#coachbetter
Building community in schools through instructional coaching. Wherever you are in your coaching journey, we can support you! Hosted by Kim Cofino, the #coachbetter podcast features inspiring interviews; case studies with coaches; real-life coaching calls; and quick strategic tips that you can put into practice immediately. We turn inspiration into practical reality so you get the clarity you need to move forward confidently - for you as an individual coach and for your coaching program in your school. New episodes every Wednesday!
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Navigating Your Own Mental Capacity as an Instructional Coach
05/27/2025
Navigating Your Own Mental Capacity as an Instructional Coach
As coaches we work so hard to support others that we can often forget how important it is to take care of ourselves too. But, as said on a very early episode of the podcast, for coaches to be present for others, they must take care of themselves first. This is a special #coachbetter collaborative episode with Kim Cofino and Diana Beabout because both of them have had an extra challenging year, and when they were chatting about how they’ve managed being at max capacity all year, they realized that some of our strategies might be helpful for you too! If you’re feeling stretched thin - or hoping to prevent that feeling - please keep watching for our 8 tips today! Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Bringing a Sense of Joy to Professional Learning Through Lego Serious Play with Joel Birch
05/20/2025
Bringing a Sense of Joy to Professional Learning Through Lego Serious Play with Joel Birch
In #coachbetter episode, Kim chats with Joel Birch, Certified Facilitator and Pro Trainer of LEGO Serious Play. Joel is such a pro at bringing fun, humor, creativity and play into his work. Just being in his orbit helps lighten the mood and start seeing creative possibilities you might not have noticed before. This episode is all about how to bring that kind of energy to your work - even if you’re a type A “non-creative” like me! In this episode, Joel and Kim are talking about the power of play to develop relationships how to structure the implementation of play (for type-A personalities) the impact of bringing play into a work environment the kind of environment needed to embrace play how informal leaders can bring play to their work what can go wrong when you experiment with play at work Find the show notes for this episode . Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Advocating for Equity with Ange Molony
05/13/2025
Advocating for Equity with Ange Molony
This #coachbetter episode is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season, featuring Ange Molony, Secondary School Vice Principal at Discovery College in Hong Kong. Kim and Ange talk about how informal leaders, like instructional coaches, can advocate for equity in their school setting. Instructional coaches are fortunate to engage with so many different stakeholders throughout their work, and they may have relationships and experiences with other community members that provide insight that other formal leaders don’t have. When we have the opportunity to advocate for others, instructional coaches have a variety of pathways to start or continue that conversation. This conversation with Ange highlights her own experience in being an advocate, and may provide insight for you to consider how you do something similar in your school setting. Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: (Full episode) Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Coaching Call: Balancing Competing Demands as a School Leader with Kathy Patton
05/06/2025
Coaching Call: Balancing Competing Demands as a School Leader with Kathy Patton
This #coachbetter episode is part of our special series featuring real-life coaching conversations with a member of our community. This conversation is with Kathy Patton, Assistant (ES) Principal at International School of Panama. HUGE thank you to Kathy for being willing to record this session to share with all of you! This episode is such a great example of the many demands of leadership - and just a single coaching conversation can help you feel hopeful and a sense of direction in moving forward. In this conversation they talk about how challenging it is for leaders to… Manage the constant shifting from one responsibility to another Rapidly shift their mindset and attitude from one setting to the next Be present in the moment when ongoing issues are lingering Process all the different conversations they have in the day, so they can be better prepared the next time around Develop sustainable strategies to reflect, process and plan for a very busy week Find the show notes for this episode Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Embracing Your Curiosity as an Instructional Coach
04/29/2025
Embracing Your Curiosity as an Instructional Coach
It can often feel easier to be an expert (or a consultant) than it is to coach. Whether it’s building peer coaching skills among a full faculty, or inside with educators who are learning to be instructional coaches, or in , we all feel very comfortable in the consultancy dynamic. We’re familiar with the concept of mentoring or giving advice, and it’s easy to think that coaching is the same thing. This #coachbetter episode is about embracing your curiosity as an instructional coach - and letting go of feeling like you need to be an expert. Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of AAICIS
04/22/2025
Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of AAICIS
