those moments after a day of parent teacher conferences when everyone is exhausted to just be together as a community of teachers recognizing that they are having an important impact on their students and their community. If one is called to this work, faithfully carrying it out has to be its own reward, not the salary attached to it.
Hoyet Hemphill Ph.D.
IDT Program Coordinator and Graduate Advisor, Instructional Design and TechnologyWestern Illinois University
School of Engineering and Technology
What skills stand out on Instructional Coordinator resumes?
Hoyet Hemphill Ph.D.: For K12 positions compiled so far in Illinois, Instructional coaches appeared mostly in all the searches. The skills required for this position include having basic computer skills required, familiarity with MS Office Suite or similar, familiarity with online form creation and basic use of cloud-based systems (One Drive, Google Drive, etc.), multilingual abilities and teaching experience, management, and leadership experience required, such as instructional coach, team leader, or school administration, ability to use student data to drive instruction, excellent communication and organization skills, knowledge in educational technology tools and Google Suite. The majority of the duties/responsibilities includes designing and facilitating high-quality science professional development, supporting the implementation of high-quality instructional materials in K-12, providing support for teachers to understand and implement the Next Generation Science Standards, providing classroom support to teachers in effective instructional practices through modeling, coaching, mentoring, and co-teaching. The coach must be able to travel to various school sites, collaborates with administrators, teachers, and with district leaders, help develop the necessary school infrastructure to support effective program implementation through grade-level meetings, peer observations, and vertical team meetings based upon the scheduling in the school. Facilitates planning of lessons and analysis of student work, works collaboratively with other project team members to design, and provide various high-quality professional development experiences for project teachers and administrators, promotes instructional approaches in K-12 science that support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the teaching and learning of science, collaborate well with Classroom Coaches, Academic Coaches, and other Elevate team members, etc.
Dr. Margaret Scott Ph.D.
Senior Instructor, University SupervisorUniversity of Colorado Colorado Springs
Department of Leadership, Research, and Foundations
What skills stand out on Instructional Coordinator resumes?
Dr. Margaret Scott Ph.D.: Some of the items I would expect to be included are experience designing and facilitating professional learning for educators, experience with leadership of others within the school, knowledge and facilitation of work with academic standards and assessment, and experience working with and providing feedback to colleagues.
What soft skills should all Instructional Coordinators possess?
Dr. Margaret Scott Ph.D.: The instructional coach needs to have great people skills. Building trust and two-way respect are essential to a successful working relationship between the coach and educator. Also key is effective communication skills. The instructional coach must be a great listener, convey ideas clearly, and be willing to engage in conversations about instruction with the educators they support. They must also be able to craft good questions that provoke thought and reflection to help the educators they support become introspective. They need to be learners, constantly seeking out new ideas, research, and practices that we know to be effective with both students and adult learners. Effective instructional coaches also see themselves as partners with the educators they support.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Coordinators?
Dr. Margaret Scott Ph.D.: The instructional coach will understand the curriculum, the materials, and the district expectations for an instructional coach and classroom teacher. They will need to be flexible with technology for communication, scheduling, and documenting professional learning and work with teachers. In addition, they will need to understand the available technology for teaching to coach others in its effective use. They need to know the most effective, high-impact instructional practices and model them for others. Additionally, they need to know how to engage in effective feedback conversations with others about planning, teaching, and effective use of data-both about teacher practice and student learning.
What skills will help Instructional Coordinators earn the most?
Dr. Margaret Scott Ph.D.: In my experience, all of the skills mentioned previously will help them secure a position. Each district approaches the pay scale differently. Often, instructional coaches are paid on the teacher salary schedule but may receive an additional stipend. While the salary may not differ greatly from that of a teacher, it is seen as a beneficial experience to bridge the move from teaching to building leadership.
What skills stand out on Instructional Coordinator resumes?
Steven Baule: The key focus for any educational leader must be the ability to improve learner outcomes. This can be measured in a wide range of ways, from graduation rates, test scores, improved attendance rates, etc. A second important consideration for an educational leader is the ability to manage professional development and mentor the educators under their charge. Given today's mixture of remote and traditional learning, experience in engaging online students will be sought after. Experience in leading or working in diverse settings will also be highly desirable.
What soft skills should all Instructional Coordinators possess?
Steven Baule: Communications skills are essential for all leaders regardless of industry. Educational leaders have to be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders ranging from students through parents to staff and community leaders. Skills and experience in managing student behaviors are often one of the most sought-after sets of soft skills, and aspiring educational leaders will nearly always be queried on their experiences on this front during interviews.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Coordinators?
Steven Baule: The needed technical skills will vary based upon the organization looking to employ the educator. In more online-focused institutions, expertise with learning management systems and student information systems might be desirable. However, beyond strong instructional skills, educational leaders need to be able to analyze student data gathered from both classrooms and standardized tests in order to develop effective school improvement plans. This ability to measure student success is essential given the current culture of accountability in most areas of the county.
What skills will help Instructional Coordinators earn the most?
Steven Baule: Bilingual leaders and others with experience in working with diverse cultures will be the most highly sought after as America's student population becomes more diverse. Strong technical skills, strong instructional skills, and documented experience in implementing successful school improvements are always in demand. Experiences with a variety of learning management systems and other administrative systems may also command larger salaries in some situations.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Instructional Coordinators?
