Northern Valley Coaching Academy 2012: Sample wallwisher comments

Linda M.: Is anyone else thinking about Steve Barkley’s suggestion of coaching “the best” teachers first?

Bob Price: Add your thoughts. I want to learn more about CBAM and how this is important to any school change initiative.

M. Signore: “The best” teachers first also stuck with me. What a great way to get teachers to view working with a coach as positive. I’ll be using that strategy.

A. B-Thumm: Coaching the “best teachers” first certainly resonates. Not only does it promote “buy-in,” it works to deepen the pool of professional “go-to” teachers.

Abg: The Skype with SB was great; biggest takeaway was starting with the “top 5” first … think the recognition from the principal will be great way to open pathways.

Anonymous: Our table decided that we liked the idea of starting with the top five teachers. It was a surprising idea that really seems to make a lot of sense to us.

Jr: I was fascinated by the idea that we should coach the best teachers first. Perhaps we should begin with this group.

Bob Price: Take a look at this important article about coaching from a noneducator, surgeon Atul Gawande.

Door table: In the “Why Coaching” article, we were struck by the impact of feedback on the coaching process and how it affects the transfer of skills.

oflynn@nvnet.org: Opening our doors to other teachers and visiting other classrooms. Most skilled teachers being coached first; then work outward. Going from good to great.

Anonymous: I went home thinking about the learning dip, being uncomfortable and making others uncomfortable. Approaching the best teachers first may provide an in as well.

Anonymous: Keep focus on student learning. Fine line between administration and teachers. Will this group meet again during the year? We hope so!

Chris Nagy: Emerson once said: “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” You are the trailblazers and coaching linchpins.

Confidentiality Pledge

Northern Valley Schools Consortium, July 2012

One of the most important foundational beliefs of the coaching relationship is trust. The Northern Valley Schools Consortium Coaching Academy adheres to this idea and builds all strategies, skills, and philosophies around this important tenet. In order to clearly state this conviction to the teachers that will be coached, the following statement has been created to support clarity and confidence.

I, _________________, as part of the Coaching Academy, support and promote the idea of building trust through confidentiality. The role of the coach is one of support, to help teachers continue to be successful and effective educators. The role of coach is not to be an evaluator, but to be a partner in learning and growth. As an educational coach, I will adhere to and support the philosophies related to confidentiality as outlined by the Coaching Academy.