Maximizing the Impact of

Instructional Coaching

From the Experts

No matter how well trained people are, few can sustain their best performance on their own. That’s where coaching comes in.

-Atul Gawande

Three-Part Objective

Participants will identify ingredients of successful Instructional Coaching programs to implement at their district or home campus through discussion, sharing, note-taking, reflection, and questioning.

Principal - Mayde Creek High School (2009 - present)

• 1 of 7 traditional High Schools in Katy ISD

• Approximately 2700 students

• Approximately 180 teachers

• 4 Instructional Coaches

ELA and Math – full time

Science and Social Studies – part –time – (shared with 2nd campus)

Cazilda Steele, Ed.D.

Instructional Coach Facilitator, Katy ISD 2012-2014

• 131 District Instructional Coaches for 2013-14 school year

35 elementary schools with 70 ICs (ELA/SS, Math/Science)

13 Junior Highs with 36 ICs (ELA/SS, Math, Science)

9 (7 traditional) High Schools with 25 ICs (ELA, Math, Science,

Social Studies)

Dora Daniluk

Principal?AP?

Other?

Years Experience with ICs

District IC? Campus IC?

Content Specific?

Why Coaching?

Recent Research Indicates That With Classroom Coaching,Implementation rates rise…

85% - 90%

University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning

Research on Instructional Coaching

“Without coaches to provide precise instructions, to model in the classroom, to provide positive and motivating honest feedback, few new practices get implemented, and those that get implemented are usually implemented poorly.”

(Cornett & Knight, Coaching: Approaches and Perspectives, 2009)

Objectives of the Coaching Model• Promote collaboration and communication to support

the delivery of instruction

• Assist teachers with district-promoted instructional strategies by demonstrating and modeling

• Analyze data and facilitate data discussions

• Build campus & teacher capacity

• Plan and Facilitate on-site professional learning

• Participate in on-going and extensive professional development

• Promote and model effective use of instructional technology

Major Responsibilities KatyISD Instructional Coach

• Collaboration and Communication

• Curriculum

• Data

• Professional Development

• Technology

• Other

Ingredient #1

The Instructional Coach

“Coaching is all about helping transport someone from where he or she is to where he or she needs to be.”

Gauthier & Giber, 2006

KeyQualities

of An Instructional

Coach

Percentage of Principals who considered the following criteria “to a great extent” when hiring an IC

Knowledge of content instruction & best practices

91%

“people skills” 79%Classroom teaching experience 78%Oral presentations skills and ability to lead teacher groups/reflection

70%

Experience with students of similar population

68%

Coaching Hats

Change Agent

Instructional Specialist

Resource Provider

Data Coach

Classroom supporter

Learning Facilitator

School Leader

Content Specialist

Mentor

Learner

Killion & Harrison

Mindset of the Instructional Coach

From Directing

From Correcting

Mindset of the Instructional Coach

From Accepting

Mindset of the Instructional Coach

Making Excuses

Mindset of the Instructional Coach

Advising

Mindset of the Instructional Coach

The Role of the IC Does NOT Include

• Evaluating Teachers or Providing information for evaluations

• Serving as a substitute teacher• Taking primary responsibility for

instruction of a specific student group• Disciplining students in an

administrative capacity• Performing clerical duties outside job

criteria

Ingredient #2

The Campus Principal

Instructional Leader

• Supporting coaches and teachers

• Implementing school/district initiatives

• Meeting with ICs and leadership team on a regular basis

• Advocating the use of data – to interpret strengths and weaknesses– to determine instructional focus

• Sharing best practices

Communicator• Articulating the purpose and components of the

coaching model to staff

• Sharing building and district initiatives/expectations

• Implementing district curriculum, i.e. unit plans

• Maintaining the fidelity of the Instructional Coaching Model

• Repeating expectations when needed

Facilitator• Promoting a safe, trusting environment

• Sharing data is valued and transparent

• Supporting collaboration and team work

• Developing a community of learners

Learner• Promoting continued professional

development for all stakeholders

• Participating actively in campus PD

• Walking the talk

Monitor – Growing the ICs• Setting personal goals

• Prioritizing time commitments – weekly schedule

• Promoting self-reflection

• Supporting professional development

• Providing IC support network

IC Support?????

PD considerations for IC• Promoting Teamwork• Moving along the Continuum• Getting Into the Classroom• Revisiting Teams• Working with Resistant Teachers• Project CRISS Update/Review• Taking Review to the Next Level• Preparing for Next Year

From the Experts

“Next to the principal, coaches are the most crucial change agent in a school. Without it, many comprehensive reform efforts will fall short of real improvement.”

Michael Fullan

Ingredient #3

The Campus

Campus Vision

• Belief that all students can succeed if opportunity is available

• Student-centered learning

• Building teacher capacity

• Academics and learning are a priority

Campus Readiness

• Data is understood and used to measure student success and plan for enrichment as well as intervention

• Growth mindset

• Time is available for process

• Professional Learning Communities utilized

Campus Expectations• The coach and team leadership work

closely together (DC and team lead)

• Quality 1st Teach

• Common assessment

• On-going Professional Development

• Positive, Supporting Relationships

Seasonings….can make the difference!

Confidentiality

Confi

denti

ality

Rela

tions

hips

Com

mun

icati

on

Confidentiality: The Big 4

TeacherTimeTopicTask

Relationships

IC-IC

IC-DC

Communication

RespectEquality

Authentic ListeningHonesty

Empathy

The coach and principal’s communication is essential to implementing coaching effectively.

-Coaching Matters, p. 104

Pick Your Mix-Ins

CampusProfessional

Development

From the Experts

An Instructional Coach is someone whose chief professional responsibility is to bring evidence-based practices into classrooms by working with teachers and other school leaders.

PD Possibilities• PLC meetings• Faculty meetings & Professional

Development days• Planning of curriculum• Lunch and Learn• 6 week snippet• Tip of the Week• Video’s of implemented practice

Data

Data Conferences

• Facilitate Data Conferences• Discuss data as a team and share what is

working and what needs improvement

• Analyzing student work

• Developing grading rubrics

• Discussing and “tweaking” strategies

Other Data to Consider

• Student Engagement

• Transition Time

• Questioning

• Instructional vs Non-instructional Time

• Ratio of Interaction

Video Taping

From the Experts:

“Used effectively, in a way that honors teachers’ professionalism and learning, video can be the most powerful improvement we have experienced in our schools in a long time.”

– Jim Knight, Focus on Teaching: Using Video for High-Impact Instruction

Video Taping – A Window of Reality

• Highlighting Positives

• Documenting Practice

• Assisting struggling teachers

• Promoting Reflection

• Monitoring progress• Create your own Teaching Channel

Blue Ribbon Recipes

End Product

IC Principal Campus

Partnership

Impact of ICs At MCHS• Consistency in instruction across classrooms• Strategies that promote student engagement• Reflective conversations in PLCs• Planning for delivery, not the calendar• Improved Assessment writing• Common language across contents• Awareness and Understanding of state

accountability

Impact of ICs In KatyISD• Consistency in instruction across schools• Strategies that promote student engagement• Reflective conversations in PLCs• Planning for delivery, not the calendar• Improved Assessment writing• Common language across contents• Awareness and Understanding of state

accountability

Award Winning Recipe for Success

Instructional CoachPrincipalCampus

Working, learning, growing together

Bon appetit !!

CazildaCSteele@KATYISD.ORG

DoraDaniluk@gmail.com