A teacher educator (also called a teacher trainer) is a person who helps other people to acquire the knowledge, competences and attitudes they require to be effective teachers. Several individual teacher educators are usually involved in the initial or ongoing education of each teacher; often each specialises in teaching about a different aspect of teaching (e.g. educational ethicsphilosophy of educationsociology of educationcurriculumpedagogy, subject-specific teaching methods etc.).

Not every culture has a concept that precisely matches the English term ‘teacher educator’…[30] Even where the concept exists, the range of roles that is covered by the term varies significantly from country to country.[31] In some traditions, the term ‘teacher trainer‘ may be used instead of ‘teacher educator’.

A teacher educator may be narrowly defined as a higher education professional whose principle activity is the preparation of beginning teachers in universities and other institutions of teacher education, such as teacher colleges. A broader definition might include any professional whose work contributes in some way to the initial education or the continuing professional development of school and other teachers.[30]