Important teacher picked up dismissing component of education (4)
I believe the answer is:
head
'important' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for head that I've seen before include "Skull" , "Leader; stream source" , "bean" , "Beer foam; front" , "Chief; bonce" .)