Research on Caring & Competent Coaching

During the time I received coaching, I was able to develop a keen awareness of my strengths and areas of need. I learned how to take positive and constructive feedback and turn it into actionable steps within a plan for long-term improvement. As a coach, seeing this process modeled, helped me to model the process for my clients. I appreciate the hard work that goes into guiding, shaping, and helping others reach their own goals. As a teacher, I learned how to adapt my skills to meet the needs of adult learners.

Through my coaching sessions, I learned the power of backwards planning, and the purpose of daily guided reflection. But above all I felt supported. The extra set of eyes and ears helped me recognize what I was doing well and what I needed to focus on to become a highly effective teacher. The reflection partner (coach) reminded me of what highly effective teaching methods were and pointed them out when I did them and when I could have done something to be more impactful. My coach helped me feel empowered to teach to my full potential and really helped me focus on my visions for education and achieve my dreams of free-flowing knowledge.

My coach has been an amazing mentor to me as I transferred from general education to special education.  She guided me by inspiring a high standard of quality and shared how she completes tasks and stays organized in a position that demands organization and accuracy.  

Having a teacher coach during my first year provided me the support and guidance that I needed to grow in confidence in our profession! My coach supplied effective classroom management techniques and stressed the importance of building caring relationships based on trust and fairness. My coach not only stressed the importance of relationships, but also showed me how to create and maintain them through effective communication and adequate reward systems, motivating my middle school students without undermining our class rules or celebrating the mundane. I have developed into a competent and effective professional through the foundation supported by coaching!

I’m only two years into my teaching career and the expertise and support I’ve received through our coaching program and my wonderful coach has been invaluable. It’s nice to be able to run my ideas by the coaches and be able to get true and honest feedback. In addition, it’s great having someone help you to reach your goals. I honestly, don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for coaching support. The amount of growth and confidence I’ve received since working with my coach has impacted my life in more ways than I can put into words. I can see myself utilizing coaching for years to come, as long as I don’t have to graduate out. Ha!

My coach was quite literally the silver lining to what was my most challenging, difficult, and exhausting (both emotionally and physically) year of teaching in my twenty-year career. She helped focus me and guide me to what I needed to do with my classroom to make a difficult situation better. I wanted to quit my job early on in the school year (ok, and on into the year, honestly) but my coach’s guidance, patience, and positivity gave me strength to persevere, even though at times I didn’t want to. She was a calming and encouraging force for me both professionally and personally. I am very (VERY) grateful to her for her time and support! She is amazing!