Training The Instructional Coach

Another false assumption that many educators make is that veteran teachers or master teachers inherently make good coaches. Good teachers of children do not necessarily make good coaches. There are many skills needed to work with adults that are not learned in classrooms. NESS Program Facilitators, experienced Instructional Coaches, and NESS Liaisons recommend the following support strategies:

1. Broward County encourages all potential and acting coaches to attend Clinical Educator and Instructional Coach Professional Development (ICPD) training

2. each site should design a training to instill attitudes and promote skills to accomplish the site’s purposes

3. instructional Coach training should begin with the NESS Liaison who serves as a coach to the coaches. Beginning steps can include, sharing strengths, coach growth goals, and providing feedback on coaching experiences

4. training/support must be on-going for coaches

5. training/support should provide numerous opportunities for coaches to develop supportive relationships with other coaches

6. periodic coach support group meetings help to hold coaches accountable to each other and to the program expectations

7. a primary purpose of the support groups should also be to uncover, refine, and write down the growing knowledge base about mentoring practices.

Note: Liaisons examine the mentor's roles and tasks for training needs.

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