In this #coachbetter episode, Kim chats with members of the team from the (called AAICIS), where Kim is currently serving as the Executive Director. The organization is celebrating its one-year anniversary by reflecting on its achievements since its launch in March 2024. The discussion highlights the unique support AAICIS offers to international school educators interested in or currently working in instructional coaching. The team shares how their all-volunteer, all-remote group has advanced coaching practices tailored specifically to the international school context. (For more about how AAICIS got started, check out our episode from March 2024 ) Listen to this episode to hear about all the work this amazing team has accomplished, including: Their successful launch in March 2024 An update on their research (to dig deeper into this check out ) Their free resources, and what’s coming next The support they provide for coaches, leaders and schools - and why this might be valuable for YOU and your school! How to connect with AAICIS Developments on their growing team If you’re looking to join a supportive community of instructional coaches and leaders in international schools around the world who are as passionate about instructional coaching as you are, this episode (and AAICIS) is for you! Find the show notes for this episode . Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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The Importance of Intentional Conversations with Michele Mattoon
04/15/2025
The Importance of Intentional Conversations with Michele Mattoon
This #coacbetter episode is about the importance of intentional and structured conversations. This is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season, featuring Michele Mattoon, Executive Director of the National School Reform Faculty. Recently as part of one of Leaders Speaker Series we had Jennifer Abrams share with our community about Stretching Your Learning Edges (), and as she said on the podcast, Jennifer highlighted how as educators we are not trained in having conversations with other adults. Having intentional and structured conversations, , can really help us navigate difficult and challenging topics that, as Michele says, sometimes need “guardrails”. Because instructional coaches work with so many different stakeholders, with so many different perspectives, experiences and opinions, it’s so important for us to know how to structure conversation for productive discourse and dialogue. Protocols are one way we can do that. If protocols are new to you, make sure to . Once you start using protocols in your professional learning, and group conversations, you won’t go back. Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Case Study: Navigating a New Coaching Role & School Culture with Jen Kagohara
04/08/2025
Case Study: Navigating a New Coaching Role & School Culture with Jen Kagohara
This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Jen Kagohara, ES Tech & Design Coach, Taipei American School, Taiwan. Jen is a graduate of The Coach Certificate & Mentorship Program and when we recorded this episode she had just finished the program. These case study episodes are designed to share the story of a coach, and the development of their coaching program and practice in their unique setting. We're so excited to share this episode with Jen with you because Jen has had many experiences that are shared by lots of the clients Kim works with. She’s relatively new to her school, which has hired coaches, but doesn’t yet have a coaching culture. Many coaches that Kim works with are in this exact same situation - in fact we have several other podcast episodes about this very topic, one is ”). Wherever you are in the process at your school, it’s always valuable to hear what this looks like in different school contexts. In this conversation they talk about ... What coaching looks like in her school right now What makes coaching work and what are some challenges Jen’s growth as a coach throughout The Coach Certificate & Mentorship Program Her big aha moments as a new coach What she’s planning for next in terms of her professional growth What she wishes she knew before she started coaching Her recommendations for new and aspiring coaches Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Introducing the 5 Domains of a Coaching Mindset
04/01/2025
Introducing the 5 Domains of a Coaching Mindset
In this #coachbetter episode, Kim introduces the domains of a coaching mindset. Did you know that the number one indicator of student success is collective efficacy? (Donohoo, 2017). Research shows that when we believe in one another, student learning improves. How we can improve our collective efficacy through the lens of coaching – without hiring an instructional coach or a formal coaching program? Because we all want to improve student learning. And we all can benefit from coaching. But not every school has the capacity or finances to build an instructional coaching program. And the great news is, you don’t have to have a formal coaching program to do it. All you need to get started is a coaching mindset. And every single person (students included) can work towards cultivating a coaching mindset. Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Bringing a Coaching Perspective to Co-Teaching with Lindsay Manzella and John Stephany
03/25/2025
Bringing a Coaching Perspective to Co-Teaching with Lindsay Manzella and John Stephany
