using data to inform coaching
begin by gathering data
One cannot know where to start in a coaching relationship without first gathering relevant data. The conditions which surround the client whether in her classroom, at the school, or district have direct and tangible effects on her teaching. Taking the time to look closely at all of these factors informs the entire coaching process. In the Denver Public Schools, there are several documents which can be used to help a coach understand the climate in which the teacher functions. Beyond these high level views, the coach should also investigate the curriculum the teacher is using as well as consider informal sources of data through conversations and surveys. The information below captures formal and informal sources of data.
School performance FrameworkThe Denver Public Schools uses a matrix of indicators to measure school performance referred to as the School Performance Framework (2015) that includes data on: Academic Growth, Academic Proficiency, College and Career Readiness, Improvements in College and Career Readiness, Student Engagement, Enrollment Rates, and Parent Satisfaction. This report tells a story of the school from several data sources and should be consulted.
Informal sources of dataInitiating Informal Conversations: In The Art of Coaching Elena Aguilar encourages coaches to get to know the people involved in the coaching situation whenever possible: teachers, administrators, students, and parents. These stakeholder groups are a key to “building relationships and expand[ing] … understanding of the site” (2013).
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The School unified improvement plan (UIP)The annual improvement plan required by the Colorado Department of Education asks that schools engage in an analysis of various data points and to develop a plan, published publicly, to improve student achievement. This document will identify high priority areas of the school and can help a coach understand how the teacher is working toward meeting those goals.
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other pertinent dataIn addition to these larger documents it would also be helpful to access other data points such as:
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