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Job outlook for training specialists in the United States
Training specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected training specialist job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 28,900 new jobs for training specialists are projected over the next decade.
Training specialist salaries have increased 6% for training specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 45,588 training specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 61,581 active training specialist job openings in the US.
The average training specialist salary is $77,231.
Are training specialist jobs in demand?
Training specialist job and salary trends over time
Training specialist jobs over time
Training specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45,588 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 43,148 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 42,436 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 39,566 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 38,065 | 0.01% |
Average training specialist salary over time
Training specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $77,231 | $37.13 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $75,396 | $36.25 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | $74,977 | $36.05 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | $74,349 | $35.74 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $72,698 | $34.95 | +1.4% |
Training specialist jobs by state
Most common states for training specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 259 | 37% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 188 | 20% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 253 | 19% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 555 | 18% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 134 | 18% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,475 | 17% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 324 | 17% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,097 | 16% |
| 9 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 214 | 16% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 170 | 16% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 102 | 16% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 90 | 16% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 843 | 15% |
| 14 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 573 | 15% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 461 | 15% |
| 16 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 450 | 15% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 840 | 14% |
| 18 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 401 | 14% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 150 | 14% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 101 | 14% |
Training Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of training specialist experts
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Indiana University Bloomington
Robert Morris University
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
Armstrong State University
Illinois State University
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Richmond
University of Denver
Colorado State University
Rocky Mountain College
Alverno College
Edgewood College
Monmouth University
Marshall University
Nyack College
Montclair State University
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Central Missouri
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: While it is important to have specialized knowledge of industry-standard tools such as Articulate, AI, etc., it is more important to understand design-thinking and possess strong problem-solving skills. Understanding and utilizing a design framework is key to the creation of contemporary learning systems.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: Possess a health balance of general design skills and specific tool knowledge. Understand which tools are prevalent by reviewing job descriptions (AI does a great job of this) and augment your skill set. Don't wait for your graduate program to cover every tool; sometimes you have to learn some on your own. Practice presentation and interview skills and look for practicums and internships in your program.
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.
Department Chair of Learning, Design, and Adult Education, LDAE, Associate Professor of Instructional Systems Technology, ISTIndiana University Bloomington
Educational/Instructional Media Design
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Experience may help with maximizing salary potential as one enters the career in my field. Generally, degree programs offer various options for that, e.g., Indiana University has a studio-based option for a residential MS program, or course projects with clients (both in online and residential programs), internships, service learning, being involved in research projects. If a starting job candidate can show evidence from various experiences in their graduation portfolio (website), it may help them maximize the salary potential as they start their career.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Adaptability, flexibility, and being open to continuously learning (after the degree completion). Technology, learning environments, learning needs, and content to be mastered by the learners are constantly changing. The educational technologist has to be open to learn continuously and change and adapt to the changes happening in these areas. Additionally, soft skills such as being a team member and clear communication are very important, as educational technologists work in a team or lead a team.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Everyone needs to start somewhere. Learn most from each experience in the field and build your resume, experiences, and skills.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Richard Fuller: Be open to opportunities that will present themselves in Prek-12, higher education or corporate training and development. Many places will see the value in hiring employees with the knowledge and skills that come with a Curriculum and Instruction (C&I;) degree and will create positions accordingly. Most organizations see the value of a training and development department with specific uses. Hospitals, k-12 schools, for profit organizations and nonprofit organization incorporate instructional designers with a curriculum and instruction degree. Even higher education (HE) hire instructional designers to work with faculty. HE faculty are subject matter experts but don’t know about instruction or curriculum or how to teach online or in person f2f. They also don’t understand the value or how to design and develop curriculum and transfer that to the classroom. PreK-12 utilize C&I; grads as both trainers and as coordinators of curriculum. This may require an advanced degree (graduate or doctoral), but nonetheless, it is an opportunity and something to think about as you progress through your career. Training and Development is an obvious opportunity in many corporations and organizations as C&I; prepared graduates have a body of knowledge and skills that align with training needs in designing and delivering training for corporate and organizational initiatives in all areas. There are those with a C&I; degree who also hold teaching certificates in some area of Prek-12. This may open other doors for them in teaching in the classroom but with the degree may present additional opportunities in an organization’s administrative capacity or training.
