What is the Real Purpose of an Instructional Coach?

The "name of the game" in educational circles these days is "increasing student achievement scores."  To do so, many schools have "promoted" teachers to the rank of instructional coaches-often with little or no  professional development to ensure  success in the new role. 

In our work with schools we often hear grumbling about instructional coaches.  It almost seems as if there is a miscommunication on everyone's part as to the purpose and function of an instructional coach.  Definitions abound:

• to provide support in literacy and math instruction;
• to increase student achievement by providing support;
• to deliver high-quality professional development to teachers;
• to lead school reform efforts  

While these definitions provide a general concept about the purpose and function of instructional coaches, there is much more to the job.

Our definition of an instructional coach is one who fosters student academic excellence by providing on-site, job-embedded support to teachers.  Instructional coaches observe teachers in their classrooms and provide positive support as teachers transition their skills to contemporary, research-based, teaching strategies and methodologies.

Some of the functions of instructional coaches include:

• Observing teachers in their classrooms, having specific, measurable criteria as well as anecdotal evidence with which to guide coaching efforts toward teacher growth and expertise;
• Proving written feedback to teachers after each observation that details findings and asks teachers for their views about strengths and weaknesses of the lesson;
• Meeting with teachers after providing written feedback to personally share support and ideas as well as helping teachers with any difficulties they may be experiencing, such as classroom management issues;
• Being available to conference with teachers before and after school, during lunches, and during teacher breaks.  This is often a great opportunity to meet with teachers informally;
• Collaborating with teachers on curriculum maps and lesson plans;
• Co-teaching or co-planning a lesson;
• Facilitating professional learning communities;
• Offering strategies to differentiate teaching and learning for students;
• Assisting teachers in developing and using formative and summative assessments;
• Assisting teachers in analyzing data and subsequently using it as the basis for instructional decisions;
• Providing professional development and support to implement the new common core standards.

So, you see, instructional coaching can be a huge asset to teachers and schools-particularly in the area of increasing student achievement.  Coaches MUST be properly trained, however.  Otherwise, schools are likely to see no improvements at all.  To help fill in the gap, SUCCESS COACH will be offering an online training course for instructional coaches in the near future.  Email us at: OurSuccessCoach@gmail.com for more information and pricing.