School Leadership Coaching!

Imagine what it would mean to student learning if educators participated in job-embedded, context-specific, fully
customized professional development opportunities.

Teacher leaders, have you benefited from quality leadership development? What difference would it make to your
leadership performance if you had a professional coach collaborating with you to enhance your leadership skills?

If you are a teacher leader coaching can help you !

Principals and district administrators, what difference would it make to student learning if you had a community of
leaders in your school and district? How would a "thinking partner" help you create the conditions for shared leadership?

If you are a principal or district administrator coaching can help you !

School Leadership Teams and other teams, would you like to move to the next level of performance? What changes
could you make if you had a catalyst to inspire and support you into effective action?

What is coaching?

Coaching is a collaborative, professional partnership between a qualified coach and an individual or team. The
purpose of this collaboration is to support the achievement of extraordinary results through increased awareness
and focused actions. Coaching is an ongoing commitment to personal and professional growth and leadership
development.

How is coaching different than consulting?

Generally, consulting involves an "expert" imparting new content to clients from a pre-designed curriculum. This
curriculum drives objectives, agendas, and often process. Coaching, however, is professional development that is
job-embedded, context-specific, and fully customized to meet the client's needs. The client's agenda drives the
content and process.

Why does coaching work?

Coaching adheres to the tenets of adult learning theory. Learning is focused on relevant, practical realities of the
client's job. Coaching responds to the client as a knowing, self-directed, and autonomous partner. In addition,
coaching allows for sustained learning, which is often missing in training and consulting situations.

What does the coaching process look like?

The process begins with an interview to establish client goals, priorities, challenges, and strengths. Also during this
time, the coach and client come to shared understanding of the procedures and policies involved in coaching
including the roles of the coach and the client. Subsequent coaching sessions are generally conducted in an hour-
long conversation over the phone. During the session, the coach and client will establish specific actions that the
client will complete between coaching sessions.

What is the level of commitment involved in coaching?

While the length of a coaching partnership varies depending on client goals, School Leadership Coaching
 recommends that team coaching continue for the entire school year (9 to 10 months) and individual coaching for 6
months. Of course, the duration of the commitment is mutually decided upon by coach and client.

Why hire a coach? What are the benefits of coaching?

Individuals and teams who engage in the coaching process can expect to improve their leadership performance,
learn strategies to develop leadership abilities in others, gain clarity about significant goals that make a difference
to student learning, increase ability to act on goals, establish structures and processes that make effective change
possible.

Who benefits most from coaching?

Coaching benefits any individual (or team) who has the intention of creating a better future by enhancing one’s
leadership performance. Coaching asks that the client be open to all that is required in self transformation: courage
to self-examine and become self aware, focus to follow through on next steps, and self-discipline to challenge
assumptions and “old” ways of leading.

What is the role of a coach? What is the role of a client?

The role of the coach

listen for greatness and untapped potential
let client set agenda for all coaching sessions
ask powerful questions
catalyze successful action
provide structure, tools, and guidance to help client achieve goals
uphold the highest professional standards and ethical guidelines
expect the best

The role of the client

supply the agenda or topic of discussion for each session
assume full responsibility for your decisions, feelings, and actions
use feedback from coach and assessments to enhance self awareness
tell the truth to the coach
follow through on agreed-upon policies, commitments, and actions
use the coaching process to inspire forward thinking and new perspectives
expect the best

How can success of the coaching process be measured?

According to the International Coach Federation the coaching process may be measured by both internal and
external indicators of performance. Internal indicators of performance refer to measures inherent in the individual
or team. For example, shifts in thinking, self report assessments, and increased self-awareness. External indicators
of performance refer to measures which can be observed or quantified. For example, obtaining a formal leadership
role, achievement of coaching goals, performance feedback obtained from constituents. Both internal and external
measures are important in determining the success of the coaching process.
Free Coaching Session

It can be difficult to understand the transformational effects of coaching unless you experience it personally. You’re
invited to participate in a free, no obligation coaching opportunity. Let’s see what coaching can do for you!

How can coaching help you?

If you are a teacher leader coaching can help you

Improve your leadership skills

Increase your ability to act on your leadership strengths
Make meaningful connections between teaching and leading
Balance time more effectively
Gain credibility with peers and administrators
Overcome obstacles inherent in leading other teachers
Improve interpersonal relationships with peers and administrators

If you are a principal or district administrator coaching can help you

Strengthen leadership potential in others

Increase knowledge about shared leadership
Implement leadership development opportunities for teacher leaders
Overcome personal and organizational obstacles to shared leadership
Develop strategies to replace teacher isolation with teacher collaboration
Create a new vision of leadership in school or district

If you are a member of a team coaching can help you

Increase team’s ability to focus on student learning

Enhance each member’s leadership performance
Develop team’s ability to respond to and effectively initiate change
Create personal and collective ownership for school and district success
Establish logical accountability systems
Increase the team’s knowledge of the school improvement process