Anyone who wants to become an education improvement specialist will need to possess specialized skills. They will need traditional educator competencies, such as instructional and student achievement skills, and 21st century competencies, such as social media, virtual environments and blended learning skills. Most education improvement specialists have school-based or facility leadership experience as team leaders, resource specialists and program administrators. Regardless of the job, they will need an in-depth knowledge of instructional practices and frameworks.
Get a Master’s in Education Improvement or Transformation
Anyone who wants to become an education improvement specialist will first need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a field related to education instruction, curriculum, technology or administration. Then, they must earn a master’s degree in either education improvement or transformation. These degrees are designed to create educational innovators who implement academic, organizational and technological reforms in various educational environments.
Most of these degree programs allow students to customize their degree program to meet their individual career needs and goals. Some of the more common concentration areas include education policy, finance, assessment and organizations. Other topics include distance education, community engagement, program development and charter schooling. As an alternative an educational professional with a bachelor’s degree related to educational can also pursue a master’s degree related to strategic management, change leadership or business administration.
Get Specialized Training or a Graduate Certificate
Not all students have the time or finances to earn a master’s degree. As an alternative, working educators can simply take specialized training or professional classes related to education improvement. For example, a class on creative problem solving will help future education improvement specialists learn to tap into their innate creativity and implement innovative strategies and solutions in educational settings. Learning about educational policy will prepare participants to analyze and update various school policies and processes.
Studying academic evaluations will examine the best tools and models to assess student, teacher and organizational performances. A leadership class is essential because this topic explores the skills and knowledge needed to manage academic operations and engage in collective decision-making. A class on learning technologies will explore various aspects of new technologies and solutions, such as online platforms and virtual communities.
Career Profile – Health Care
An education improvement specialist who works in a health care related organization will be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the training activities. They may work on the academic side in a nursing college, or they may work in hospitals and care facilities. They must develop, implement and evaluate educational programs, standards and policies. They will use standard methods and tools to evaluate achievement of learning goals and outcomes. They will collaboratively work with leadership to execute quality and performance improvement initiatives.
These education improvement specialist will serve as consultants for leadership, staff development, clinical practice, regulatory compliance and professional development. They will conduct formal and informal learning needs assessments with staff. They create annual competency goals, education plans and licensure verification programs. They may design online learning programs that support new initiatives and regulations. They may document external professional learning of staff to better understand learning needs.
Related Resource: Education Policy Data Analyst
Those who want to become an education improvement specialist will need strong technology skills in order to maintain databases and spreadsheets. These may be used for reporting, data mining, programming and improvement gap identification purposes.
