This #coachbetter episode is about the importance of coaching being voluntary.

This is a highlight from a favorite episode from a previous season featuring Kaitlyn Pettinga, who at the time of recording was Assistant Middle School Principal at the International School of Panama.

In this clip, Kaitlyn clearly defines the structure of their divisional leadership team - and how the coach and administrators work together. There are clear distinctions between the roles so there is no confusion, and so teachers know exactly what kind of support they can get, and from whom.

This is one of the reasons Clarity in the first step in the Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching. For coaches and coaching to be successful, there needs to be clarity about the role and purpose of coaching. Clarity about coaching being confidential, voluntary and not tied to appraisal is essential. This is what ensures that coaching is a safe space to grow.

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Full episode with Kaitlyn: Creating a Positive School Culture Through Coaching with Kaitlyn Pettinga [Ep 215]

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)

In this #coachbetter episode Kim talks with Margaret Park. Margaret is an education equity consultant and school leader and Kim attended one of her sessions at the EARCOS Leadership Conference last year. Her session was so insightful and Kim made so many connections to instructional coaching that Kim knew she would have so much more to share with you, too!

In this episode Margaret and Kim talk about...

• What it means to be inclusive

• How coaches and leaders can recognize their positionality

• Engaging those who may not be interested in exploring their positionality

• How coaches and leaders can be intentional about bringing a lens of equity and inclusion into their daily practices

• How coaches and leaders can work together to create inclusive workplace cultures

This episode is full of concrete strategies and practices that you can use immediately to powerfully impact your own practice and your school culture. We all have a responsibility to create inclusive spaces, and coaches can be a big part of creating that culture in our schools.

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)

In this episode Kim talks with Andrew Ranson, High School Instructional Coach at Shanghai American School (and graduate of The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program) about how he got started using a coaching dashboard - and how it helped transform conversations with his school leaders!

We know that leadership support is a critical aspect of the success of a coaching program and the idea is to share a birds-eye view summary of the coaching work that has been happening in their building or division. When the building or divisional leader knows that coaching work is happening - and helping them move forward on their strategic goals, it immediately sparks more curiosity about what is happening and how they can support it.

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)

This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Angela Mee Lee, Early Years Performing Arts teacher at UNIS Hanoi, Vietnam. At the time of recording Angela had just graduated from The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program.

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.

We are excited to share this episode with Angela with you because Angela has been on a year and a half journey to coaching with Kim and she has grown so much! She started in the course Getting Started as an Instructional Coach and discovered that coaching is so aligned with her educational values, so she wanted to dig even deeper, and then she joined The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program.

Angela is already applying so much of her learning in her current role (at the time of recording) and in her future role in a brand-new startup school in India.

In this conversation Angela and Kim talk about...

• How Angela started her journey to instructional coaching

• What makes coaching valuable to Angela as a classroom teacher - and her early experiences with coaching with The Coach Mentor, Maggie Hos-McGrane when they both worked at the American School of Bombay!

• The surprises she uncovered about coaching as she was learning more

• What Angela was able to accomplish in just one academic year in The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program

• How Angela is applying her learning in multiple contexts

• What she wishes she knew before she started coaching

This episode highlights the ongoing journey that we take when we begin learning about coaching.

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)

This #coachbetter episode is about creating a coaching culture.

This is a highlight from a favorite episode from last season featuring Steve Barkley. This clip highlights how important it is for coaching to become a culture embedded in the school. This can not be work that coaches are doing on their own. We need to empower others to learn more about the practice of coaching so that as many people as possible have access to the amazing support that coaching provides.

If you've been following the show for a while, you might have seen the episode from last season about the 5 Domains of a Coaching Mindset. If this episode resonates, make sure to go back and check that one out. too!

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)

In this #coachbetter episode Kim talks with Reem Labib Tyson, experienced teacher, instructional coach, principal, and district administrator; now CEO and Founder of EDspired Coaching and Consulting where she primarily works with leaders as an executive coach. Reem's extensive background and experience in so many different contexts gives a powerful lens to view coaching from multiple perspectives. And the focus of their conversation today is so important for coaches and leaders at all levels of experience!

In this episode they talk about...

• How coaches can use mindfulness and a human-centered approach to slow down the pace of a very busy school day

• How to coach the person not the problem

• How and why leaders benefit from coaching, too

• How coaches and leaders can find presence, joy and novelty in their work

This episode highlights a key aspect of coaching that can help all coaches - new and experienced coaches alike - think a little bit differently about the way we can create space for our coaching partner and focus on the person, not the problem.

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Like this episode, you'll enjoy this:

Building Teacher Agency Through Coaching Conversations

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)

In this #coachbetter episode, Kim address what she means by "confidentiality with transparency". As coaches, we know that coaching experiences need to be confidential so we can create a safe space for teachers to be vulnerable, take risks and set authentic goals. However, sometimes we worry that because coaching is confidential we can never share anything that happens within a coaching relationship.