Allen Redmon Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts and SciencesTexas A&M University - Central Texas
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Allen Redmon Ph.D.: Those who want to maximize their earning potential should consider a company’s culture as much as the job they are taking. Every company has its own culture. Those who find the right culture for them and grow into that culture will fare better than those who just accept a job without considering the culture of a company. Those who take a job without considering the culture will almost always experience a mismatch at some point, which will require them to look for a new job sooner than expected.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Allen Redmon Ph.D.: One essential job trait that doesn’t get discussed enough is empathy, the ability to develop processes, statements, and objectives with the client, customer, or user in mind. Those employees or companies who start from a place of empathy will always outpace those who do not.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD: In the coming years, proficiency in educational technology is expected to become increasingly important. Graduates should focus on honing their skills in integrating digital tools into the curriculum, leveraging data for informed decision-making, and staying abreast of advancements in online and blended learning environments. Additionally, addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in education will be crucial for educators to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD: New graduates entering the field of Curriculum & Instruction should prioritize building a diverse skill set, staying current with educational trends, and actively seeking opportunities for professional development. Cultivating strong verbal and written communication skills will enhance collaboration with colleagues, parents, and students. Adapting to evolving educational methodologies, such as culturally relevant pedagogies, will contribute to long-term success.
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.: If you have not done so already, become active in professional associations that align to your career interests. Attend (and consider presenting at) their professional conferences. This will be a source of professional development, networking, and future employment opportunities. Look for opportunities to gain practical experience-even as a volunteer. For example, if you have an interest in instructional design, you may check out Designers for Learning (designersforlearning.org), which can match you with service-learning opportunities. You should become familiar with the instructional designer competencies from the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi.org) and work on those in which you might have less training or experience.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.: Educational Technology is a very broad field with practitioners in various work settings and with differing emphases and responsibilities. Ultimately, potential employers of both full-timers and consultants will want to now 1) what you can do and 2) what you have done. Depending upon your career emphasis, you can: 1) spend some time with trial software and tutorials to gain expertise in specific applications; 2) co-author articles and co-present at conferences to build up your name recognition and credentials; 3) see if colleagues will allow you to participate in their projects: 4) do not pass up opportunities to work-even if it is low-paid or volunteer with non-profits, civic groups, etc. to build your experience and resume--so many of these lead to future jobs.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.: Working with and leading people-including managing conflict-is undertaught in our current ed tech programs. Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning will continue to rise in importance. Those going into industry (and increasingly in academe) are expected to have skills in multimedia/video production and interactive authoring, e.g., Articulate, Adobe Captivate. Of course, an ed tech professional will be expected to be up-to-speed in the use and affordances of AI.
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Jaunelle Celaire: Learn from everything. Remember every moment is a learning opportunity from everyone around you, no matter their title. Pay attention when things go well and clue in and pay extra attention when they do not; watch how people react to it. Build relationships and network with the people who face problems by being their solution.
