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Instructional Coaches

Our coaching cadre will work with teacher teams and individuals to provide a guaranteed and viable curriculum in which all students learn at high levels. Coaches will be present in all buildings and will attend common planning meetings to provide clarity, feedback, and support to teacher teams and individuals. Coaches will support and challenge teams to improve student learning. Coaches will participate in meetings as team members but will not lead all of the meetings. Coaches are colleagues; not evaluators.

A common understanding of our work is crucial if we want to change our culture and demonstrably impact student learning.

  • We will continuously teach and remind ourselves of our collective responsibilities in our professional learning community. 
  • We will ensure that we have a common understanding of research and proven practice.
  • We will collectively identify our most effective strategies and build our professional capacity, with a focus on learning rather than teaching.
Feedback is how we all learn and improve. It is neither positive nor negative. It is a mirror that reflects back practice. 
  • Teams and individuals need feedback.
  • Feedback should be grounded on data gathered from agreed-upon standards of practice.
  • Student learning data are feedback for students, teacher teams, and schools. 
Structures help teams keep on track and provide horizontal and vertical alignment and consistency.
  • Coaches help teachers see the bigger picture as well as how the pathways connect horizontally and vertically.
  • Coaches help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of common planning time.
  • Coaches challenge and support team members to think more deeply to improve student learning.
 
10 Roles of Cortland Instructional Coaches
 
Resource Providor Data Coach Instructional
Specialist
Curriculum
Specialist
Classroom
Supporter
Learning
Facilitator
Mentor Teacher Leader Catalyst for
Change
Lead Learner