The purpose of this paper is to explore possibilities which one social science, cultural anthropology, might offer for enhancing the professional competence of an instructional consultant. (IC). The IC is perceived as a facilitator of change in schools for purposes of improved instruction. Application of anthropology to education takes two general forms. The first is the use of anthropolgical concepts and methods to an analysis of the educative process called the anthropology of education. This paper develops: 1) a brief rationale for relating cultural anthropology to the work of the IC by looking at some of the procedures employed in the anthropology of education; 2) presents some analytical perspectives for examining the role of the IC; and, 3) spells out some of the operational implications for the preparation of IC's. It is noted that the perspectives suggested for analysis and training are not meant to be limited to a supervisory function, they are intended to be tested for their utility in helping educators understand and develop human activities and interaction including relationships among students, students and teachers, teachers, teachers and administrators, and parents. (SBE)