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.

Watch Nikki’s Video

Read Nikki’s Reflection

What goals did you set for yourself at the beginning of the program?

At the beginning of this program, we were really trying to develop our coaching team and find clarity within our roles. We wanted guidance on creating a more cohesive model for our coaching that would also be feasible for all involved.

How did each milestone support you in reaching your goal?

Milestone 1 allowed us to create the vision and goal for our coaching team and share it with our stakeholders. Our second milestone, allowed us to gear our coaching cycles toward a smart goal and have documentation to keep track of our coaching cycles. Finally, our last milestone gave us an opportunity to gather feedback from staff and gain insight into their needs and what we could use to continue our success the following school year.

What has been your biggest area of growth in the program?

Our biggest growth this year is really the amount of coaching that we have been able to put into place. By understanding our vision and goals teachers were eager to work with us and less likely to view us as admin. All of the milestones played a huge part in developing more meaningful relationships with staff and continuing the growth of our program.

Which milestone had the most impact on your professional growth this year & why? What did you learn in the creation of this artifact?

That it was useful to have a resource to guide the conversation and keep the cycle flowing. It provided accountability and a teacher-facing document that we could use.

How has this artifact moved you closer to your goals for your coaching role or program?

We have used it with our most current teachers we are coaching and it has helped us develop a plan and stick to a goal more closely.

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

I feel as if we are steadily growing but there is still a ton of work to do! Every day we discuss new things we need to create, add, or develop for our team it’s just trying to find time to do it!

Where do you still have room to grow?

Next year we really want to focus on new teacher induction and make sure all staff have a coaching touch. We’re currently developing what that looks like and how to make it manageable with the amount of staff we work with.

What surprises and/or challenges have you had along the way?

One major challenge we faced this year was the loss of internet for 3 months which threw a wrench into a lot of the work that we needed to complete! We were battling to find hot spots and get work completed for this course and also our coaching role within our schools.

What would you do differently next time? What did you learn?

Next time I would pace myself better and really take time to plan out specific days in my calendar when I can complete the tasks needed to be done!

How did the Coach support you in your learning journey?

This course led us to become a more cohesive coaching team and align our goals and vision with all stakeholders.

How has your learning inside the Coach impacted your coaching practice & program in your school setting?

The learning I have had inside the Coach has allowed me to be more confident in my role and daily interactions with teachers. Being new to the school district and this role was a challenge my first year here but with the tools I’ve gained and the guidance from this course during my second year, my confidence has grown!

What’s next for your professional learning?

I would like to continue to reflect and grow professionally as a coach by engaging in ongoing professional development, seeking feedback from peers and colleagues, staying current with best practices and research in coaching, and consistently evaluating the impact of my work on both individual and team growth.

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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!