This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with Andrew Ranson, instructional coach at Shanghai American School in China.

These case study episodes are designed to share the story of a coach, and the development of their coaching program and practice in their unique setting.

If you're a regular listener of the podcast, you might have heard Andrew's recent QuickTips episode where he shared the ways that he's using a Data Dashboard to develop a strong Coach-Principal Partnership. Andrew is also featured in another episode with the Shanghai American School coaching team (available 22 April 2026)! Andrew is also a member of the AAICIS A-Team, and has been featured in several episodes about the development of our non-profit. At the time of recording he had just graduated from The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program.

In this episode Kim and Andrew dig into the importance of the Coach-Principal partnership, and all the elements that coaches need to be aware of when they are seeking to make a deep impact on the school community!

In this conversation they talk about...

• What made him curious about coaching

• What he found surprising about the move into coaching

• How he's focusing on developing the Coach-Principal partnership

• How The Coach supported his professional growth - even as an experienced coach

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

In this #coachbetter episode Diana is sharing the difference between a definition and a vision for instructional coaching. We all know that sometimes coaching thrives in one school setting and stalls in another. There are lots of reasons why this might happen and one of them is a lack of clarity around the definition of coaching. In schools we're great at creating a lofty vision (we all have experience with statements that involve phrases like: "developing resilient global citizens who are able to tackle complex problems") but we don't often spend a lot of time actually defining what we mean. And that can be a huge challenge for coaching programs specifically because they need ownership and buy in from all school stakeholders.

If this resonates with you, your school might need a definition of coaching - not just a vision. And Diana is going to tell you about that today!

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

In this #coachbetter episode, Kim chats with some members of the team from the Association for the Advancement of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (called AAICIS), where she is currently serving as the Executive Director.

This episode is celebrating the two years of AAICIS! This episode was rexorded to share and celebrate some of their key achievements over this last year with you! They also wanted to highlight the many ways that the work of the AAICIS team is impacting international schools and educators around the world, and a little bit about the behind the scenes work with AAICIS - what it's like to volunteer, and what our volunteers get out of the experience.

Listen to this episode to hear from a few of the AAICIS A-Team members about their work over the past year, including:

• the ways that AAICIS is contributing to and serving the needs of the international school community

• how that work we have done with AAICIS have influenced the work in the individual schools of our community

• the developments over this last year that they are most excited about

• what it's like to volunteer for AAICIS

• some of the learning has emerged for their team members as a result of our work

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

This #coachbetter episode is about the ways that coaches can see themselves as leaders in their school community.

This is a highlight from one of our favorite episodes from a previous season featuring Dr. Chaunté Garrett, former Instructional Coach, and currently Superintendent of a K12 Charter School in North Carolina.

What we love about this clip is that so often instructional coaches struggle to recognize the informal leadership aspects of the role that they might be demonstrating - even without realizing it.

Many coaches can feel a sense of imposter syndrome when we highlight the leadership work they're doing - but it IS leadership work. Seeing yourself as a leader is one of the ways that you can make an even bigger impact in your school setting - but you have to recognize it first!

This is why we frequently talk about the importance of understanding the macro view of your coaching program - embracing the big picture view is crucial to building a culture of coaching (alongside the work you're doing at the micro level within your individual coaching practice).

If you're curious about the ways that you can embrace the leadership aspects of your role - and why your senior leaders truly value you at that level, this episode is for you!

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Check out the original episode here: Moving from Coaching to Leadership with Dr. Chaunté Garrett [Ep 158]

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Tina Peiji. Tina is a highly experienced coach, a graduate of The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program and Coaches as Leaders. At the time of recording, she had just graduated from Coaches as Leaders. Tina is also an essential member of the AAICIS A-Team!

These case study episodes are designed to share the story of a coach, and the development of their coaching program and practice in their unique setting.

Tina is currently digging into how to develop a coaching program at her school - from the leadership level. After developing strong coaching skills in her previous schools, she now has the opportunity to think about how she can embrace her leadership to build a school-wide coaching program.

In this episode Tina and Kim talk about...

• The differences in the ways coaching has been implemented in the schools Tina has worked at

• The key elements schools coaches and leaders need to be aware of when building a coaching culture

• What coaches need to consider when starting in a new school

• How experienced coaches can continue to grow

• Her recommendations for all coaches

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

In this #coachbetter episode Kim and Diana talk about the mental load that coaches carry - and may not recognize. This is a topic that came up during a previous #coachbetter episode with Kim Porter. This is something that, as coaches, we may feel, but may not recognize how it impacts our work - and the work that our coaching partners have the capacity for. In this episode, Kim and Diana will unpack what we mean by "mental load" or "cognitive capacity" and how and why understanding everyone's (including our own) limited bandwidth has such a huge impact on our coaching practice and coaching culture.