This #coachbetter episode is a case study conversation with two amazing educators: EAL (English as an Additional Language) Teacher Lindsay Manzella and INS Teacher John Stephany. Lindsay and John worked together at NIST (Thailand) at the time of recording, where they developed a unique model for co-teaching and coaching to support all learners in John’s classroom, where Lindsay was supporting EAL students. Both Lindsay and John have had training in coaching so they have come to the co-teaching experience with a foundational understanding of how coaching works. In this episode they talk about: How Lindsay and John work together Why John, as an MYP INS teacher finds coaching so valuable Why Lindsay, as an EAL Teacher, finds coaching such a powerful support to her work What works well in their partnership as well as what can be challenging How this model might work in other schools Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Collecting Data Around Coaching with Anne Marie Chow
03/18/2025
Collecting Data Around Coaching with Anne Marie Chow
This #coachbetter episode is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season, featuring Anne Marie Chow, who at the time was Middle School Vice Principal and English teacher at United World College Southeast Asia, East Campus in Singapore. We're excited to be sharing this highlight today, because not only is Anne Marie amazing () but if you’ve been watching or listening to #coachbetter this season, you know we’re talking a lot about measuring your impact (see links to previous episode below). Because instructional coaching is a non-teaching position, it’s so important for coaches to be proactive about measuring and sharing the impact of their work. It’s a role that’s both challenging to find the budget to hire for, and one that’s easy to cut if school leaders don’t see the intended outcome. The more coaches can do to collect and share data around their work, the easier it will be for school leaders, and teachers, to see the value of coaching. This episode highlights the experience of coaches at UWC Singapore and the actual types of data they are collecting. If you’re an instructional coach, curious about getting started collecting data, there are some great ideas here - and hopefully this clip will inspire even more ideas that will work just right in your school context. Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture BEFORE Starting a Coaching Program with Melissa Carr
03/11/2025
Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture BEFORE Starting a Coaching Program with Melissa Carr
This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Melissa Car, Grade 1 classroom teacher at St. Mary’s International School in Japan. Melissa is a graduate of The Coach Certificate & Mentorship Program and when we recorded this episode she had just finished the program. In this conversation we talk about How Melissa started her journey to instructional coaching Why she thinks coaching is right for her school, right now How her school leaders made the decision to implement a coaching program The vision for the coaching program at her school Her “aha moments” in The Coach The successes she’s already had with coaching - as a classroom teacher What schools and teachers should consider when begining an instructional coaching program Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter)
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Redirecting a Coaching Conversation with Diana Beabout
03/04/2025
Redirecting a Coaching Conversation with Diana Beabout
In this #coachbetter episode, Diana is going to share 5 tips to redirect a coaching conversation. Sometimes our coaching conversations take an unexpected turn. This can be really challenging because we know that it’s important for our coaching partners to take the lead in directing the conversation. But what happens when… it seems like your coaching partner is straying away from the goals you set at the beginning of the cycle or your work together? Or when you notice something during a classroom visit that you are hoping will attract the attention of your coaching partner, but it doesn’t? Or You realize there is a gap that needs to be addressed that your coaching partner doesn’t realize yet? It can be tricky to know if you should find a way to address these issues and potentially redirect the conversation - let alone actually try to do it! Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy these: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter) (chapter)
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Valuing Adult Learning with Sara Brodhead and Jim Laney
02/25/2025
Valuing Adult Learning with Sara Brodhead and Jim Laney
In this #coachbetter episode, Kim talks with Jim Laney, Head of School & Sara Brodhead, Director of Teaching and Learning at in Taiwan. Sarah has now moved on to Hong Kong International Sschool, and Jim, who’s still HoS at Kaohsiung, is a repeat guest on the show - where we talk about how instructional coaching supports at all levels. Kim has been working with KAS for the last two years to support their brand new middle leadership team in developing their instructional leadership capacity and applying a coaching mindset to their work. In that time, KAS has also hired two new instructional coaches, and this conversation developed from our work together. In this episode, Jim, Sara and Kim talk about.. the development of the new middle leadership and instructional coaching roles at KAS the distinction between supervision and evaluation and the professional growth that coaching can provide their vision for the new instructional coaching roles the structures they are putting in place measuring the impact of their work how we can help other school leaders and educators see the value of instructional coaching This conversation highlights the huge impact an investment in teacher professional growth can have in our schools. Find the show notes for this episode . Like this episode, you’ll enjoy this one: Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter) (chapter)
