Instructional Coach

mathman85
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Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:18 am

Instructional Coach

Post by mathman85 »

We'll be starting our new school year in a couple of weeks and in a first, our admin appointed an instructional coach. They decided unanimously without consulting the teachers. Does anyone have experience working with one? I'm a little skeptical about this entire set-up especially as the coach doesn't have much experience and the job description is vague.
Overhere
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by Overhere »

We have instructional coaches at the ES and in the secondary and they work in very different ways. In the ES they are directing learning and serving up lessons and placing a lot of demands on teachers, primarily of teachers' time for meetings. In the secondary the coaches take their cues from the teachers and are assisting teachers in developing lesson plans and generating ideas for the classroom. If you don't have time to meet one week its not a big deal. Luckily I teach in the MS so I have a great relationship with our subject coach.
wrldtrvlr123
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by wrldtrvlr123 »

There was a related thread on the paid side a while back. Responses were somewhat split on the usefulness and relevance of these types of positions.

I was on the side that was skeptical in general and had some experiences with these roles being basically wastes of time, energy and resources. Other people seem to have found instructional coaches and similar positions to have been more useful/helpful to teachers and relevant to student progress.

In the case you describe (unilateral appointment, questionable qualifications and job description), it sounds very much like someone with a possible personal connection to the powers that be being given cushy position with vague duties. Hopefully it will turn out better than it sounds.
PsyGuy
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Response

Post by PsyGuy »

Your leadership didnt really need to consult ITs, thats why they are leadership. Is there some kind of relationship between this new coach and leadership?

Instructional Coaches can have very differing titles and responsibilities. Generally they are specialists in particular curriculum subjects, or methodology (such as technology) that leadership doesnt have a strong skill set in. They may have tasking authority or reporting authority or nothing more than a resource for ITs to draw from. Usually in primary instructional coaches are specialists who help ITs with their weaknesses in a integrated curriculum (the IT that isnt comfortable with maths or music or something the IT cant really do). In secondary they tend to be more of the LS or ESOL or technology type of coach, or they work with specific curriculum (such as IB or AP) for ITs who havent taught specific SLL or asst courses.
On the other end of the scale they could be a promotion out of the classroom for a long time IT, they could be a vanity appointment for someone with a relationship to leadership or ownership, they could be a spy/informant for leadership. It could be padding the budget and the staffing count. It could be a lot of different causes.

I personally find instructional courses useless, and they are usually happy to sit in their office or wherever they are assigned and not bother anyone. They usually only make an appearance during PD or orientation days. They tend to act like counselors without the student management responsibilities.
mathman85
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Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:18 am

Re: Instructional Coach

Post by mathman85 »

The guy is 6-10 humanities teacher and clearly the admin's favorite. He never taught the IB DP program and has a lot less experience than several veteran DP teachers. All he got is an online degree in coaching. Not sure what he gonna tell us math folks.
PsyGuy
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Reply

Post by PsyGuy »

@mathman85

Probably something pedagogical making maths more engaging (engagement is the new thing this year) or interactive, or social, etc. Best advice, do the bauble head, smile, stroke their ego, they might be worthless, but hopefully they wont be annoying, and its not worth making an enemy out of someone with lots of time available to them. get on their bad side, and they may observe every single class of yours day after day, and keep a running list of everything they think youre doing wrong.
mathman85
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by mathman85 »

The running list may not help. The school has a union that offers considerable protection. The spouse of this very coach is also a math teacher with no certification. That is the height of double standards.
thebeard
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by thebeard »

I've worked with 2 IC's

The first one was basically the assistant principal but they made him the IC so they didn't have to pay an admin salary. Only teachers on probation worked with him. He basically evaluated them and helped them in a non evaluation way. He did an after school book club that was "voluntary" in a way that you had better show up unless you wanted him to "help" you improve in your classroom.

The second IC didn't do much. She helped her friends and was really nice. She realized she wasn't doing much and hooked everybody up with lots of goodies like chocolate and was always willing to get people stuff at Starbucks.

Both IC's had more duties and did the hard duties that other teachers don't exactly like.
thebeard
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by thebeard »

Both IC's STRESSED that they would never tell the principal or HOS if you were not doing your job or were teaching poorly. They stressed confidentiality. They both seemed sincere but my experience was that no one trusted them anyway.
PsyGuy
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reply

Post by PsyGuy »

@mathman85

No union can stop a determined IS and leadership, eventually they will get their way. It might take a dedicated member of staff (such as an instructional coach) but eventually sooner rather than later they will be allowed to dismiss the IT.
mathman85
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by mathman85 »

Have to say you're dead wrong, PG. Administrators have come and gone (even fired), but teachers have been here for decades and will remain so.
Thames Pirate
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Re: Instructional Coach

Post by Thames Pirate »

I'd say it can't hurt to go in with an open mind, but I don't blame you for being skeptical. But it may be helpful, and it's unlikely to hurt if you have such strong union protections. So take it for what it is--probably a waste, but give it a chance--and focus on providing great instruction, with or without a coach's help. Don't give it another thought.
PsyGuy
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Reply

Post by PsyGuy »

@mathman85

Then you are naive, if leadership can plant narcotics in your desk, fudge some receipts and claim theft/embezzlement or set you up some other way and that your union will save your job and make everything go away then your delusional. There is no immunity that can withstand ownership and leadership will, provided the will is strong enough.
mathman85
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Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:18 am

Re: Instructional Coach

Post by mathman85 »

@PG
Your criminal instincts have no bounds I guess and we're debating pedagogy, not felony. You are just clueless about the laws of the land. Anyway, won't waste anymore time exposing your false wisdom, non-existent admin experience, and imaginary credentials.
PsyGuy
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Reply

Post by PsyGuy »

@mathman85

No the discussion is the vulnerability of your union protections, no where in my previous post did i restrict or retrain the issue to pedagogy. Its nutter talk if you think that no instructional coach or leadership would ever resort to setting up an IT.
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