If you're feeling like you, your colleagues or your coaching partners are at max capacity right now, we can relate - and this episode is for you!

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Like this episode, you'll enjoy this:

Unpacking the Cognitive Load for Instructional Coaches with Kim Porter [266]

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

In this #coachbetter episode Kim chats with Fran Prolman, author, educational leadership consultant and founder of The Learning Collaborative. Fran brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership that is so relevant for coaches and middle leaders, and this episode is a deep dive into so many strategies, ideas and resources for all informal leaders!

In this episode Fran and Kim talk about ...

• Sliding door moments - how to recognize them & what they can bring

• Recognizing your potential as a leader

• Key skills for all new leaders - in formal or informal leadership roles

• The difference between coaching and mentoring

• The importance of confidentiality in coaching

• Common barriers towards building a coaching culture

This episode weaves together leadership and coaching in such an organic way. If you've been a long time subscriber, you know that as a coach, you are an informal leader in your school, and this episode really highlights that element of the role. If you're working towards recognizing and building on your informal leadership, this episode is for you!

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

This #coachbetter episode is about the enabling conditions for coaching success and is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season featuring Ellen and Bruce Eisenberg, Founders of The Professional Institute for Instructional Coaching. Ellen and Bruce highlight the importance of developing a school culture that supports a growth mindset and a coaching culture.

If we don't have the systems and structures to enable teachers to opt-in to coaching and we aren't ensuring that coaches are focused on coaching work, it will be very challenging to build a coaching culture. All schools need the three elements of the Thrive Model for coaching to be successful and sustainable and most schools are missing at least one - is your school missing consistency? Watch this episode to find out! And if you want to learn more about the Thrive Model, access all of our resources at edurolearning.com/thrive

If you liked this clip, make sure to check out the full length episode from season 5: Making Instructional Coaching Sustainable with Ellen and Bruce Eisenberg [Ep 230]

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Sarah Tudge, High School Curriculum Coordinator at the International School of Manila in the Philippines. At the time of recording, Sarah had just graduated from The Coach and completed her amazing Action Research around the impact of coaching - if you want to see the outcome of her research, make sure to check out her Final Project blog post on our website at coachbetter.tv.

We're excited to share this episode with Sarah with you because Sarah came to The Coach with a TON of coaching experience and she still learned and achieved so much, all of which was very specifically tailored for the needs of her school community because The Coach is so customizable for your individual needs. Sarah points out in this episode how valuable having a whole academic year to devote to developing her coaching skills was, and she truly made the most of it!.

This episode is a deep dive into the ways that coaching can be the bridge between more formal professional learning experiences and actual impact in the classroom. Sarah's experience and action research throughout her time in The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program really uncover the ways that coaching empowers teachers to create tangible change in their practice - with support and without evaluation.

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

This #coachbetter episode is about the difference between a coaching mindset and a coaching program.

There is a HUGE difference between embracing a coaching mindset and building an intentional coaching program. However, because it's quite hard to see all the layers that go into an intentional coaching program it might seem like if everyone has a coaching mindset, we have a coaching program. Although that's a wonderful foundation, it's not quite all it takes to create a thriving coaching program.

Kim unpacks 5 key differences between embracing a coaching mindset and an intentional coaching program. If you're curious about how to articulate all the pieces that go into a fully developed coaching program - and how that's much more than having coaching conversations, this episode is for you!

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Articles from Kim

• 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia)
• How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia)
• When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward)

Books & Chapters from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

In #coachbetter episode, Kim chats with Dr. Lindsay Prendergast, who's currently Assistant Director of the Danielson Group, and a best selling author. Lindsay was a teacher, administrator and a coach for many years before shifting to work with the Danielson Group.

In this conversation, they talk about:

• Why appraisal and supervision is so important - and should be seen as a gift

• How appraisal has gotten twisted, and become so punitive

• Where coaching fits into this process

• Where the lines get blurry when administrators seek to bring coaching into appraisal

• How we can help draw a clearer distinction between supervision, appraisal, evaluation and coaching and growth

• Why the language and the naming of processes (like appraisal, feedback, and coaching) so important

• What schools (coaches & leaders) need to consider as they are working towards building plans for both appraisal and growth

This conversation might be controversial because it unpacks so many challenging concepts that are a key focus in many senior leader conversations. It is absolutely essential that we have clarity on the difference between appraisal and growth.

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Let's Connect:

• Our website: coachbetter.tv
• EduroLearning on LinkedIn
• EduroLearning on Instagram
• EduroLearning on YouTube
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
• Join our #coachbetter Facebook group

Learn with Kim

• Explore our courses for coaches
• Watch a FREE workshop

Read more from Kim:

• Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book)
• Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)
• The Landscape of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)