3 Tips to Help You Prepare
After 5 years coaching teachers at a Christian school in Atlanta, I have moved to a new school in Fort Lauderdale and started my new job as an Instructional Coach. As I think about launching an Instructional Coaching program at this K-12 Christian school, I have been reflecting on what I have learned about coaching. One of the first things I need to do is meet with the three principals I'll be working with and begin an important partnership with them. My goal is to share with them the key principles and practices of coaching that I've learned and how I provide support for them as principals.
Here are Three Tips for Your Meeting with the Principal:
Step 1: Inquire about Initiatives
One of your main goals for meeting with the principal is to identify where you can offer support to help her meet instructional goals. If you are hoping to hear direction from your principal in this meeting, asking about initiatives is where you will likely find clear direction. If you have the opportunity to ask these questions ahead of the meeting in an email, go ahead and do that. That allows you to better prepare how you will present your role as coach to the principal. It will also give you time to think about how you can best support her initiatives.
Try to focus the meeting on how you can support the principal by asking her questions like this:
If your principal isn't able to provide clarity or has too many initiatives at once, then focus in on the one that are most closely related to instruction and student learning. Staying close to those goals will help you stay focused on supporting teachers in instruction and not getting pulled into other support roles that can pull you away from instruction and student learning. This ASCD article titled "The Instructional Leader's Most Difficult Job" provides guidelines for how instructional leaders should use coaches, so read it before your meeting so you can help your new principal frame your role when she presents you to teachers. Jim Knight frames the role of a principal and how she can support a coach in the powerful video below. Watch it before your meeting! But rather than share the video with her (which you will be tempted to do), use Jim’s language as talking points for how the principal can set the stage for the initiative and then position you as an available resource for teachers to help them meet the goals for the year. Step 2: Be Prepared to Set The Expectations for Coaching
The meeting with your principal is a very important early step in your journey as a new coach. You are looking for expectations to help define this role and you are hoping that your principal can provide them. While some principals out there may know exactly what they want from a coach, I have found that many need YOU to define the role for them. Also, some principals have the perspective of the coach's role being support only for low performing teachers. As you dig into many coaching books, you will see a very different message around coaching, so it is your job to set the stage clearly for your work.
You may be tempted to ask the question “What expectations do you have for me as a coach?” But before you jump right in, share with your principal the deep thinking you’ve been doing about your new role. Then, after you’ve shared some of your thoughts, ask your principal to provide her additional expectations if she has any. Use the books you have read so far to consider the role of a coach and make a list of the core areas where you think you should focus. If you haven't had a chance to read anything yet, consider watching Jim Knight's video series on the Partnership Principals, because they can be a quick resource.
Also, Joellen Killion presented a great Keynote on Coaching Roles at the Simply Coaching Summit this week that would be helpful. There is still time to purchase this resource until July 31, 2019 and I highly recommend it - ask your school to reimburse your because it is relevant professional development!
When I wrote my list, I wanted my role to focus very intently on INSTRUCTION. I have found my role too often blurred with curriculum or technology, so as I considered my role at my new school, I created this image to emphasize how I will support Instruction.
I also wanted to share my foundational beliefs with my principals to be sure they know how I plan to partner and collaborate with teachers. This image below is a one page version of the Coaching Beliefs and Behaviors I anchor to. Read more about creating your own beliefs and behaviors in this blog post.
Step 3: Ask for Time to Share Your Role with Faculty
The best person to frame instructional coaching for the faculty is you. I know that ideally you want your principal do share that information with teachers, but the truth is, you understand coaching the best even if you are new to the work. You've read the books, you are passionate about the work of helping teachers, and only you can share what you have to offer. If you are going to convince teachers to work with you, they need to like you! Give them an opportunity to know you, your personality, and your strengths by introducing yourself and explaining how you can partner with them.
So, ask your principal for a time in her pre-planning or faculty meeting schedule to introduce the faculty to coaching. Even if coaching is not a new element in your school, I believe every teacher needs to be reminded that everyone can benefit from a coach. I know there is never enough time in these meetings, but fight for your spot. Ideally, you want 30 minutes, but if they only give you 15, take it and make the best of it! But be sure you ask for the opportunity instead of sitting in the faculty meeting hoping someone will introduce you to the faculty the way you want them to. I've been doing this job for 5 years, and no one has every really introduced me and my role the way I wish they would. Fight for the time - it is worth it! I will be sharing my tips for your presentation to Faculty in an upcoming blog post! Good luck in your meeting! Share other tips you would share in the comments or in our #NewtoCoaching Facebook Group ----- Allison L. Petersen @alcp Connect with me on Twitter and Instagram Join our #NewtoCoaching Facebook Group to find encouragement, resources, and support for new coaches!
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