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Job outlook for program facilitators in the United States
Program facilitator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected program facilitator job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 52,400 new jobs for program facilitators are projected over the next decade.
Program facilitator salaries have increased 13% for program facilitators in the last 5 years.
There are over 39,274 program facilitators currently employed in the United States.
There are 103,247 active program facilitator job openings in the US.
The average program facilitator salary is $40,024.
Are program facilitator jobs in demand?
Program facilitator job and salary trends over time
Program facilitator jobs over time
Program facilitator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,274 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 37,971 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 37,708 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 35,695 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 34,575 | 0.01% |
Average program facilitator salary over time
Program facilitator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $40,024 | $19.24 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $39,023 | $18.76 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $37,564 | $18.06 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $36,863 | $17.72 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $35,405 | $17.02 | +3.2% |
Program facilitator jobs by state
Most common states for program facilitators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 161 | 21% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 162 | 17% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 219 | 16% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 171 | 16% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 156 | 15% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 736 | 13% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 704 | 13% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 530 | 13% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 407 | 13% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 115 | 13% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 438 | 12% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 231 | 12% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 227 | 11% |
| 14 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 191 | 11% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 147 | 11% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 82 | 11% |
| 17 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 78 | 11% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 856 | 10% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 710 | 10% |
| 20 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,763 | 9% |
Most common cities for program facilitators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schaumburg | 2 | 3% | $40,262 |
| 2 | Fort Collins | 1 | 1% | $37,827 |
| 3 | Lawrence | 1 | 1% | $38,414 |
| 4 | Waterloo | 1 | 1% | $31,734 |
| 5 | Mesa | 2 | 0% | $37,947 |
| 6 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $65,617 |
| 7 | Bakersfield | 1 | 0% | $45,034 |
| 8 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $38,244 |
| 9 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $43,180 |
Program Facilitator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of program facilitator experts
University of New Orleans
Presbyterian College
Seattle University
East Tennessee State University
Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy - CSWA
The USA Hockey Foundation
Pacific Lutheran University
Hartwick College
Boston University
ASCP - Associated Skin Care Professionals
Muhlenberg College
American University
Pace University
Frostburg State University
Colorado State University
Vanguard University
Angelo State University
What will help Program Facilitators increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
What will help Program Facilitators increase their earning potential?
Christopher Todd Belser Ph.D.: In many states and districts, school counselor salaries are based on a set pay scale, so earning potential is more tied to getting a school counseling job and keeping that job. New graduates often face the dreaded critique of lacking work experience as compared to more seasoned job candidates. However, newer graduates are also more likely to have been trained to design and deliver multi-tiered interventions and more trained on how to utilize school data to drive school counseling programming. Job candidates looking to stand out will need to be able to concretely discuss how their training will help solve issues that the school is facing, which does involve doing a bit of research on the school to which one is applying. Additionally, graduates need to recognize the importance of ongoing professional development--trainings, workshops, and certifications that equip school counselors to address unique circumstances of the school can only increase a person's effectiveness and longevity as a school counselor. Although grants and other external funding typically don't increase salaries for school counselors, these funding opportunities can help purchase evidence-based programs, support interventions, and buy other necessary materials that can make a school counselor's work a little bit easier. Lastly, school counselors can consider pursuing a doctorate degree in a related field (e.g., counselor education and supervision, educational leadership) to enhance their skills and expertise, open doors for new work opportunities and promotions, and possibly move them up on a pay scale.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Program Facilitators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carla Alphonso: Sociology students can easily find work wherever there are people and wherever there are social problems. In other words, just about anywhere! Again, due to the aging of the babyboom generation, I would recommend areas that have large proportions of elderly including Florida, Maine, and West Virginia. More jobs may be available in urban areas, but there are needs for workers with sociology skills in rural areas, too. More social services and non-profits are located in urban areas and especially in/around state capitals.
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.
