Unfortunate truth: The only way to become the curriculum leader in a typical district is to first become a principal, which usually means becoming an AP. But principal is a HARD JOB. My mom spent most of her career as a principal or AP, I watched it firsthand. The most instructionally-oriented teachers should be able to take a direct track to curriculum leadership. But often, that isn’t a Thing. Also, the district curriculum director can simply be a good principal who needed to move up the food chain to retire with a better pension, and “curriculum director” was the first opening.