We want to give you a peek inside our Coach Certificate & Mentorship Program. Coaches taking part in this academic-year-long journey have graciously given us permission to post some of their learning and reflections from the private coursework they are undertaking during this program. Where possible, we have shared the course and the action task to give context for the guest post.

The Topic: Phase 1: Find Clarity

The Task: Share your artifact and a written reflection on your learning during this phase.

What were your key “aha” moments during Phase 1: Finding Clarity?

One of my biggest “aha” moments during this phase was realizing that our coaching program lacked both vision and community. Initially, I was primarily concerned about the community aspect, but as I worked through this phase, I recognized that having a clear vision is foundational. Without a well-defined vision, it’s difficult to establish a thriving coaching culture or build the community we need.

Did you face any obstacles during this phase of the program? How did you overcome them?

The primary obstacle I faced during this phase was balancing my time commitments. As a full-time employee, grad student, and participant in this program, I found it challenging to move as quickly as I wanted. However, I stayed committed by working through the program at my own pace and focusing on maintaining consistency, even if my progress was slower than I hoped. I’m now refocusing for the second half of the program to stay on track.

What artifact did you choose to create and share? (Please link to your actual artifact)

I chose to create and share the coaching vision for my school.

ICS Coaching Vision

Why did you choose to create this artifact?

I decided to create the coaching vision because I believe that in order to build a coaching community, we first need to have a clear and unified vision. The vision serves as the foundation for everything else, and by articulating it, I’m able to focus on what we want this program to achieve and how it aligns with our school’s mission and values.

What did you learn in the creation of this artifact?

In creating this artifact, I realized that at the heart of what I want this program to be is a partnership for educators. I’m passionate about teacher sustainability, and I recognize that a major part of the teacher retention crisis stems from educators not having an advocate, a partner on the leadership team, or consistent support. Teachers, especially elementary school teachers, often feel like they have to shoulder everything themselves. This vision reflects my desire to bridge that gap by building a collaborative relationship where teachers feel heard, supported, and empowered.

How has this artifact moved you closer to clarity in your coaching role or program?

This artifact has brought me closer to clarity by solidifying what drives me in this work and defining the purpose behind the coaching program. It’s helped me articulate my goals and the kind of support I want to offer teachers. However, I also recognize that I still need to develop a system for measuring the program’s success. This realization has given me a clearer idea of the next steps I need to take.

Where are you at in terms of clarity in your coaching role or program right now?

Right now, I feel clearer about the “why” behind my coaching program, but I still need to define how I’ll measure its success. While I have a strong foundation with the vision, I need to establish specific benchmarks or indicators to know whether the program is truly effective.

What are the next steps you need to take to further increase clarity in your coaching role or program?

The next steps involve developing measurable goals and benchmarks for the coaching program. This will help me evaluate my impact and determine whether the program is successful. I also want to run the vision by my principal for feedback and refinement to ensure alignment with her expectations. Finally, I plan to create a system to track and measure the success of coaching cycles and other interactions with teachers.

Read more from The Coach participants as they share their learning from the certificate & mentorship program…

Tine: Inside the Coach: Coaching Culture Visual

Nicola: Coaching Year Plan

Tracey: Tracking Data & Professional Development Plan

Kelly: Seeing Yourself as a Leader

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Level Up Your Coaching with The Coach!

If you are ready to dive deep into your coaching practice, to help you #coachbetter and build a thriving coaching culture in your school, please join us for our next cohort of The Coach!

Wherever you are in building a coaching culture in your school, The Coach will give you the strategies, skills and tools you need to make coaching a success and will empower you to confidently apply instructional coaching strategies in any situation – from building a coaching program, to having coaching conversations, to being a leader in your school community. We facilitate only one cohort each academic year so we can offer individualized support for each participant.

Coaches of all levels are welcome: you’ll start the program with a self-assessment to determine exactly what the next steps are for you!