Professor of History, Director, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies ProgramSeattle University
History Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Facilitators?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: As a historian of the European Middle Ages, I'm struck by how students this past year have acquired something scarce: historical empathy. The past can seem so remote, so very different from our lived experiences today, and this can make history seem irrelevant. But this fall, I was teaching a section on the bubonic plague, which historians of medicine now know was a global pandemic, not just an epidemic in Europe. Usually, students are fascinated by the gruesome medical details, but not this group.
They did not need or want to look death in the eyes. They wanted to know how did people react? How did they get back to normal? When we ticked off the list of reactions--fear, distrust of science (such as it was in 1348), xenophobia, scapegoating, economic collapse, hoarding supplies, turn to religion, gallows humor about worms crawling about corpses--they got it. When we talked about the aftermath--eat, drink, be merry, and protest the inequality--they got it. That is historical empathy, and I'm sad that this was how it had to be learned, but it will give them broader compassion that can encompass people alive today.
What type of skills will young Program Facilitators need?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: Science. They will need to learn and trust scientific knowledge-social work. We have a lot of work to do to repair the social fabric. Art. We need to know to express our pain in creative ways.
What experience really stands out on Program Facilitator resumes?
Theresa Earenfight Ph.D.: Altruism. Anyone who reaches out and does work that repairs the shredded world and does not ask for an avalanche of cash. And an understanding of how privilege works and a desire to work to rein in the harm of unchecked privilege.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Facilitators?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Graduate students will need to refocus on the changing institutional role, being both remote and in-person, and impacting agency goals and performance.
What type of skills will young Program Facilitators need?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Budgeting skills are essential, as well as apparent, logical written ability.
What experience really stands out on Program Facilitator resumes?
Dr. Frederick Gordon Ph.D.: Program concentration and meaningful internship experience.
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA)
ChairCommittee on the Status of Women in Astronomy - CSWA
What type of skills will young Program Facilitators need?
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): I believe (hope) that the effects of the pandemic will be short-lived and that there will be a surge in job opportunities once a vaccine is available. Nevertheless, greater flexibility and versatility in skills are always useful. For example, astronomers who have analyzed large data sets or worked with machine learning algorithms will be in significant demand.
Interdisciplinary studies are also on the rise. New fields like astrobiology are rapidly growing, and there are ripe potentials for researchers with unique combinations of expertise or who can work with broad collaborations spanning disciplines.
With the growth of data, especially from large astronomical surveys, technical skills like computer programming and experience with data science tools and machine learning is increasingly useful. The ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences is a necessity in most fields, and astronomers generally have great relevant experience with community outreach.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Program Facilitators to find work opportunities?
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): I think that permanent and what might be considered more "traditional" astronomy research positions like tenured professorships are more difficult to attain, primarily because of a short supply in the availability of those positions compared to the number of qualified candidates. Looking more broadly, there's a wide range of relevant positions for which many astronomers have very useful and increasingly more recognized skillsets - outreach/education positions for a variety of age groups in STEM, technical program/project management, scientific writing, and data science in industry, as examples.
How do you envision technology impacting Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): Advances in optics technology (laser frequency combs, for example) have already impacted high precision radial velocity measurements that the exoplanet community has been using to search for Earth-sized exoplanets. In the next five years, this technology will continue to be developed and used by other sub-fields in astronomy, including cosmology and Galactic dynamicists.
In planetary science, there are a number of advances that are rapidly changing how we do an exploration of our solar system. For example, NASA is strongly pushing for commercial partnerships that may facilitate delivering scientific payloads to the Moon, and small satellites (e.g., CubeSats) are opening up a lot of new options for both scientists, technologists, and engineers to get more involved in solar system missions.
Computational and algorithmic advances make it easier to aggregate and analyze large datasets, especially with the increasing prevalence of astronomical sky surveys. The increasing popularity of open-source tools and cloud usage for sharing data, I think, is and will be pushing reproducibility of research to be a more heavily emphasized expectation of the standard research process and evaluation metric of a researcher's work.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Program Facilitator job market given the pandemic?