Allison Brenning
Director of Special Education and Elementary InstructionUniversity of Richmond
Teacher Education And Professional Development, Specific Levels And Methods
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Allison Brenning: One of the greatest skills needed in schools today and in the future is adaptability. Our student population is changing every year, and with that comes a wider variety of strengths and needs for teachers to address.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Allison Brenning: My first piece of advice pertains to the process of searching for a teaching position. I would advise recent graduates to approach career searching with an open mind as they consider their options.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Allison Brenning: First, I would suggest doing some initial research into the states and cities/counties that pay a higher starting salary while also factoring in overall cost of living. While some states or areas pay more than others, that salary difference may not have an impact if the overall cost of living offsets the difference in pay. In addition, obtaining an advanced degree will nearly always result in a higher salary than what a teacher would earn without that degree. Some new teachers choose to pursue a Master's or Doctoral degree while they begin their teaching career (your school may even provide some financial assistance!) and others prefer to complete the advanced degree before entering the profession. There are benefits and challenges to each of these approaches, but they both typically result in a pay bump for that teacher once the degree is conferred. Last, new teachers could connect with their district about potential special projects that may be available. While I would advise a new teacher to not take on any big projects during their first year, there may be some small opportunities to assist with school- or district-related duties (such as test scoring, tutoring, curriculum development, etc.) that offer a stipend. In addition, many districts offer summer school to eligible students and this can be another opportunity to earn some extra cash.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Training Specialists?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: The coronavirus will have an enduring impact on higher education graduates. In the field of education, graduates have experienced first hand the deep and lasting inequalities that the coronavirus has had on youth and families from Communities of Color. The have seen educational gaps widen into education chasms. They have witnessed the struggles, successes, and resiliency of families as they navigate the impact of the virus. Graduates leave education programs with their eyes wide open to the systemic racism and other isms that impact youth and their families, from education, to healthcare, and beyond.
In teacher education programs, our graduates have had a front row seat to inequality. They have witnessed children and adolescents disengage from schooling and life. They have struggled to support their students' mental and physical health. They ache to be with their students in classrooms, yet fear the repercussions of close contact due to the virus. Yet, they persist, and they keep believing they can make a difference.
What's a day at work look like for a Training Specialist?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: A day at work for a recent graduate in the field of education is unknown, yet it is known. Schools will certainly change. We will definitely see greater use of technology. Innovation may impact the school day and approach to schooling. Yet, traditional schools may eventually revert to what is known. The factory model of schooling is engrained in U.S. Society. The school enterprise may eventually go back to the "normal" disengaging and alienating model that existed before the virus. And yet, a work day may look radically different. Innovative options for schooling may arise that push beyond the boundaries of what is known. The potential for change is everywhere, in all sectors of the economy. Why not education?
What technical skills for a Training Specialist stand out to employers?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: Technical skills that stand out to employers in the education sector during and after the time of COVID include interpersonal skills, ability to navigate change and challenges, and commitment to educational equity. Interacting with colleagues, students, and families online is challenging. This requires a set of interpersonal skills that involve a tolerance for uncertainty, risk-taking, creativity, and innovation. The ability to navigate change and challenges is essential during uncertain times. In schools, the landscape is alway changing, and more so in a global pandemic.
It is important to foster a growth-mindset in oneself, and also in one's school community. Employers are also looking for a commitment to educational equity. With emerging consciousness of racial inequality and the need for systems that promote racial justice, employers want to hire people who are culturally competent and can move beyond statements of the value of diversity, to the enactment of educational environments that promote equity for those who are marginalized. This skill set includes: cross-cultural communication, culturally responsive teaching, and strength-based practices.
Dr. Ann Sebald
Assistant Professor, Co-DirectorColorado State University
Center for Educator Preparation
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Training Specialists?
Dr. Ann Sebald: Not sure what is meant by 'enduring'. However, if you are asking if there will be a long/longer term impact of the pandemic on recent graduates entering the teaching profession, I would say yes. As the state continues to work through the fiscal impact of the pandemic, schools will need to identify their priorities. As it relates to in-person learning, educators have done an amazing job at continuous adjustments during the past year. Teacher candidates have learned along-side veteran educators how best to adapt the learning environment for all students and their needs. What we've learned over this past year is being applied in schools around the globe moving forward.
What's a good job out of college for Training Specialists?
Dr. Ann Sebald: The state of Colorado, similar to many states across the country, is experiencing a teacher shortage, and more recently, a substitute teacher crisis. The job market is good for novices entering the field. The need for teachers is greatest in rural areas of our state. For details regarding the teacher shortage and how districts are addressing, see www.cde.state.co.us.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Ann Sebald: Within the field of P-12 education, the question that should be asked is what will help people in our field improve student learning. Professional development opportunities, supported by what we have learned from recent and on-going research, is what will support teachers and leaders within the field of P-12 education. The goal remains the same, how can we best prepare future children and youth to be well prepared to address the challenges and opportunities they will face as they graduate and move out into the workforce and world.
