Things to consider before accepting a coaching position
As Denver Public Schools embarks on the next phase of teacher leadership rooted in site-based coaches, it is imperative that those teachers seeking this next level take several factors under consideration. According to The Art of Coaching: Effective Strategies, "the potential of coaching cannot be realized if certain conditions are not in place ... [and] coaches ... need to be able to analyze systems and identify situations primed for coaching" (Aguilar, 2013).
Prospective coaches must look within themselves to gauge their readiness and then look critically at the school to gauge its readiness.
Prospective coaches must look within themselves to gauge their readiness and then look critically at the school to gauge its readiness.
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is the school ready to have a coach?As Denver Public Schools moves into Senior Teams Leads, it is important for coaches to understand the role envisioned by the district and the school site. Teacher leaders in this position will work with small teams both as a coach and evaluator. While the job description was written by the district, it is up to school sites to develop roll out plans. Prospective Team Leads should investigate the school's readiness to implement the plan. Questions to ask the site would include: How many teachers were on the planning committee? To what degree has the faculty experienced coaching before, and what seems to be the overall attitude? Does the school principal see a benefit to this structure or view it more as a imposition mandated by the district?
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