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 Tif’s Reflection

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

I set a goal early on in the program to learn more about the concept of coaching to determine how it can best be implemented at my school. Ultimately I want to have the tools necessary to bring this concept to life and sell administration on why this is important.

How did each milestone support you in reaching your goal?

Looking back, this goal was quite ambitious. Starting from no established Coaching program and expecting to be able to have the knowledge, experiences, and structure in place involved a lot more work than I ever anticipated! Although I believe I still have a ways to go before really having a plan in place to bring to my school administration, each milestone has brought me closer to reaching that point. Each Phase, there was more than 1 milestone I felt I could do, showing just how much more work needs to be done in order to create a formal coaching program.

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

My biggest area of growth has been the conversations I have with colleagues/coachees

Where do you still have room to grow?

I believe I still have room for growth in my organizational and project management skills and keeping track of coaching conversations. Balancing the many hats I wear plus offering coaching support to teachers has shown the importance of being organized, and how difficult it can be to manage when I’m not.

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

I had some health concerns earlier in the program that made it difficult to balance my job, being a mom, and this Coaching program. This has been more challenging to complete than I originally thought, but I’m proud of myself for making it through and pushing through the numerous obstacles I have faced!

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

I believe perhaps I took on more of a challenge than I originally expected. Although this program was incredible, and I had the support of my amazing mentor, Maggie, I think this came at a difficult time in my life and my career. I have learned a lot about myself, how to build relationships, how to listen, how to be more organized, and how to say “no” in order to prioritize the important things.

How did the Coach support you in your learning journey?

Maggie had a huge impact in my learning journey. She has a great understanding of what I’m currently experiencing as she has been in the same role. She had such an incredible impact on my learning journey as she has been a great sounding board for generating ideas and a great resource for helping me navigate difficult conversations.

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

The Coach has made me more intentional with my conversations and encouraged having more organization in place. Without a formal coaching program in place, I will have to ensure that there is an effective structure in place. Doing more to measure my impact is also something I have learned that I know will be crucial as I show administration the need for a coaching program.

What next for your professional learning?

I’m honestly not sure what is next! I feel like I have so much to continue to work on from this program that it will certainly help me continue my professional learning outside of this program!

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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!