One of the most rewarding aspects of our work as specialist publishing recruiters is the conversations we have with people who've built careers in education and are now exploring what publishing might offer them. These conversations are almost always energising, because educators bring something genuinely rare to publishing: they understand how people learn, and they know how to communicate complex ideas with clarity and purpose.
This post, the fourth in our series on unconventional publishing career paths, is dedicated to teachers, lecturers, curriculum developers, and education professionals of all kinds who might be wondering whether there's a place for them in publishing. There is - and a growing one.
The Educational Publishing Opportunity
The most obvious entry point for educators is educational publishing, and it's a larger and more varied sector than many people realise. It encompasses everything from primary school reading schemes and GCSE revision guides to university textbooks, professional development resources, and EdTech content.
In educational publishing, a background in teaching isn't just helpful, it's often a prerequisite. Publishers in this space need people who genuinely understand the curriculum, who know what a classroom teacher actually needs, and who can evaluate whether a resource will work in practice. Former teachers bring an authenticity and authority to these roles that is genuinely difficult to replicate.
We've placed primary school teachers into commissioning editor roles at educational publishers, secondary school heads of department into curriculum development positions, and university lecturers into roles leading academic list development. In each case, the publisher was specifically seeking someone whose professional credibility in education gave weight to their editorial decisions.
Beyond Educational Publishing
What surprises many educators is that their skills are highly valued outside educational publishing too. Let us explain why.
Teachers are exceptionally good communicators. The ability to take a complex idea and explain it clearly, at the right level, for a specific audience is one of the most valuable skills in publishing - and it's exactly what teachers practise every day. In editorial roles, in marketing, in rights, and in publicity, clear and purposeful communication is everything.
Teachers are also experienced project managers. Running a classroom, managing a scheme of work, coordinating assessments, communicating with parents and colleagues - these are complex, multi-threaded logistical challenges. Publishing, particularly in editorial and production, requires exactly this kind of structured, deadline-driven project management.
And teachers understand audiences. A secondary school English teacher who has spent years working out how to make Victorian literature exciting to a class of disengaged 14-year-olds has developed a sophisticated understanding of how to connect readers with content. That insight is genuinely valuable in commissioning, marketing, and editorial strategy.
How to Position Your Education Background for Publishing
If you're a teacher or educator looking to make the move, there are some specific steps we'd recommend.
First, consider whether educational publishing or general publishing is the right fit for you. Both are excellent, but they're different. Educational publishing tends to be more structured and commercially driven; general publishing can offer more variety and creative breadth. Think honestly about which environment you'd thrive in.
Second, look for adjacent roles that leverage your existing expertise directly. Curriculum consultancy, content development, and author development roles are all areas where your teaching background gives you an immediate advantage.
Third, consider the academic publishing route if you're coming from higher education. Academic publishers, from major university presses to specialist society publishers, increasingly value editors who understand their subject areas deeply and can engage credibly with academic authors.