TL;DR: School leaders across the nation are thanklessly navigating unchartered territory as they manage schools amidst the pandemic. Parents, teachers, school leaders, and other school staff are all struggling; everyone needs understanding during this time. Over the last nine months, life has been hard for teachers, students, and parents across the nation. Our social media feeds are a testimony to … Read More
They Don’t Work For You; You Work For Them
TL;DR: You work for the people you lead. It is your job to find out what motivates them, what inspires them, and what brings them happiness. Leaders need to build trusting relationships with staff to meet their needs. Trusting your staff will give them the opportunity to grow organically. “When you realize you work for your employees and not the … Read More
Listening Matters
TL;DR: Sometimes all we need is someone who will listen to us. As an instructional coach, listening matters—it is essential for building relationships. Coaches should share ideas, but ultimately, the teacher needs ownership in developing an idea and implementing it. In the last coaching blog, we discussed the importance of relationships. Relationships are the foundation for strong and effective instructional … Read More
Lessons Learned: From Surviving to Thriving
TL;DR: School districts can go from surviving to thriving by shifting from isolation to collaboration. Other ways to go from surviving to thriving include assessing for learning and shifting the focus from teaching to learning. In mid-March, school districts across the United States began adjusting the school schedule and learning environment. Due to a global pandemic, several schools closed for two … Read More
3 Important Lessons I’ve Learned as a First-Year Instructional Coach
TL;DR: This post shares important lessons learned as a first-year instructional coach. Being a good listener shows that you care. Teachers are all at different places emotionally, technologically, and with their teaching styles. It’s important to get to know each teacher and meet them where they are at. Give yourself grace in knowing that some days will be tougher than … Read More