Jason Kight: There is no doubt that the pandemic will have an enduring impact on folks graduating this year. Their college experience has been like no other. Their lives have been turned upside down losing loved ones and friends to this virus as well as contracting it themselves and becoming very ill. Most went home on spring break in 2020 and just returned to campus this spring to student teach. Some of us have not been on campus since the beginning of March 2020. They went through the adjustment of having online courses to finish out the spring 2020 semester and had all courses through Zoom last fall.
This semester, their student teaching experience has also been like no other before. All started their student teaching experience in front a computer instead of in front of a classroom full of students. As the semester has worn on and the number of cases of COVID 19 have decreased, schools have started to slowly transition back into the classrooms going a few days a week. Now, most are back to five days a week of in person instruction. It is nice to see that they get to finish student teaching in a somewhat normal situation!
I would like to think that as a whole, this experience will prepare them well for a career as a special education teacher. First of all, these students have learned the important character traits of resilience and perseverance. These traits will help them overcome any obstacles that they may encounter in their future classrooms. Moreover, I hope that their experiences have taught them to be flexible and adaptable to the unpredictability that comes along in special education. They witnessed firsthand how their professors had to be flexible and adapt to deliver to instruction them. Likewise, they had to adapt to the instruction themselves and both had to work together to hold things together and keep moving forward in the face of all of the challenges and distractions.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instructional Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Sherie Williams: Covid-19 has seen many changes in the world of education. Most striking is the shift to virtual learning and the impact this has on teachers and students. As a result of this shift in delivery, the future of teaching will see a shift from traditional, face-to-face learning to online and/or hybrid learning.
What technical skills for an Instructional Coordinator stand out to employers?
Sherie Williams: Especially in PK-12 learning, technical skills allowing for virtual learning will be a highly desirable skill set for new teachers. Employers will be looking for individuals with the knowledge to deliver instruction in both the traditional manner as well as via online. Adapting teaching skills to a virtual format takes a whole new set of skills many educators in the field are currently learning.
What's a good job out of college for Instructional Coordinators?
Sherie Williams: Even in this new world of virtual contact, teaching is an important profession that still allows new graduates to impact the future.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instructional Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Doron Zinger Ph.D.: In teacher preparation we see a number of trends as a result of the COVID pandemic. First, we see a larger than usual number of teachers leaving the profession. This includes teachers who are retiring, sometimes early due to potential exposure to COVID, as well as very challenging working conditions due to COVID. This has created an opportunity and improved job market for prospective teachers who are now completing credential programs.
Additionally, there is lots of talk about the "new normal" and that for some students prefer remote instruction, and that a small but significant proportion of students may not return to an entirely face to face schooling experience. This may create a need for teachers specific for online or remote instruction schools and programs, and we may see growth in these areas.
Finally, we are also seeing a greater reliance on technology and technological tools to engage students, the skills and practices that current teacher candidates are picking up will likely translate to face to face instruction as well. This means that although many of the teachers being prepared today may have limited face to face experiences with students, they will likely have additional preparation and skills in teaching with technology.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Instructional Coordinators?
Doron Zinger Ph.D.: In teacher preparation STEM credentials tend to be in shorter supply, and teachers who can teach multiple science subjects, or multiple STEM subjects such as math and computer programing will be more marketable than teachers who have a single credential. With a growing emphasis on technological literacy, professional certification from companies like Google or Apple also provide prospective teachers with an advantage of presenting themselves as technologically savvy.
What's a good job out of college for Instructional Coordinators?
Doron Zinger Ph.D.: When it comes to teaching, and teaching credentials, finding a teaching position is the outcome desired by most graduates. With that said, districts and sometimes schools can vary in terms of working conditions and pay scales. There may be a disparity of as much as $10,000 in starting salaries between districts that are less than 50 miles apart. Benefits can also vary from district to district including medical and professional development resources. Finding a good fit that matches a teacher's vision and values, as well as providing opportunities for growth and collaboration are important considerations. Some schools experience high turnover rates and others have stable staffing. Getting a sense of school culture during interviews and talking to teachers at the site to see if they enjoy their jobs are good ways of getting a sense if you would want to work at a particular school or district.
Betina Hsieh Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Teacher EducationUniversity of La Verne
LaFetra College of Education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instructional Coordinator job market given the pandemic?
Betina Hsieh Ph.D.: I think we'll need more qualified, competent and thoughtful educators. The need for more teachers who can teach using technology and/or in hybrid forms, as well as, hopefully an emphasis on social emotional learning, cultural responsiveness and a need for innovative supports for neurodiverse students and students with disabilities. Whether schools continue to meet virtually, hybrid, or return to in-person, the need for engaging technology skills in K-12 teaching has really come to the forefront. This time has also brought for the inequities for students in low income homes and students with disabilities so we'll need to have teachers who can respond to and support those students.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Instructional Coordinators?
Betina Hsieh Ph.D.: Teacher credentials, particularly special education credentials are going to be really important, as well as certificates that focus on educational technology, trauma informed teaching and neurodiversity
What's a good job out of college for Instructional Coordinators?
Betina Hsieh Ph.D.: I'm biased, but I would say that teaching is a great job out of college, once you've obtained a teaching credential, and in the meantime, building up your teaching skills through work with students in afterschool programs and even substitute teaching. Working with students allows you to make a difference in their lives. All new grads have a lot of power to mentor younger students; traditional undergraduate students have the advantage of being closer in age to youth, and returning students can contribute their life experiences in mentoring and working with youth.