Tamara Tranter: Remote, remote, remote. I also believe we will see more people trying to enter different fields than the fields they were in pre-pandemic. Our norms have shifted, and almost everyone has had to pivot in some way to show their value. People with experience in different areas will be able to add more value to a company that has had to downsize.
What Program Facilitator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tamara Tranter: Communication skills. Take a communications course. Read books on communication and leadership. You may not want to be the leader, but learning about leadership will help you understand what type of leader you want to work for and learn from. Pick up the phone and call people you think you want to work for or learn from, don't just email them; making cold calls teaches you character. Learn to stand out. What can you do during that year that will add value to your life and career buckets? Read and learn about emotional intelligence - understand who you are and how to best interact with others.
Companies who are hiring are going to want to know you were doing something to grow and learn during the year if you were not employed or going to class during that time. Don't fake it. Tell us that you were taking an online class in a different program you wanted to learn about or that you were a stay at home parent that had to help your child/children with remote learning. Talk about the things you were motivated to do each day and the things that challenged you. Tell us if you had a family member that was ill. We want to know that you did things to help you grow and add value to yourself - reading books, taking up running, helping out your neighbors. We know everyone faced some type of struggle during this, but how did you manage it?
What general advice would you give to a Program Facilitator?
Tamara Tranter: Take risks, go outside of your comfort zone, and don't go into interviews with big expectations. Many qualified people have been impacted and are going to get many of the jobs because they have past experience. So be realistic, be positive, and be a team player.
Jordan Levy Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AnthropologyPacific Lutheran University
Anthropology Department
What experience really stands out on Program Facilitator resumes?
Jordan Levy Ph.D.: Any research project where students develop independent research skills. This can be part of the coursework, or part of an internship, or through a summer research assistantship. Anthropology is known for its holistic and comparative perspective and our ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Our qualitative research methods, in particular, have a range of applications. If students can develop interview skills and their capacity to make sense of human behavior, while also pursuing their undergraduate degrees, this knowledge and skill set will be attractive to a range of employers. As the U.S. becomes more diverse, our society will demand a workforce to better understand and interact with people from a range of cultural backgrounds.
What Program Facilitator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jordan Levy Ph.D.: Some students enter college having taken a "gap year" between high school and university. Any kind of volunteer or work experience that further develops their interpersonal communication skills is beneficial for the range of discussion and small group work that university-level classes require. Some students do service projects in other countries, which is great because they also gain international experiences that contribute to their overall formation as informed global citizens. These experiences can then tell what kinds of classes they take in university and can remain a source of inspiration for what careers they pursue.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Program Facilitators in the next 3-5 years?
Jordan Levy Ph.D.: Most of the students I work with are, fortunately, very quick to learn new communication technologies. This is so important because, as the COVID pandemic has shown us, the ability to work remotely is crucial. Communicating in a range of formats (writing emails, recording videos, participating in group discussions via Zoom, etc.) while also making your arguments and content clear to a range of audiences is essential, now more than ever.
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of AnthropologyHartwick College
Anthropology Department
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.: There is an absolute need for employees who can think anthropologically, but this is probably not where most jobs will lie in the next five years. There is no perceived "demand" for Anthropology graduates in most circumstances; this is not new, but it is to our detriment as a society when most people no longer have the capacity to critically understand the social and historical circumstances of the labor market. This will continue to erode at safe and fair conditions for many working people in America and worldwide. That being said, new candidates will have to be adept at doing new things in new ways - not just replicating the same old things in new ways. I do not think the training for this will come from the professional fields of medicine, law, or business, which are traditionally more conservative. I suspect there will continue to be a declining demand for professional Anthropologists but increasing demand for skilled graduates with an anthropology background. They can apply the social and historical insights of these subjects to whatever field they practice.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Program Facilitator job market given the pandemic?
