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: Learning Journey Video Reflection
The Task: Tell the story of your personal learning journey throughout The Coach
Read Josh’s Reflection
What goals did you set for yourself at the beginning of the program?
My goal at the onset of the program was to build and sustain a coaching culture at my school, and to develop my capacity for coaching. I wanted to learn how to support the professional growth of educators and foster a culture of learning through coaching cycles and professional development. I also wanted to connect with a like-minded group of educators and build my coaching repertoire.
How did each milestone support you in reaching your goal?
Each milestone in the program helped me to clarify, implement, and reflect on my coaching practice. The first milestone helped me to find clarity in my role as a coach and to create a vision and a menu for my coaching program. The second milestone helped me to build my question toolbox and implement coaching cycles with teachers effectively. The third milestone helped me to reflect on my coaching cycle practices and to identify my strengths and areas for improvement.
What has been your biggest area of growth in the program?
My biggest area of growth in the program has been using data and evidence to inform my coaching decisions and actions, and to measure the impact of coaching on student learning and teacher growth. I learned how to use various sources of data, such as student work samples, teacher surveys, and observation notes, to plan, implement, and evaluate coaching cycles. I also learned how to track my time and impact using a system that I created. Finally, I now feel like I have a solid understanding of what a coach should do, and how coaching conversations should be structured.
Where do you still have room to grow?
I still have room to grow in building a stronger community and culture of coaching at my school, and in involving more stakeholders and collaborators in the coaching process. I would like to increase the awareness and understanding of coaching among teachers, principals, and other faculty, and to create more opportunities for them to engage in coaching. I would also like to collaborate more with other coaches and mentors, and to seek more feedback and support from them.
What surprises and/or challenges have you had along the way?
One surprise that I had along the way was how many colleagues were willing to work with me and engage in coaching cycles. I was pleasantly surprised by the openness and enthusiasm of the teachers I worked with, and by the variety and creativity of the projects we collaborated on. One challenge that I faced was balancing my time and priorities as a coach. I had to manage multiple coaching cycles and professional development sessions, while also documenting and sharing my coaching work.
What would you do differently next time? What did you learn?
One thing that I would do differently next time is to be more consistent and systematic in my coaching practice, and to document and share my coaching work more frequently and widely. I learned that documenting and sharing my coaching work is not only important for my own reflection and growth, but also for demonstrating the value and impact of coaching to others. I would like to use more tools and platforms to showcase my coaching work.
How did the Coach support you in your learning journey?
The Coach supported me in my learning journey by providing me with relevant and practical resources, feedback, and guidance. I learned a lot from the readings, videos, and activities that were curated and designed for the program. I also received valuable feedback and guidance from my mentor, Kim, and from my cohort members, who shared their insights and experiences with me. The Coach helped me to connect my learning to my own context and to apply it to my coaching practice.
How has your learning inside the Coach impacted your coaching practice & program in your school setting?
My learning inside the Coach has impacted my coaching practice and program in my school setting by helping me to build and sustain a coaching culture that is aligned with my school’s mission and values, and that focuses on student learning and outcomes. My learning has also helped me to develop my capacity for coaching by enhancing my skills and strategies, and by expanding my repertoire of coaching tools and resources. My learning has also helped me to make a positive difference in the teaching and learning at my school.
What next for your professional learning?
My next steps for my professional learning are to continue to develop my coaching skills and strategies, and to seek more feedback and support from my peers and mentors. I would like to be more skillful in my question asking, thus eliciting powerful reflections and aha moments from my colleagues. Future PD includes becoming a Google Coach.
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!
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