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What is an INSTRUCTIONAL COACH?

   Think about a coach for an athlete.  This person is seasoned, having great knowledge of the game.  A coach is a leader of a team, closely watching the players in order to give them feedback on how to take their skills and make them even better.   This is another set of eyes for a player, allowing them to improve upon that which cannot easily be seen from the inside.  A coach will also provide training and modeling when it is needed.  Coaches are NOT there because the team is bad.  They are there to make a great team even greater.  Coaching is not about what's wrong.  It is about what's next.

   An instructional coach is very similar to an athletic coach.  An instructional coach is an educational leader that works alongside teachers to provide professional development, resources, feedback, and modeling to help the school meet instructional goals and school improvement goals.  A coach serves as a mentor and role model.  An instructional coach is not there because a teacher is bad.  They work with all teachers, regardless of if they are new or have been a teacher for many years.  An instructional coach is that "other set of eyes", bringing feedback from an outsider's perspective.  

What does an instructional coach DO?

   There are many different types of responsibilities an instructional coach such as:

• leading teacher Professional Learning Communities weekly (these are team meetings where learning is taking place)

• providing feedback to teachers on lessons upcoming or lessons taught

• sharing up-to-date instructional practices

• giving extra support to new teachers (new to the profession and new to the school)

• using data, with teachers, to inform instructional practices

• celebrating the hard work of the teachers and students

• helping teachers think through ideas or challenges

and more!