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A Successful Coaching Culture with Ji Han
02/18/2025
A Successful Coaching Culture with Ji Han
In this #coachbetter episode we’re talking about what coaching looks like in schools where it’s been implemented well. This is a highlight from one of our favorite episodes from a previous season, featuring Ji Han, Associate Director of School Evaluation and Support at the Council of International Schools (CIS). Ji has such a wide experience with coaching in so many schools, hearing her description of what coaching looks like when it’s working well can provide a powerful vision for school leaders, or coaches advocating for instructional coaching. We're sharing this specific clip because it addresses several of the most common questions we hear when we speak with school leaders about coaching, they wonder: If they should mandate coaching to ensure that every educator takes advantage of that support. If leaders should do the coaching (perhaps part of Professional Growth Plan) How to celebrate the success of coaching if it is confidential Ji clearly articulates how coaching can grow, when we ensure that we have some essential structures in place: coaching is invitational, coaching happens with a peer, and we see coaching as an experience for all teachers, rather than viewing it as a way to “fix” teachers (or a deficit model). These are three big components that come up on the show all the time, so if this is interesting to you, please be sure to check out the other episodes: Find the show notes for this episode . Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter) (chapter)
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Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture as a Classroom Teacher with Lana Yashchyna
02/11/2025
Case Study: Building a Coaching Culture as a Classroom Teacher with Lana Yashchyna
This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Lana Yashchyna, 4th grade classroom teacher at the American International School in Kuwait. Lana is a graduate of and when they recorded this episode she had just finished the program. These case study episodes are designed to share the story of a coach, and the development of their coaching program and practice in their unique setting. In this conversation Kim and Lana talk about ... Why coaching was so impactful for her as a classroom teacher How she decided to make the move from classroom to coach How she’s been building a coaching culture in her 4th grade team What prepared her to be ready to build a coaching culture in a teaching role Why coaching is so essential in a high pressure school environment If coaching is sustainable as a full time classroom teacher All the steps it took her to build a coaching culture on her team This episode is a fantastic example of all of the ways that classroom teachers can influence a culture of coaching at the team level - and why this is ultimately not a sustainable combination of roles for the long term! If you’re curious about building a coaching culture at the team level - this episode is for you! Find the show notes for this episode . Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter) (chapter)
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The Importance of Measuring Your Impact as an Instructional Coach
02/04/2025
The Importance of Measuring Your Impact as an Instructional Coach
In this #coachbetter episode we are talking about the importance of measuring the impact of instructional coaching - and sharing that data with all stakeholders. This topic is one of the most common concerns we hear from senior leaders or school boards is: How do you know coaching is making an impact? How can I see the return on investment when I hire instructional coaches? When schools are choosing to invest in non-teaching positions, it is essential to understand how that work is positively impacting student (and in this case, teacher) learning. This can come as a surprise to new and even experienced instructional coaches, because as educators we are not required to formally “prove” our value on a regular basis. That process is already “baked in” to the structure of the school. However, for instructional coaches, this is not the case. If coaches are not measuring their impact, there is likely no one else on staff who will be doing this work. Which means, it can become very easy to say that no impact has been made. Instead, it is essential for instructional coaches to recognize that intentionally collecting data to measure their impact, and then sharing it within the school community is part of their role. Find the show notes for this episode . Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter) (chapter)
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Unpacking the Cognitive Load for Instructional Coaches with Kim Porter
01/28/2025
Unpacking the Cognitive Load for Instructional Coaches with Kim Porter
In this #coachbetter episode Kim chats with Kim Porter, who at the time of recording was a Primary Math Coach at UWC Singapore, and is now UDL Coach & Support Specialist at ASIJ in Japan. Kim and Kim talk about the elements that make instructional coaching thrive, how international schools are unique in terms of instructional coaching environments, the cognitive load for instructional coaches, particularly in an international school setting where we have additional complexities in our environments; and what Kim wishes she knew when she started out as an instructional coach. If this sounds interesting to you, please make sure to check out a previous #coachbetter Quick Tips episode from this season: Find the show notes for this episode .
