Coach Qualifications, Roles, and Expectations

The qualifications for reflective coach include but are not limited to the criteria below:

• Knowledge of the context and content area of the candidate’s teaching assignment.

• Demonstrated commitment to professional learning and collaboration.

• Possession of a Clear Teaching Credential.

• Ability, willingness, and flexibility to meet candidate’s needs for support.

• Minimum of three years of effective teaching experience.

The reflective coaches’ role begins with the following expectations:

• Attend orientation with candidates.

• Support candidate in meeting with site administrator to develop and submit a professional growth goal within 30 days of attending Orientation.

• Complete an annual registration form to activate a CTI Navigate account.

• Complete the annual CTI Program Overview interactive tutorial in CTI Navigate.

The CTI Program expectation for reflective coaches is to:

• Meet not less than an average of 1 hour per week with each candidate.

• Notify CTI Program Manger if candidate is taking a leave of absence or not available to meet 1 hour per week

• Observe each candidate three times a year.

Reflective coaches facilitate a system of support to guide candidates through focused cycles of inquiry and address just-in-time needs including, but not limited to:

• Assisting in setting and modifying goals outlined in the Individualized Learning Plan (ILP).

• Utilizing Reflective Coach Compass and resources to prepare to effectively support candidates.

• Facilitating candidate growth and development through modeling.

• Guiding candidate reflection on practice.

• Providing feedback on classroom instruction (3 observations of candidate).

• Connecting candidate with available strategies and resources to support professional growth.

• Confirming observed and documented evidence of inquiry cycle engagement and meaningful reflection on growth.

Reflective coaches maintain weekly coach logs in CTI Navigate, documenting the facilitated system of support provided for each candidate.

Reflective coaches participate in CTI Professional Learning to network with coaching peers, receive support for individual mentoring challenges, and reflect on mentoring practice.

• Complete a Coach Program Preview at the beginning of each program year.

• Complete online Coach Modules within a two-year period:

  • Year 1: Modules 1, 2, 3, 4

  • Year 2: Modules 5, 6

• Attend Coach Connections each year and engage in reciprocal peer feedback on effective coaching practices.

  • Fall Coach Connections

  • Spring Coach Connections

• New (first year) and Returning (second year) reflective coaches will receive feedback from CTI staff. 

Respond to all program surveys in order to evaluate program effectiveness.

The reflective coaches’ responsibilities end with:

• Facilitation of support for confirming all induction requirements have been met.

• Attendance to a year-end Colloquium to share and celebrate candidate growth.

• Guiding candidate to CTI resources for end-of-year procedures. 

Coach Leave of Absence:

If a coach is taking a leave of absence (statutory or administrative) from the induction program, it is the coach’s and/or agency representative's responsibility to notify the CTI program right away via email to ctisupport@rcoe.us.  Leave of absence will be processed within five business days.  An induction coach on a leave of absence (statutory or administrative), will be inactivated in our system. The agency representative and/or program manager will ensure the candidate is matched with another coach.

Coach Reassignment:

If the pairing of candidate and mentor is not effective, the following reassignment procedure will be followed:

• Candidates may request a different coach via the End of Inquiry Cycle Surveys or by contacting CTI staff at any time. 

• A CTI Program Manager will consult with the Agency Representative (AR) regarding possible solutions and may involve the candidate and/or coach in the conversation.

• Possible outcomes:

• • Candidate and coach may choose to resolve any differences and continue the mentoring relationship.

  • AR assigns a different coach. If a local coach is not available, a CTI provided coach may be utilized for a fee. 

• The candidate has the right to be matched with a compatible coach to ensure a positive and meaningful induction experience.