Dr. Stevie Schmitz
Director of EducationRocky Mountain College
Leadership and Distance Education Program
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Training Specialists?
Dr. Stevie Schmitz: I believe that there will be an enduring impact on the entire education system due to the pandemic. Students may experience gaps in their education due to remote learning which will have to be addressed by educational leaders and their faculty members as well as parents. Social emotional stress is bound to be a factor as students return to school. Leaders need to support students and staff with this transition. Educational technology will occupy a new role in public education and we need to embrace and support it. Financial impact will also be a reality for newly graduated educational leaders. Money spent or needing to be spent on safety measures will continue as more students return to school. All of these situations (and others not yet imagined) will impact new leaders.
What's a day at work look like for a Training Specialist?
Dr. Stevie Schmitz: It will be stressful and rewarding...complicated by the impact of the pandemic and yet still rewarding because of working with young people and helping them reach their full potential.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stevie Schmitz: The demand for more leaders may increase earning potential, but it will be tempered by the additional expenses incurred and the stagnant revenue stream to meet those demands.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Training Specialists?
Randa Suleiman Ph.D.: The pandemic had an impact on all of us including our students. In education, the shift from face to face teaching to online pushed our teacher candidates to show their skills. As an Alverno graduate, our teachers tend to be ore versed in technology integration and comfortable teaching in multi-media classrooms.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Training Specialists?
Randa Suleiman Ph.D.: Are you asking about my job as a faculty? If yes, here is my answer: As a faculty, I worked diligently to model best practices teaching in a virtual environment. I believe in modeling my expectations. As education faculty, we have to walk the talk. I created effective learning environment for my teacher candidates that they can take ideas and strategies to implement in their own teaching.
What will help Training Specialists increase their earning potential?
Randa Suleiman Ph.D.: As more teachers are leaving the field, there is a teacher shortage. All teaching licenses are needed. Some of the areas with immediate needs are special education and bilingual
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.
Director of Curriculum & InstructionEdgewood College
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Training Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.: From my vantage point, and the research we are engaging in, it is clear that emotional wellness has been, and will continue to become, a major issue in society. The wide-ranging concerns for emotional and mental health cross lines of all demographics. Specialist, interventionists and therapists will be needed for children and adults post-pandemic. The specialization of needs, for example in adolescent interaction with the pandemic, will further complicate our nation's critical needs in this area. To this end, the opportunities for employment will grow in our field and the benfits of high quality training programs will become a priority.
What technical skills for a Training Specialist stand out to employers?
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.: This field is very qualitative in nature, but there are significant issues relative to our technologies as well. As Rehabilitation Psychologists and Special Education (RPSE) personnnel, reliance upon systems of data support and communication are critical. Having the ability to navigate qualitative research technologies will help an RPSE candidate show a competetive edge over other candidates.
How have salaries changed over time for Training Specialists?
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.: There has been great stability in the field, with salaries increasing over time. The new and improved alliances with insurance companies have eased some pressure that families have felt. Previously, in many cases, families did not seek out the assistance of a certified RPSE because of the hourly fees. More contemporarily insurance coverage has made this access much better. The efficacy of our interventions is increased when families do not have deep-seated worries about paying for these necessary services.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Training Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Antonio Estudillo Ph.D.: A range of considerations come to mind, all of which are interconnected and speak to sustainability in the field of education. Generally speaking, there is a teacher shortage where specific endorsements are concerned (e.g., STEM, Special Education, ESL/working with Multi-Lingual Leaners as well as historically underrepresented students). Of immediate interest is the recruitment and retention of our teaching force that cannot simply pivot how they approach teaching pedagogy, but actually how prospective teacher-educators can change their practices to be more learner-centered, equity-minded, and intentional moving forward (i.e., namely, concentration in quality of technology applications and usage; online learning/blended learning/hybrid intruction).
