Moves for Launching a New Year of Student-Centered Coaching

About the Book

Engaging teachers in coaching is an ongoing process that requires planning and intentionality. Whether you are new to a school or have been there a while, the beginning of the year brings forth the opportunity to envision what your work will look like and how you will deepen the impact it makes on teacher and student learning.

Start the Year Strong with Student-Centered Coaching

Designed to ensure a successful start to the school year, this guidebook provides strategies for coaches, principals, and district leaders to successfully launch a new year of Student-Centered Coaching. Organized into fifteen moves, this resource provides:

• Concrete ideas for how coaches can connect with new and returning teachers
• Strategies for supporting teachers to increase student engagement and build classroom community
• Steps for building strong principal and coach partnerships that will last throughout the year
• Tools and artifacts that can be used to message and market coaching
• Ideas for scheduling coaching that is flexible and meets teachers’ needs
• Videos and other resources that dig deeper into each of the fifteen coaching moves that are included

By investing carefully in the first few weeks of school and crafting a clear plan with this guidebook, the foundation you build will support your work far beyond the start of the school year.

Table of Contents:
About the Authors Introduction Section 1: Build Relationships 1. Be Visible 2. Join PLCs, Grade Level, or Department Meetings 3. Offer Mentoring Support to New Teachers 4. Support Teachers to Build Classroom Community Section 2: Make Intentional Decisions with the Principal 5. Establish How You’ll Work as a Principal and Coach Team 6. Decide How You Will Organize Your Coaching Schedule 7. Be Thoughtful About Who You Will Engage with First Section 3: Message and Market Coaching 8. Plan How You Will Message and Market Coaching 9. Work with The Principal to Advocate for Coaching 10. Engage Teacher Leaders 11. Listen for Openings Section 4: Get Ready for More Formal Coaching 12. Invite Teachers into Coaching Cycles 13. Leverage A Variety of Structures to Build Momentum 14. Plan How You Will Measure Your Impact 15. Use Partnership Agreements to Set Norms with Teachers In Closing

About the Author :
Diane Sweeney is the author of The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching, Moves for Launching a New Year of Student-Centered Coaching, Leading Student-Centered Coaching, and others. Each of these books is grounded in the simple but powerful premise that coaching can be designed to more directly impact student learning. Diane spends her time speaking and consulting for schools and educational organizations across the country. When she isn’t working in schools, she loves to spend time outside with her family in Denver, Colorado. Leanna Harris is the author of The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching and Moves for Launching a New Year of Student-Centered Coaching. She has worked as a teacher, coach, and consultant across grades K–12 and currently works with Diane Sweeney Consulting to help schools and districts implement Student-Centered Coaching. Her work is based upon the belief that professional development for teachers is most effective when it is grounded in outcomes for student achievement—for every child, every day. Leanna is a passionate skier and cyclist. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband. Julie Steele has been in public education since 1998 as an elementary teacher, instruction specialist, and consultant. In 2019, she chose to pursue a full-time career in consulting to have a broader impact on students and teachers around the country. Her consulting projects include in-person and online support related to the implementation of Student-Centered Coaching. In addition, Julie has a passion for continuous learning which has led her to present at numerous educational conferences, provide professional learning for school districts around best practices and high-impact instruction, and author several blogs on equity. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from Missouri State University, Elementary Certification (1-6) from Avila University, and a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning from Baker University.