Day in the life
A Day in the Life of an Education Professor
What education professors actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for an education professor?
Observe a student teacher. From there, the day usually includes teach teacher preparation courses, supervise student teachers, and conduct education research. Teaching, school visits and research, including evening classes.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for an education professor working full time.
- Observe a student teacher.
- Debrief the lesson.
- Teach a literacy methods course.
- Meet a district partner.
- Analyze classroom research data.
- Advise students on licensure.
- Teach an evening grad course.
Where education professors work
Faculty work in classrooms, K–12 schools and offices.
Hours and schedule
Teaching, school visits and research, including evening classes.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Teach teacher preparation courses
- Supervise student teachers
- Conduct education research
- Partner with schools
- Advise students
- Develop programs
- Support licensure requirements
Tools you’ll use every day
- Learning management systems
- Observation tools
- Video coaching platforms
- Research software
- Education standards
- Presentation tools
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Shape future teachers
- Stay connected to schools
- Research that matters
- Flexible schedule
What’s hard
- Lower pay for academia
- Travel to schools
- Accreditation paperwork
- Policy changes
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’m an experienced teacher
- I want to train teachers
- I like research
- I enjoy mentoring
- I like visiting schools
- I’m willing to earn a doctorate
Not sure? Take the free Education Professor fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow school safety rules on visits
- Protect student and child privacy
- Follow research ethics
- Maintain professional boundaries