Curriculum and instruction development is a vital area of focus and improvement for today’s educational systems. Earning an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) – Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) from Eastern Washington University (EWU) can open up many interesting career paths for the modern educator.
Educators with their M.Ed. in C&I often assume higher-level positions within a school such as curriculum specialists, curriculum directors and instructional coordinators. C&I professionals also work in various positions at the district level.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady job growth in C&I-related positions. Specifically, BLS projects that demand for professionals such as instructional coordinators will grow as schools “increasingly turn to instructional coordinators to develop better curriculums and improve teachers’ effectiveness.”
C&I Leadership Positions in Schools
Many, if not most, schools now have specialized C&I positions. C&I personnel work in many capacities under many different titles — the most common being curriculum coordinators, curriculum directors, curriculum specialists, instructional coordinators and instructional coaches.
Larger schools may employ C&I personnel in all these positions as a hierarchy, from the administrative level of coordinators and directors to the more implementation-based positions of specialists and instructional coaches. Smaller schools may employ fewer C&I personnel or even a single specialist/coordinator who oversees all aspects of C&I design and implementation.
What Do Curriculum Coordinators and Directors Do?
Curriculum coordinators and directors work in a leadership-focused supervisory role, designing curricula that align with state standards and school-specific learning objectives. They outline what will be taught and how — the content and instructional methods used to help students learn. These instructional techniques vary greatly according to a school’s pedagogy and the student body’s specific, diverse learning needs.
Educators in C&I leadership roles need to stay current with educational research, trends and innovation in areas like educational technology integration, culturally responsive education and differentiated instruction. Curriculum leaders should consider these areas of development when designing school curricula. Devising culturally responsive C&I also involves taking input from teachers, students, parents and the wider community.
In addition, C&I leadership personnel oversee how curricula and instructional methodology are implemented in classrooms. They facilitate appropriate training, professional development and opportunities for constructive self-reflection for educators while providing teachers with necessary materials, resources and support.
C&I coordinators and directors assess the effectiveness of teacher performance in implementing C&I design and the quality of the C&I itself. They adjust C&I design, training and performance standards accordingly to maximize student learning and achievement in school and beyond.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for instructional coordinators was $74,720 in May 2024. Comparatively, K-12 teachers earned median wages ranging from $61,430 to $64,580 in May 2024, demonstrating the earning potential of advancing into curriculum and instruction leadership roles.
C&I Personnel in Districtwide Supervisory Roles
C&I professionals also work in leadership roles at the school district level as assistant superintendent for C&I, director of C&I, or director of curriculum development. They oversee districtwide C&I design, supervising and assisting C&I staff in the district’s schools.
These district-level leaders set districtwide standards for C&I design and implementation and evaluate school-specific variances in C&I by teacher performance and student achievement. Salaries for district-level C&I leadership vary by region and district size, with many positions offering six-figure compensation packages that reflect the scope and impact of these roles.
What Do Curriculum Specialists, Instructional Coordinators and Instructional Coaches Do?
In some schools, curriculum specialists, instructional coordinators and instructional coaches carry all of the responsibilities of C&I leadership roles. In others, the curriculum specialists and instructional coordinators focus more on implementation, working as a bridge between administration and teachers to ensure effective implementation of C&I design.
This role involves taking input from teachers, assisting in C&I design, developing instructional materials, disseminating C&I information to teachers and assessing the results. Along with curriculum specialists, instructional coordinators and coaches organize and facilitate teacher training and development.
Instructional coaches support teachers by providing personalized professional development, actionable feedback and resources to improve their practice. They serve as facilitators of professional learning, helping teachers identify areas for growth and creating individualized learning opportunities. These educators ensure teachers have everything they need to implement C&I design successfully, from content and instructional knowledge to instructional materials and technologies.
Clearly, many job opportunities exist for educators with a master’s in C&I at both the school and district administrator levels. Educators can enjoy rewarding careers in these roles by making a substantial difference in the quality of education and student learning in their schools.
Learn more about EWU’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program.