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Developing a Learning Organization Through Coaching with Carla Marschall
01/21/2025
Developing a Learning Organization Through Coaching with Carla Marschall
In this #coachbetter episode we’re talking about developing a learning organization through coaching from a systems lens. This is a highlight from one of our favorite episodes from a previous season. If you’re a longtime #coachbetter listener, you know we often talk about how to develop structures and systems for sustainable coaching practices (in fact there are a few recent QuickTips episodes that highlight this topic - see list below). This clip is another great example of that, featuring Carla Marschall, currently Head of School at Dresden International School. We really appreciate this specific clip because of Carla’s focus on systems thinking. She describes the ways that coaching can shape the culture of a school, when we think about the school as a system, rather than a hierarchy. (If you like this clip, make sure to listen to the ). Here are a few recent episodes that feature this concept: Find the show notes for this episode .
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Coaching Call: Building A Culture Of Coaching in a School Where It Doesn’t Exist with Sara Wilkins
01/14/2025
Coaching Call: Building A Culture Of Coaching in a School Where It Doesn’t Exist with Sara Wilkins
This #coachbetter episode is part of our special series featuring real-life coaching conversations with one of Kim's amazing clients, Sara Wilkins, who, at the time of recording, had just graduated from our course for classroom teachers moving into a coaching role called Getting Started as an Instructional Coach. HUGE thank you to Sara for being willing to record this session to share with all of you! This episode is such a great example of the power of coaching - and how a single coaching conversation can help you get unstuck. In this conversation Kim and Sara talk about how Sara can… bring her existing training and experience to her role as a middle leader use her coaching skills to connect with others in the school community that have similar goal better understand the potential resistance to the work she’s trying to do bring this conversation to a leadership level consider how to shift her language to help others embrace a coaching mindset use existing structures at her school to create a bridge to coaching Find the show notes for this episode . Let’s Connect: Our website: EduroLearning on EduroLearning on EduroLearning on Subscribe to our Join our Learn with Kim Read more from Kim: (book) (chapter) (chapter)
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8 Essential Conditions for Collaborative School Culture with Tavia Clark
12/10/2024
8 Essential Conditions for Collaborative School Culture with Tavia Clark
This #coachbetter episode is about the essential elements for developing a collaborative school culture. Kim talks a lot about creating a thriving coaching culture, and that kind of culture doesn’t just support more coaching, it builds a sense of collective efficacy that creates an environment where teachers want to stay and grow. Of course, this doesn’t happen in isolation, we need many different factors working together, and this clip from her conversation with Tavia does a great job of highlighting 8 of those key elements. This is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season. She's been wanting to share this clip because it’s a participatory and collaborative culture that will help make coaching thrive. When educators want to work together, when we can see our colleagues as people who help us become better educators, it’s a lot easier to opt in to coaching. Find the show notes for this episode .