Specific to the pandemic, this is perhaps most pressing when considering how to better differentiate within and across learning environments/spaces to offer a personalized student experience-facilitating and cultivating meaningful engagement, especially having incoming teachers bring with them an increased/enhanced sense of self and awareness-knowledge of the backgrounds and representation of children of color (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and in particular Latinx and Black/African-American students. In addition too, per job market and the current pandemic, there is still a tremendous need to increase and diversify the ethnic-racial representation of the teaching force.
What technical skills for a Training Specialist stand out to employers?
Antonio Estudillo Ph.D.: I may not have an exact estimation, but I do foresee pre-service teacher educators who enter into the profession with technical skills that are integrative and flexible as being most favorable. Per our times in COVID-19 and beyond, the increased saliency in willingness to be both mindful and continuously learn newer skills even after one graduates will be critical to one's success. This may also include some awareness and practice in underscoring an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning/curriculum development and assessment.
Meaning, as far as one's experience in teaching pedagogy-skill development prior to entering the profession ought to be open to increased experiences in such areas as collaboration/encouraging professional learning (e.g., team-based approaches), independent project management, and continuous means of self-reflection (i.e., reflective artifacts or representation of works that signal an aim to increase competencies in all things related to the profession; spotlighting research and informed decision making; culturally sustaining practices).
What's a good job out of college for Training Specialists?
Antonio Estudillo Ph.D.: One where an individual out of college has the opportunity to gain access to critical mentorship, professional learning (e.g., professional development), a greater sense of autonomy, and the presence of a community (e.g., sense of belonging as a professional). These combined considerations may be aspirational, but in the context of schools, a recognition for school leadership also matters. Therefore, those seeking a position should aim to consider the present and ongoing investments that are in motion/developing within an institution and how these investments may become increasingly comprehensive, forward-thinking, and accessible over time and after one is hired.
Dr. E.Del Chrol
Chair of Humanities, Professor of ClassicsMarshall University
Humanities Department
What soft skills should all Training Specialists possess?
Dr. E.Del Chrol: Useful soft skills are definitely those that Classical languages produce: ability to look closely at a body of work and pay attention to cultural context, ability to articulate complex ideas through speech and writing, deep focus to understand the fiddly bits of syntax.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Training Specialist job market given the pandemic?
David Emanuel Ph.D.: Given the pandemic, I think the biggest trend that we see in the job market is the switch to functioning in a remote environment. The demand to be present in a traditional "office" is fading as more and more employers are forced to find new ways for their staff members to work at home. This opens up new opportunities for applicants because now they are less restricted to applying for work within a commutable distance. More opportunities are opening for a graduate living in New York, for example, to apply for a job with offices in Orlando. Because the need to be physically present in the office has become less crucial, employees do not need to live locally.
What technical skills for a Training Specialist stand out to employers?
David Emanuel Ph.D.: I think employers are especially looking out for students that have acquired strong technical skills along with their major. Graduates with knowledge of Zoom, GoogleMeets, social media, etc., are more likely to impress employers. Here, it is not just the ability to use existing technological platforms, but also the willingness to learn and adapt to new technological changes in the workplace. Along with the newer applications, a sound knowledge of basic programs such as MS Word and Excel also helps to distinguish students.
What's a good job out of college for Training Specialists?
David Emanuel Ph.D.: With a degree in biblical studies, especially at Nyack College, graduate students have at least two options. Either the academic route, furthering their education at a seminary or secular institution. Many of our students have taken this route, and have continued to doctoral studies at a variety of institutions, both in the US and abroad. Alternatively, students have entered the job market serving in a variety of different roles. Most commonly students work for local churches, specifically in the area of teaching. Outside of the church, however, a good option is teaching at private Christian schools. A third great option, if the student possesses strong writing skills, is to enter the world of editing, specifically for books centered around Bible and Theology.
Anonymous Professor
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Anonymous Professor : Getting a degree in Africana Studies or any other similar major (e.g., Ethnic Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, etc.), is no different from getting a degree in any other Arts & Sciences department, in the sense that it provides a strong liberal arts education, but in an interdisciplinary field, that provides an additional lens for studying the same things students study in "traditional" academic disciplines.
