The new trend in our society has been around improving self care awareness and providing resources. Life coaches have become essential parts of our every day lives. For teachers, many times, instructional coaches also become life coaches.
Parents need to know that many issues with lessons, curriculum, and instruction can be worked out with the support of the instructional coach. Successful instructional coaches are able to help teachers balance their socio-emotional needs while also strengthening teachers’ instructional practices.
Let’s think of instructional coaches as personal academic trainers for teachers!
Too many school districts are stuck using curricula that aren’t multicultural, inclusive, and driven by high stakes testing standards. Instructional coaches take the curricula and put the focus back on learning and not so much the standardized tests. Instructional coaches are like the Avengers. They are comprised of some amazing classroom teachers and school leaders who are in the corner pocket for teachers to use. Instructional coaches help bring life to instructional practices in school districts where there are outdated or ineffective practices in place.
Instructional coaches are secret power players for parents in public schools.
I tell parents to think of instructional coaches through this lens. They are the offensive coaches for the teachers on the front lines. Their goal is to make sure the team (teachers) are prepared to help students meet and exceed their academic goals. Designing lessons plans that impact student achievement academically, socially, emotionally and civically is what instructional coaches bring to the table. Their impact is shown through how teachers are able to utilize curriculum and present it to children in an effective manner.
At the end of the day, parents want their children to feel good about learning, to find success in their learning, and to experience quality lessons. Instructional coaches help teachers teach their best. If your children’s school doesn’t have any, this is an area where parent advocates can apply pressure to ensure their children’s teachers have this value resource.