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Unpacking the Results of the AAICIS Landscape Study with Jordan Benedict
12/03/2024
Unpacking the Results of the AAICIS Landscape Study with Jordan Benedict
In this #coachbetter episode, Kim talks with Jordan Benedict, one of our Research Team members at (Association for the Advancement of Instructional Coaching at International Schools) for the and Learning Coach at the International School of Kenya. Jordan and Kim are both so excited to share the results of the first landscape study of instructional coaching in international schools, conducted by our AAICIS research team in March of 2024. There are so many interesting findings that we think will resonate with you, and we’d love to hear your thoughts after listening to the episode. Please leave a comment for us so we can hear what aligns with your thinking and experiences - or what diverges! In this episode, they talk about the background of where the research started, how they conducted the study, the primary findings, the Reported Reasons for Establishing a Coaching Program, the reported outcomes - which will not surprise YOU as a listener of this podcast - plus what they think schools and coaches can do with this new research. This episode is a fantastic overview of all of the key findings from this study, so if you’re curious about the landscape of instructional coaching in international schools, this episode is for you! Find the show notes for this episode .
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3 Ways School Leaders Can Support Instructional Coaches with Kristen Moreland
11/26/2024
3 Ways School Leaders Can Support Instructional Coaches with Kristen Moreland
In this #coachbetter video, Kristen Moreland shares three ways that school leaders can support their instructional coaches. Often, especially in international schools, we see schools hire instructional coaches and then assume the coaches themselves can build a coaching culture. The reality is that it takes more than just hiring coaches to build a coaching culture. Even when instructional coaches know exactly what’s needed to take the school to the next step, they almost always need the support of their school leader to actually implement the work. Instructional coaching is informal leadership, so having the tangible support of the positional leader is essential for taking action. If you’re an instructional coach watching this video, this would be a great conversation starter with your leadership team! Find the show notes for this episode .
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Coaching Call: Shifting your Coaching Mindset from Problem Solving to Improving Student Learning with Vicki Heupel
11/19/2024
Coaching Call: Shifting your Coaching Mindset from Problem Solving to Improving Student Learning with Vicki Heupel
This #coachbetter episode is part of our special series featuring real-life coaching conversations with one of Kim's amazing clients, Vicki Heupell, who, at the time of recording, had just graduated from our course for classroom teachers moving into a coaching role called Getting Started as an Instructional Coach. HUGE thank you to Vicki for being willing to record this session to share with all of you! We are excited to share this conversation with you because the topics Vicki and Kim talk about are exactly the kind of questions that we get asked all the time, particularly from experienced classroom teachers who are either moving into a coaching role for the first time, or curious about moving into a coaching role. In fact, this exact conversation is an extension of many of our previous chats in the Getting Started as an Instructional Coach course! Find the show notes for this episode .
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Helping School Leaders Understand the Value of Coaching with Latyia Rolle
11/12/2024
Helping School Leaders Understand the Value of Coaching with Latyia Rolle
In #coachbetter episode we’re talking about how to help your school leader understand the value of coaching. This is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season. If you’re a longtime #coachbetter listener, you know Kim almost always ask school leaders how coaches can help their administrators understand the value of coaching, and the responses are always so insightful. This clip is another great example of that, featuring LaTyia Rolle, currently Elementary School Principal at the International School of Brussels. If you’ve been coaching for any length of time at all, you know that your school leader’s understanding of coaching can make or break your program - and that understanding and support can change anytime you get a new administrator. Being able to articulate, in leadership language, what makes coaching so valuable is an essential skill for all instructional coaches. Find the show notes for this episode .
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A Teacher’s Perspective on Instructional Coaching with Brenda Lee
11/05/2024
A Teacher’s Perspective on Instructional Coaching with Brenda Lee
In this #coachbetter episode Kim chats with Brenda Lee, Grade 4 teacher at Al-Bayan Bilingual School (BBS) Kuwait. We're excited to share this episode with you because it’s a topic that’s been requested by you! We received a request to hear from educators (rather than coaches) about their experiences with coaching. In this conversation with Brenda, they talk about How instructional coaching has supported her growth as an educator How instructional coaching fits within the context of educator professional growth What classroom teachers need to know to opt in to coaching How she makes time for coaching in a busy teacher’s schedule Why some teachers resist coaching How coaching works for her as a classroom teacher Why she’s hoping to make the move from classroom to coach This episode is a fantastic example of why teachers chose to opt-in to coaching - and how you can articulate the value of coaching for your prospective coaching partners! Find the show notes for this episode .
