The Purpose of Instructional Coaches

Why does your site assign Instructional Coaches to New Educators? This question needs to be answered early because assigning effective Instructional Coaches will have a strong influence on this part of your induction process. 
 If your only reason for assigning Instructional Coaches is that the New Educator Support System (HRD) provides a supplement, you may as well stop now and let the district use the resources in a more effective way. However, if your purpose for assigning Instructional Coaches is more like one of the following, then you can evaluate effectiveness of your Instructional Coaches:
1. To accelerate learning a new job or skill and reduce the stress of transition
2. To improve instructional practice through modeling by a top performer
3. To attract new staff in a very competitive recruiting environment
4. To retain excellent veteran staff in a setting where their contributions are valued
5. To alter the culture of the school by creating a collaborative subculture.

Most programs identify several purposes. The best way to achieve your purposes is to provide activities and events that are linked and support those purposes. These activities and events become the bedrock of your site-based induction program.

Source: Dr. Doug Miller, NESS Program Facilitator, HRD