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.: Historically, pandemics have created significant shifts in both the social and economic conditions of life, and this one is no different. The most influential trends that I expect in the job market are tighter hiring practices that will require candidates to have multiple skillsets, pushing many workers into increasingly unsafe and unfair positions. An unfortunate mantra of gratitude developed amongst the employed, early in the pandemic, was, "At least I still have a job." I think that sentiment still exists for people. Many employers know this and will continue to use it to their advantage. They pressure their employees to work under conditions that are increasingly unhealthy and untenable for themselves and their families. This will exacerbate many of the existing inequalities that this pandemic has already highlighted. In addition to becoming more ruthless and exploitative, I think future hiring patterns will highly value a candidates' ability to demonstrate resilience and innovation during the pandemic. A candidate's technological prowess - even for a non-technical job - will also be much more visible and impact standards and expectations of professionalism in the job market.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Program Facilitators in the next 3-5 years?
Namita Sugandhi Ph.D.: Documentation and public engagement will remain crucial parts of Anthropological work, and technology that allows us to record, analyze, and share data will continue to be necessary. Over the next several years, it will be essential to find new and innovative ways of connecting virtually to audiences' broader network. This will require the ability to think out-of-the-box and adapt to unique circumstances and new technologies. Technologies that allow people to build relationships across space will continue to transform how we experience social life. Those who are new to the job market will have to master these new virtual strategies of communication and self-promotion and need to understand and navigate the impact of this pandemic on the non-virtual world.
What type of skills will young Program Facilitators need?
John Marston: Critical thinking, the ability to communicate in writing, and problem-solving skills are essential in archaeology.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Program Facilitators to find work opportunities?
John Marston: Private contractor companies are operating in the consulting space, termed "Cultural Resource Management."
How do you envision technology impacting Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
John Marston: More opportunities for remote work as organizations become more comfortable with small platforms.
Emily Morgan
Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)ASCP - Associated Skin Care Professionals
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Facilitators?
Emily Morgan: The skincare industry is not slowing down. Our world may have been put on pause for a moment, but this industry and the professionals who work within it are resilient and won't be taken down quickly. But that doesn't mean things are going to go back to how they were... Not only will newly licensed estheticians have to demonstrate their overall professionalism and knowledge of skincare techniques and sanitation protocols but, likely, they will also need to display a keen understanding and ability to adhere to individual health and safety procedures that are a direct result of COVID-19
What type of skills will young Program Facilitators need?
Emily Morgan: Standards are elevating in the skincare industry, and this is a good thing! However, esthetic graduates may find that the basics needed to pass their state board exams may not cut it for gainful employment. Estheticians looking for a new job should be prepared to show that they have a strong knowledge of sanitation and safety protocols, treatment techniques, and ingredients. Certifications in more advanced esthetic services will improve the chances of gainful employment. This demonstrates to potential employers that the esthetician is eager to learn, grow, and offer a new means of income. Belonging to an association such as Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) also shows an impressive level of professionalism and maturity, and shows that the esthetician is serious about protecting and flourishing in their new career, which will be very attractive to employers.
Dr. Steven Coutinho
ProfessorMuhlenberg College
Department of Philosophy
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
Dr. Steven Coutinho: This depends on how the field responds to current changes. If Philosophy Departments focus on training graduates for successful careers outside of academia, especially training in applied ethics, politics, and other areas of contemporary concern, I would predict an increase in demand for graduates, given the reasons stated in 1. above.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Program Facilitator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Steven Coutinho: I suspect that it is likely that, globally, there will be an overall shift from the employment of people to the utilization of machines, robots, and automated software, to reduce human contact and minimize costs, due to health and hygiene. The jobs that will be least affected will be those that cannot be mechanized or automated. These are the jobs that involve training in the so-called "soft" skills: reasoning, writing, persuasion, creativity, analysis, ethical sensibility, and human understanding. These are the skills that are cultivated intensively in the Philosophy major and minor.