Students with these degrees graduate college with the same career options available to them as those graduating from any other Arts and Science degree. Some go to graduate or professional school, others enter the labor market across a variety of fields, including finance.
What's a good job out of college for Training Specialists?
Anonymous Professor : A good first job out of college is one that pays enough to cover expenses and save, but also makes you happy. It might also further your educational experience by providing real-world experience and helping young adults refine their goals and aspirations. What that looks like "on the ground" is different for everyone.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Training Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Nicole Barnes: Although the abrupt changes that occurred to K-12 schooling in the Spring of 2020 have given way to more detailed reopening plans and a vaccine is now available, the use of hybrid and remote learning remains with the ongoing influence of COVID-19. Therefore, it seems essential that teacher educators, researchers, and K-12 school districts rethink what good teaching looks like for K-12 education's changed landscape. Teachers more then ever will need to be prepared to teach in virtual environments and garner the same academic, social, and emotional student outcomes that they would face to face.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Training Specialists?
Dr. Nicole Barnes: The two areas where current teachers appear to be struggling are how to motivate and assess students in a virtual environment. In our Certificate Program in Educational Assessment at MSU, for example, we provide teachers will the knowledge and skills to do this well, and administrators with the tools to scaffold their teachers' development in these areas.
What's a good job out of college for Training Specialists?
Dr. Nicole Barnes: Our graduates are obviously looking for teaching, counseling, or administrative positions in K-12 schools. What I hope for them is that they are in an environment that supports their future learning, and puts kids (all kids) at the forefront of their decision making processes.
Ginger Blackmon
Assistant Professor of Educational LeadershipUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
College of Arts and Science; School of Education; Educational Leadership Program
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Training Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Ginger Blackmon: I believe the biggest trends we will see in the education job market given the pandemic include an increase in the teacher shortage as a number of retirement-age professionals will choose to leave the classroom rather than risk returning the face-to-face instruction that increases their chance of exposure to the coronavirus. This trend will lead to a shift in how state departments, school districts, and university preparation programs think about the preparation of teachers and school leaders to fill these positions.
What Training Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ginger Blackmon: If a graduate needs to take a gap year, gaining skills and experience in working among diverse groups of school-age children in non-school settings will enhance their work as teachers. Volunteering in after-school programs, sports programs, boys and girls clubs, and academic/arts programs will give graduates opportunities to build meaningful relationships with children. Gaining experience in building meaningful relationships with children and families outside of the stress and pressure of the modern classroom will enhance their success as they begin their teaching careers.
What general advice would you give to a Training Specialist?
Ginger Blackmon: The general advice I would give to a graduate beginning their career as an educational professional is to first and foremost understand that students, colleagues, and parents need to know that you care. Authentic, caring, and positive relationships build the foundation for the success and well-being of students and adults within the school setting. Second, I would suggest that they continue to learn. Understanding that educators leave their preparation programs simply knowing enough to get started. Not only is there so much more to learn, but engaging in and modeling lifelong learning is critical in order to address the learning needs of an ever-changing student population, and to educate the next general to address the problems confronting an ever-changing world only enhances the ability to build strong relationships with students, colleagues, and parents.
Lea Porta
InstructorUniversity of Central Missouri
Early Childhood Education Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Training Specialists?
Lea Porta: Endure, yes, we must endure. The students I've encountered are facing these challenges head on and then overcoming these new obstacles. These students are thinking on their feet! Learning and even adapting to real time change. Although, I wish none of us were in this position, it has moved the bar and standards up. I think our students are achieving lifelong skills.
What type of skills will young Training Specialists need?
Lea Porta: Technology is obvious... But I feel UCM's block classes give students a real opportunity to work in classes and be more prepared for student teaching and graduation.
What experience really stands out on Training Specialist resumes?
Lea Porta: I think if they have Google certification, that might be a bonus. Any work or volunteering in their field of study, as well as substituting.