So, what happens when:

• A coaching partner has success and sees an impact on student learning?

• Our administrators are curious about what we're doing in our coaching cycles?

• Work that we're doing with one coaching partner might be relevant or supportive to another one of our coaching partners?

• When we're seeing trends across a division or subject area that would be helpful for leaders to know?

• We want to build interest in the impact of coaching by sharing coaching stories with the school community?

• We need to demonstrate the impact that coaching has made with people who manage the budget or the board?

Listen to this episode to find out how to approach these situations.

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)

This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Andrea Goodrich, grade 4 classroom teacher at Concordia International School in Hanoi, Vietnam. At the time of recording Andrea had just graduated from The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program.

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.

We're excited to share this episode with Andrea with you because this episode is such a great example of the ways that classroom teachers can embrace a coaching mindset and start building a coaching culture - from the team to the whole division - in one academic year. Andrea took everything she learned in The Coach and directly applied it in her school setting and it's already created significant momentum towards coaching.

In this conversation Andrea and Kim talk about...

• How Andrea started her journey to instructional coaching

• What makes coaching valuable to Andrea as a classroom teacher

• The surprises she uncovered about coaching as she was learning more

• What Andrea was able to accomplish in just one academic year in The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program

• What Andrea is considering as she moves forward in her professional growth

• What she wishes she knew before she started coaching

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Like this episode, you'll enjoy these:

The True Impact of Coaching: A Coach & Coaching Partner Case Study with Nikki Hume & Amber Shortridge

Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture BEFORE Starting a Coaching Program with Melissa Carr

Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture as a Classroom Teacher with Lana Yashchyna

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)

In this #coachbetter episode we're talking about why schools hire coaches.

This is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from last season featuring Head of School Jim Laney and Director of Curriculum Sara Brodhead. Jim and Sara define the benefits of coaching on so many levels: what the Board needs to hear, what motivates leaders, and the benefits of coaching to improve student learning.

There are so many reasons for schools to invest in coaching, but it is a big investment. Understanding the value of coaching from multiple perspectives can help you advocate for coaching too!

Understanding the "why" behind coaching is part of Phase 1 of the Thrive Model: Finding Clarity. We know from our AAICIS research that the clarity of a coaching program is the biggest factor in teachers and leaders reporting positive benefits to coaching. Without clarity it's hard for us to recognize the impact and value of coaching.

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)

In this #coachbetter episode Kim talks with Donna Spangler, who spent the majority of her career working in US public schools as a teacher, then coach, then chair of a team of coaches, then assistant principal and president of her teacher's union. She also served as President of the Pennslyvania chapter of Learning Forward, and now works as a coach through Sibme and Executive Director of Edjacent, which is a company that supports educators and change makers. All of these experiences center around Donna's passion for professional learning for adults, and this episode focuses on one of her key areas of expertise: coaching for impact (not activity).

In this episode Donna and Kim talk about:

• what makes coaching so impactful for schools

• How coaches create meaningful change in teachers' instruction and positively impact the school building and system

• the difference between measuring coaching impact vs coaching activity and why coaching impact is so important

• Why coaches might consider creating a coaching impact report

• How can coaches can ensure they are retaining focus on impact - rather than activity, especially when they might feel pressure to demonstrate "activity"

• How coaches can create sustainable structures for ongoing data collection.

• the systems and structures need to be in place for international schools who are building coaching programs

• the common pitfalls that schools (and school leaders) often fall into when building coaching programs

This episode is a GOLD MINE of practical advice and strategies for instructional coaches who not only want to make an impact but want to be able to document and share that impact with others.

A Coaching for Impact Mini-Guide (for this episode by Donna Spangler)

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Like this episode, you'll enjoy this:

The Importance of Measuring Your Impact as an Instructional Coach

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)

In this #coachbetter episode, Diana is going to share 8 Red Flags to Avoid When Building a Coaching Culture - and What TO DO Instead.

As coaches and leaders we are doing our best to build a positive and inclusive coaching culture, but sometimes we can be making some big mistakes without even realizing it. When you look back on your own coaching experience - as a coach or as an educator or leader, you can probably remember a time when something didn't quite go as planned, or wasn't received the way we expected. Sometimes, even with the best of intentions we end up making a crucial mistake. So what are these red flags when building a coaching culture - and what do you do instead?

Find the show notes for this episode here.

Like this episode, you'll enjoy these:

• Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture BEFORE Starting a Coaching Program with Melissa Carr [272]
• 3 Steps to Growing a Thriving Coaching Culture
• Building a Coaching Culture with Kristine Mizzone and Jenny Derby [Ep 186]

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)