The Philosophy degree itself is very versatile as these skills are transferable to a variety of jobs. Philosophy majors typically go on to careers in law, medicine, education, politics, entrepreneurship, and business.
One of the unique opportunities provided by training in philosophy is ethics: environmental ethics, business ethics, medical ethics, etc. Ethical discourse has been severely lacking in our economic culture. Still, the current pandemic and the ecological crisis (climate change, species extinction, etc.) have highlighted the need for greater ethical awareness in all employment sectors. Employers who are thinking creatively about alternative approaches will be on the lookout for those trained in the humanities and who can make compelling ethical evaluations of policy and appropriate recommendations.
However, I would strongly advise against a career as a Philosophy Professor, as it is excessively competitive. The number of openings appears to be decreasing, while the number of candidates with Ph.D.s increases.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Program Facilitators in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Steven Coutinho: Since Philosophy majors get jobs in any and every sector, the technologies they will need will depend on their specific employment area.
However, anyone considering a career as a Philosophy professor will have to develop online and distance teaching expertise. This has changed the teaching experience dramatically, as the technologies and skills are vastly different from those required for in-person instruction.
What experience really stands out on Program Facilitator resumes?
Dr. Adelaide Kelly-Massoud: Special Education may be unique in a COVID-19 era because the demand is not expected to waver. I would argue now, more than ever; the school will be looking deeply at candidates' qualifications. A teacher candidate entering the field will want the resume to reflect their abilities and what they can offer to school culture. During this time, schools will want to see that candidates have varied experiences with face to face, virtual, and possibly, hybrid instruction. Some, if not many, teacher candidates are entering the field with all of their clinical experience being a reflection of virtual COVID-19 era teaching. If that is the case, I would advise candidates to highlight experiences with pre-K-12 students that informed their decision to join the field. Highlight the spark of passion moment and past jobs working with kids.
Current trends and future directions of special education will require candidates that have a pulse on the social justice issues that face today's children. Candidates' resumes should reflect their ability to create a safe and inclusive classroom for all learners. The achievement gaps that already existed in education will continue to grow in the face of the global pandemic. A resume reflecting a special education teacher has the passion and skills to use data-driven, research-based interventions to narrow the gap and show a more profound commitment to creating meaningful change.
How do you envision technology impacting Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
Dr. Adelaide Kelly-Massoud: Well, every teacher and teacher candidate was thrust into distance learning. Misguided attempts to foster understanding often leaned our adult distant learning pedagogy. Teachers, and those who prepare teachers, found their job to research, define, design, and implement meaningful teaching and learning using a virtual platform. Words such as synchronous and asynchronous are now a part of our everyday vernacular. But there is a much more optimistic change on the horizon that we can thank coronavirus for.
Communication and collaboration have been forced to change. Parents and Teachers are more connected and have been put in a position to leverage technology to build networks of support and consistent dialog. I urge teachers to leverage this in their future as we work to reopening schools; we should learn from this experience to leverage technology to keep us connected.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Facilitators?
Dr. Adelaide Kelly-Massoud: How could there not be? The coronavirus era's teacher candidates are leveraged to be the most influential teachers in our nation's history. I believe this to be true. Children, across the country and world, have been exposed to social isolation, a disruption in learning, political, and social unrest. Now, more than ever, students, ALL students, need teachers who can create the therapeutic learning environments that will allow students to thrive once again. Access and inequity have long plagued our academic system and led to significant and horrifying achievement gaps. The coronavirus forced that outside education to see the disparities play out on their television screens and social media feeds. As the quarantine lifestyle became the new norm, the divide grew. Those who could, and were willing to pay, could maintain face-to-face instruction, while others struggle to get access to technology.
