The Good, Bad, and the Ugly of Education Consulting

I have been asked recently my thoughts about the benefits and drawbacks of education consulting and how one can enter this space. Here are some of my thoughts:

The Benefits:

Education consulting is an amazing way in which to participate in varied professional networks of like-minded people concurrently. I am consistently awed and inspired by the number of smart, mission driven, problem solving folks with whom I have the opportunity to collaborate. I have learned of new consulting opportunities from them and they from me but, more importantly, I have learned new ways of supporting teachers and school leaders from them. I also have formed strong bonds and learned from the teachers/leaders whom I have supported.

Education consulting allows people the chance to work locally, nationally, and internationally at the same time; This is a great way in which to increase one's knowledge on new teaching, leading, and learning strategies and to replicate best practices across any consultant's portfolio. While school principals can replicate best practices across a school and district administrators can replicate said practices across a school system, consultants often have the opportunity to replicate effective strategy across districts/systems, national school networks, and global ministries of education. This can have real effect in improving educational outcomes across the world.

The education projects in which one can participate are extremely varied, and it is rare that boredom will set in as a consultant. As a consultant, know one's expertise...is one a curriculum, instruction, and/or assessment expert? combination of two? all three? There is room for consultants with a variety of specializations within the field of education (SPED learners/RTI, ELLs, Early Literacy, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Edtech, etc.).

Consultants often can provide clients with alternative solutions to problems/impact quickly. They temporarily add to a client's team bench strength. Consultants can help the client team to run efficiently, i.e. such as in the case of PLC facilitation, so, in time, the school/district client may no longer need consultants to move the dial on success. It may be argued that good consultants work themselves out of a job.

Potential Drawbacks:

Is a consultant truly independent, working directly with the client, or a sub-contractor helping an organization to meet its client facing needs? Please note that if one is a sub-contractor, every organization has its own meetings/collaboration structure, consultant expectations, online systems, etc. and it will be important for the consultant to juggle these structures and systems, across clients, concurrently. I have heard it said that PT jobs are really full time jobs just without benefits. Plus, a consultant needs to be an expert at their craft, excellent in building self brand/business recognition, budgeting (difficult when work is not consistent), and organized in invoicing.

The amount of flexibility that one has, as a consultant, to accept and/or turn down work assignments can vary. If one is truly independent, working directly with a client, there is often a lot of flexibility in accepting work elsewhere. As a sub-contractor, the organization providing the work contract may or may not allow the consultant to turn down work (for any/all reasons) and/or may or may not allow consultants, even if PT, to take work with other companies. Review contracts and discuss. Consulting opportunities can both materialize and end rapidly - know what you can and can't do in advance.

As a sub-contractor, the amount of training that an education consultant requires before they are offered jobs in the field can vary widely. For example, many companies now provide curriculum, instruction, and assessment services using digital technology that one must learn how to use upfront. While many companies do pay consultants for the time spent on training, training pay can be less than what a consultant can expect if they are serving in the field. In general, independent consultants are paid more than sub-contractors who should expect to make less per day/hour etc. than they might if they were to find a school client themselves. However, depending on the organization, remuneration still can be lucrative as a sub-contractor. This just depends on one's financial expectations.

Although consultants can be fully vested long-term within their varied consultant networks and/or in the support organizations employing them, a consultant is rarely considered a full member of a client team. Ultimately, it is up to the client team to implement any consultant recommendations and it will be that team that will be there to monitor the long -term impact of any recommendation on student/other achievement.

Getting Involved:

As an independent consultant, reach out directly to potential (school) clients. Learn about client needs and how one's specialization can help them to meet those needs. If a sub-contractor, find out which school support organizations recently received grant funding and for which projects? Does a school support organization in which one might want to work offer fee for service supports? Whether grant funded or fee for service, does one's expertise as a consultant support this work? Also, Idealist Jobs, Edsurge Jobs, Indeed, Bridgespan, and Top School Jobs are good online job boards to review.

In addition to reaching out, how might others find you and learn of your specialization within the education field? Use LinkedIn/social media to full effect - write new content, like/post/curate other's content when related to your area of expertise, etc. State you are open to opportunities and/or comment on other people's online conversation threads. Join related LI professional groups. As an aside, one can also register for online organizational newsletters.

Good luck!