An education director has many responsibilities in a school or other setting. He is often in charge of the school's academic curriculum and academic resources. School administrators often rely on the education director for guidance on how to support and train staff. Education directors work with teachers and paraprofessionals to provide best teaching practices to support student success.
Public and private schools use an education director to find and implement curricula for each grade level and subject in the school. They will choose specific textbooks and classroom materials. Sometimes directors will help to design and write educational materials as well. The education director will provide teachers with specialized materials they may need for certain lessons.
Once the education director chooses the academic curriculum for the school, he or she will train grade level teachers on how to implement it and use materials in the classroom. The director will conduct several training workshops for teachers before the school year starts. Throughout the year, the director will meet with teachers about the student success for the academic year.
Large school districts or private schools may hire an education director for each subject. Each director will be responsible for the curriculum development and student achievement for their specific subject. Many times, this position requires someone with a teaching certification and experience but also a degree in the core subject area. A math director would need a bachelor's or master's degree in math, plus several years of classroom teaching to be qualified for the job.
A special education director job specifically deals with the special education teachers and parents of the school. These directors will be present at special education meetings that discuss student placement and academic goals. They also help parents and school administrators to understand their rights within the law. Special education directors may modify academic curricula to support the students with disabilities. The teachers in the special education classrooms may ask for the director's support in the case of a challenging student.
Education director jobs can be found in other settings besides school. Museums, daycare, and private businesses use education directors to help run day-to-day operations. In a museum or daycare, the director can be responsible for the educational programs that are conducted for the children. In a business setting, the director will help to create company training materials and train incoming employees. They may also hold training meetings for any new company procedures for all employees.