Educational coordinators are professionals that use administrative and teaching skills to develop, evaluate, and coordinate education programs. This may include designing the courses for the program. Depending on his or her role in an organization, an educational coordinator may serve as a liaison or "point person" between teachers, administrators, parents, and community members.
Often, educational coordinators serve in an academic setting such as pre-kindergarten, grades kindergarten through 12, colleges, and adult education programs. They also work for hospitals and other industries that have a need for ongoing, specialized training. A hospital, for example, may employ a nurse as an educational coordinator for its trauma division. Being an educational coordinator requires experience in one's field, as well as the ability to keep up-to-date on the latest trends and developments. This knowledge is used to supplement required coursework.
Educational coordinators must understand effective teaching techniques and how to design a curriculum or series of courses on a particular topic. In an academic setting, they design courses with local, regional, and national requirements in mind. These requirements spell out what must be taught. A course that fails to do this will not teach students what they are expected to know. It could also be found non-compliant with certain regulations, which could lead to sanctions from any overseeing agencies.
After a curriculum is in place, the educational coordinator can evaluate whether it is effective. This will be based on a desired outcome, such increasing skills in a specific area or raising test scores. Data about the course may be compiled into a report for review by the coordinator and other administrators. Based on the report and other considerations, the course may be kept as-is, or it may be altered. The educational coordinator may also watch and evaluate teachers to offer feedback on teaching techniques.
An ability to work with administrators, teachers, and the public is another important skill for an education coordinator. A coordinator for a gifted and talented program, for example, may work with other teachers to coordinate student schedules and get information on student performance. A gifted and talented coordinator may also be responsible for deciding who is enrolled the program. For that reason, a mixture of tact and compassion is required when dealing with parents.
An educational coordinator is someone with the experience and ability to oversee an entire education program. An educational coordinator must also meet licensing or degree requirements needed to perform his or her role. This can range from a bachelor's degree to a master's degree or even a Ph.D.
