Careers in Curriculum Development

Breaking the Myth of "Stability" in Teaching Careers: When a teacher says, "I've been teaching Grade 8 Science for 5 years," we nod with approval, appreciating the dedication and stability. But imagine an IT professional saying, "I've been a front-end developer for 5 years at the same level." The reaction is immediate: "Why are you stuck? Why haven’t you moved up?" In most industries, five years of experience signals growth, seniority, specialization, and often, leadership. But for teachers, the career path is strikingly linear. The Reality: While most professions come with structured career paths, teachers often remain in the same role for years, even decades. This is perceived as "settling down," but isn’t it also a sign of missed opportunities? Limited Career Progression: Teaching the same grade year after year is often seen as stability. But shouldn’t experience lead to elevation? Roles like Senior Educator, Lead Facilitator, or Curriculum Designer are rare. Minimal Upskilling Opportunities: Unlike other sectors, education rarely offers clear pathways to evolve into Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) or Academic Coordinators. Static Titles: In most industries, five years of expertise translates to a new title, Senior Developer, Lead Analyst, Project Manager. For teachers, this rarely happens, even if mastery is achieved. The Solution: Structured Career Ladders for Teachers We need well-defined career paths that allow teachers to grow, specialize, and lead. Here’s what that journey can look like: 1. Senior Educator: Lead grade-level learning, coach peers, and drive classroom innovation. 2. Subject Matter Expert (SME): Deeply specialize in one subject, contribute to curriculum design, and mentor other teachers. 3. Academic Coordinator: Oversee learning outcomes, manage academic planning, and execute curriculum design. 4. Vice Principal / Principal: Transition into leadership roles that shape strategic vision and manage educational communities. 5. EdTech Specialist: Enter the rapidly growing world of digital learning, building courses and driving innovation. Expanding Horizons - Beyond the Classroom Growth doesn’t always mean moving up; sometimes it means moving outward. Teachers can diversify into: EdTech Roles: Designing digital learning experiences for online platforms. Curriculum Developer: Crafting learning modules for schools and educational boards. Educational Consultant: Guiding schools to improve learning methods and teacher training. A teacher's experience deserves elevation, not repetition. It’s time to build career ladders that reflect the dedication, mastery, and passion teachers bring to their classrooms.

K12 Remote. What's it look like? Moving outside of the classroom and into a remote position outside of a traditional brick and mortar school can look a number of ways. Over the past 16 months, I have cataloged over 15,000 job posting and noticed some trends. Here are the different types of roles I typically see! ONLINE TEACHING This is providing support for students in a virtual school setting. You work remotely and provide some synchronous and asynchronous instruction as well as grading and communicating with students and families. CUSTOMER SERVICE These are typically entry level roles where you may help with sales, implementation, or support for schools and school districts implementing curriculum or education technology. CONSULTING This is usually a higher up role where they are looking for school leader or district leader level experience. This is where you work on discreet projects with a number of schools or school districts related to academics, curriculum, assessment, special education, human resources, operations, finance, etc. These projects typically have a start date, end date, and measurable goals. TECH ENGINEERING I see this more in education technology and curriculum companies than school districts and charter management organizations. This is building the platforms that are sold to school and school districts. BUSINESS & OPERATIONS Keeping the day-to-day running for consulting firms, education technology firms, curriculum companies, etc. with payroll, hiring, information technology, and other core organizational functions. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN Using instructional theory to build curriculum, applications, and other functions that align with standards and can be applicable across discreet sets of state standards. TRAVEL One thing to note, many of these jobs will have travel requirements between 10% and 40% (sometimes even higher) to meet with clients. Questions? Ask below!

🚀 Teachers, your skills are gold in today's job market! No extra degree needed. Did you know? The demand for professionals with teaching backgrounds in corporate settings is skyrocketing. Your unique skill set is more valuable than ever before. Let's dive into some eye-opening statistics: • 94% of instructional designers report healthy work-life balance • Only 55% of teachers plan to stay in the profession long-term • The eLearning market is projected to reach $325 billion by 2025, creating numerous opportunities for educators Your teacher toolkit is perfect for an exciting career pivot. Here's how your skills translate: 1️⃣ Curriculum Development → Instructional Design - Design engaging online courses - Create effective training materials - Develop microlearning modules 2️⃣ Student Engagement → Change Management - Lead organizational transformations - Facilitate workshops and training sessions - Implement new processes and systems 3️⃣ Parent-Teacher Conferences → Corporate Communications - Craft clear, impactful messages - Present complex information to diverse audiences - Manage stakeholder relationships 4️⃣ Classroom Management → Project Management - Coordinate cross-functional teams - Manage timelines and resources - Balance multiple priorities effectively 5️⃣ Individualized Education Plans → HR & Talent Development - Design personalized learning paths - Conduct skills assessments - Create professional development programs 💡 Many of these roles offer improved work-life balance and competitive salaries without additional degrees. Let's look at some average salaries: • Instructional Designers: $81,685 • Educational Consultants: $68,877 • HR Managers: $74,941 • eLearning Developers: $71,125 • Corporate Trainers: $62,498 Your expertise in adapting curricula, managing diverse groups, and fostering growth is exactly what companies seek. Here's why: 1. Adaptability: Teachers excel at adjusting strategies on the fly 2. Communication: Clear, effective communication is crucial in any role 3. Empathy: Understanding different perspectives drives successful teamwork 4. Problem-solving: Teachers are masters at finding creative solutions 5. Technology integration: Experience with edtech translates well to corporate tools Remember: You're not starting over. You're applying your expertise in new, exciting ways. The skills you've honed in the classroom are in high demand across industries. Curious about making the leap? Let's chat! DM me to explore how we can tailor your teacher superpowers for your dream career shift. I'd be happy to: #TeacherSkills #CareerTransition #WorkLifeBalance #EdTechCareers #CorporateTraining