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Navigating the Complexity of Instructional Coaching in an International School Context with Kim Cofino
10/29/2024
Navigating the Complexity of Instructional Coaching in an International School Context with Kim Cofino
In this #coachbetter episode, Kim talks about the additional complexities involved in instructional coaching in an international school setting. Of course, this does not mean that instructional coaching is not complex in other settings, or that any of these factors are not present in other settings, these are just five layers of complexity that are often the norm in international schools. However, when we are working in international schools, there is often even more complexity involved in the role, which may go unrecognized by school leaders, or even coaches themselves because this complexity is our “normal.” At the recent EARCOS teachers conference, Kim and participants unpacked some of those complexities in one of her sessions. In their conversation, they identified five key factors that make instructional coaching highly complex in the international school setting - and she's going to share those 5 with you in this episode! Find the show notes for this episode .
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Case Study: The Nuances of Moving from Classroom to Coach with Tina Bhatia
10/22/2024
Case Study: The Nuances of Moving from Classroom to Coach with Tina Bhatia
This #coachbetter episode is another in our series of coaching case studies, with one of Kim's amazing clients, Tina Bhatia, Second grade classroom teacher at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. Tina is a graduate of , working with Diana Beabout as her mentor - and when we recorded this episode she was almost finished with her coursework. These case study episodes are designed to share the story of a coach, and the development of their coaching program and practice in their unique setting. We are so excited to share this episode with Tina with you because it’s always wonderful to hear about a classroom teacher who is inspired to become a coach - and it’s important to unpack all of the different aspects to consider when moving from classroom to coach. Tina learned a lot during her time in The Coach, and she is so ready to make the move! In this conversation Kim and Tina talk about: What attracted her to coaching What coaching looks like in her school setting right now What she’s thinking about as she’s considering the move from classroom to coach What teachers need to know to opt-in to coaching Her advice for teachers wanting to move into a coaching role Some “aha” moments she’s had over the past academic year, learning about being a coach in The Coach Certificate and Mentorship Program Find the show notes for this episode .
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Unpacking Coaching Heavy and Coaching Light with Joellen Killion
10/15/2024
Unpacking Coaching Heavy and Coaching Light with Joellen Killion
This is a highlight from one of Kim's favorite episodes from a previous season. If you’re a longtime #coachbetter listener, you know that Joellen Killion is Kim's instructional coaching superhero, and from a few seasons ago was a masterclass in all things instructional coaching. This episode is a perfect introduction to thinking about, and reflecting on, the type of coaching support you’re providing to your coaching partners. So many of Kim's clients get stuck in the “advice trap” or constantly feeling like they have to prove their worth to potential coaching partners by being on demand for resource support. This conversation with Joellen highlights an essential mindset shift for instructional coaches. As Joellen says: Results can build relationships as relationships can build results. Find the show notes for this episode .
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Planning Backward for Instructional Coaching Success with Steve Barkley
10/08/2024
Planning Backward for Instructional Coaching Success with Steve Barkley
In this #coachbetter episode Kim chats with return guest Steve Barkley, Executive VP , author of many books about instructional coaching, and Advisor Executive Committee of , the Association for the Advancement of Instructional Coaching in International Schools. Kim is excited to share this episode with you, not only because Steve is amazing and one of her coaching superheroes, but also because he was one of our first ever guests on the show - so it’s especially interesting to hear first-hand how his thinking has evolved over time since that conversation. In this episode they talk about: Systems for coaching success - especially when starting from scratch What leaders need to know about the long term impact of coaching - especially when talking to their school board How to make coaching sustainable What experienced coaches can do to continually refine their practice Trends in instructional coaching in international schools This episode is a gold mine for coaches or school leaders looking to build successful and sustainable instructional coaching programs! Steve works with so many schools, and has such a deep understanding of how coaching works - you don’t want to miss this episode! Find the show notes for this episode .
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