Students whose academic career is driven by the goal setting and progress monitoring, often used in special education, were sent home for parents and teachers struggling to find a way to make things work. Enduring impacts on our graduates aren't all negative. I think teacher candidates that worked through the coronavirus and pursued a degree and have both a level of commitment and a clear image of teaching demands. I believe they saw first-hand how bad things can be and how vital their role is. I am optimistic that a silver lining to a terrible year is that teacher candidates persevered for their future students and that this quality is now deeply ingrained in their craft.
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.
Professor of Public Administration/Social PolicyPace University
Department of Public Administration
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Program Facilitator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.: As one of the media articles pointed out, the crisis has hit public-sector jobs once considered safe. Due to social distancing requirements and stay-at-home orders, many people have been working remotely. So, teleworking is one of the biggest trends we see in the job market, with more professionals working at home whenever possible. Even when stay-at-home orders are relaxed, many may continue working from home until the pandemic is fully contained.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Program Facilitators in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.: The economy will eventually recover, though its structure and job composition may be quite different. Public administration has to adapt to those fundamental changes with retraining, renovation, etc. with more muscular accountability control, particularly for new entrants to the labor force. Experts suggest that the pandemic's primary consequence is to accelerate the timeline of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) we had already anticipated. Policymakers should push for investments in institutions that closely tie worker skills to employers' needs, as the economy recovers after COVID-19.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
Dr. Sheying Chen Ph.D.: State and local governments re-evaluate their current capacities and plan for reduced revenues in the coming fiscal years. This will result in a shift in hiring in the public sector that may last for some time; thus, graduates should be better prepared for finding job opportunities, networking, etc. There is likely a decrease in demand for graduates in the next couple of years, although the trend is not unique to this field. It's an excellent time to go back to school and get a degree in active pursuit of new skills for the changing work environment. Active learners may demand more creative programming and increased networking that may also help to advance the field of public administration.
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom
Coordinator of M.Ed. Special EducationFrostburg State University
Educational Professions
What type of skills will young Program Facilitators need?
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom: Special education needs are wide and varying, depending on position and state/jurisdiction needs. In general, knowledge and experience in the Autism Spectrum is a high need area. Knowledge and skills in behavioral/mental health are also in demand. Indeed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to adapt instruction online is a new skill area for special education teachers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Program Facilitators to find work opportunities?
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom: Special education teachers are needed everywhere. Urban areas have more openings; however, rural areas struggle to find qualified candidates because their number is limited. We are not producing enough teachers in the United States, and we have a real crisis in special education.
How do you envision technology impacting Program Facilitators in the next 5 years?
Jamelyn Tobery-Nystrom: Technology impacts special education in many ways. First, technology is the primary tool for kids with communication disorders. So, knowing how to find and use technology with students is critical. Second, instruction is now online for many of our students; therefore, learning new ways to teach using technology is needed. Technology will continue to evolve and be central to instruction.
Leanna Biddle
Career Education ManagerColorado State University
Career Center and Warner College of Natural Resources
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Program Facilitators?
Leanna Biddle: Last March, with COVID-19 and the shift to virtual business and engagement, the economy was negatively impacted, shown by high unemployment rates and business closures. Though this was unforeseen for many, jobs in this field have started to recover. As a Career Education Manager, I have seen the following: employers actively attending and engaging in virtual career fairs, job opportunities available for graduates, and the advertisement of internship opportunities for current students, offered both in-person and virtually.
In the career world, the new word I use is pivoting, looking for different ways to stand out as a candidate. It may not be as simple as applying for opportunities - there are different strategies to consider: attending networking events offered at your institution and/or in the community, making connections with faculty and staff in the field, and leaning into engagement opportunities, whether that be nationwide with an organization, like the American Fisheries Society, or volunteering in your city.
We don't know what the lasting impact will be. The landscape is still changing by the day, with hiring fluctuations and changing employer needs. I do know that graduates are not alone in this process; many institutions offer career support for recent graduates and alum.
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.
Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic TheologyVanguard University
Religion, Undergraduate Religion
What general advice would you give to a Program Facilitator?
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.: Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Program Facilitators in the next 3-5 years?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.