Freedom Area School District

History of Instructional Coaching

2008-Reading/Math CoachesTwo K-4th Title I Two 5th-6th Title I (7th/8th ) • Limit amount of staff attending outside PD. Coaches go

out and bring back resources/trainings

• Paid with Title I funds

• Approx. 75% of time spent was remediating students

2013-14 Coaching Roles-Before Board Presentation Amy Shultz-Elementary Math Coach K-4

Small Group Instruction

55%

Building Resources 20%

Professional Development

5%

Planning with Teachers 20%

2013-14 Coaching Roles-Before Board PresentationEmily Mather-Elementary Literacy Coach K-4

Small Group Instruction 51%

Planning with teachers 11%

Professional Development 4%

Resource Building 34%

2013-14 Coaching Roles-Before Board PresentationRon Kelm-Middle School Literacy Coach Grades 5-8

(1 aide)

Small Group Instruction 70%

Professional Development

7%Resource Building 15%

Planning with

teachers 8%

2013-14 Instructional Coaching Roles-Before Board Presentation

Ryan Smith-Middle School Instructional Coach/Lead Teacher Grades 5-8

Lead Teacher

64%

Resource

Building 6%

Planning 10%

Small Group

Instruction 15%Professional

Development 5%

2012- PIIC Re-Realizations- Coaching Staff+New Administration

• Heavy emphasis on remediation didn’t bring results

• Improving instruction before assessments is more valuable

• Engaging students instead of teaching to them improves learning

• Shift in culture was needed

Lead to Learn- 2013-14

• Consulting Firm $$$- Metacognition

• Traditional Teachers “Just another initiative that will be gone next year”

• Teachers we have worked with- “Isn’t this what you have been working with us already?”

School Board Presentation-Spring 2014

Administration wanted Instructional Coaches to present to school board

• Believed Coaches would be able to “sell” the role of coaches

• Felt Coaches were “in the trenches” and could speak to the needs of teachers and students

• Coaches were former classroom teachers who were respected by staff and were considered successful in helping students be successful

School Board

• Board members had traditional education and were successful-”Why do we need coaches?”

• “Traditional Teachers”- Belief that focusing on “fixing” the kids after assessments

• “What exactly do instructional coaches do?”

Obstacles

The Presentation

Teachers

.

SPP-School Perf. Profile

Unengaged learners

SLO’s

CDT’s

Diff. Supervision

PA Core

Keystone exams

PVAAS

Lead to Learn Objectives

Collins Wtg.Instructional Coaches

A Coach is……• Someone who can research best practices and

provide strategies you may not have the time to find

• Help you reflect on your teaching

• Help you organize and reflect data that helps you provide for the needs of your students

A Coach is Not…..

• An all knowing expert who is here to fix you

• Like a doctor who is supposed to tell you what is wrong with you and prescribe treatment

What is the Role of an Instructional Coach?*

• Work one-on-one and in small groups with teachers and school leaders to bring evidence based practices into classrooms.

• Collect ,analyze, and use data to collaborate with teachers in making appropriate instructional decisions

• Model and share resources that demonstrate literacy based strategies in all content areas .

• Provide high quality on going professional development for all staff members.

*As defined by the Pennsylvania Institute of Instructional Coaching( A partnership of and the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Annenberg Foundation.)

Instructional Coach vs. Title I Specialist

Roles of Instructional Coaches

• Collaborate with teachers to improve instructional practice

• Facilitate conversations around data driven instructional decisions

• Help develop district wide professional development

• Share research based resources centering around best practices

• Model best practices for staff

Math and Reading Specialists

• Provide instruction for students identified as needing support

• Meet with students to help monitor progress in areas of need

• Assist in setting up optimal testing situations for standardized tests

• Administer screening assessments in Math and Reading

Why do we need Coaches at Freedom?

*FHI60 (Research Partner of PIIC)Survey of teachers who attended PIIC

sponsored professional development on an annual basis

90% of the teachers reported that they changed their

classroom practice as a result of working with an

instructional coach.

95% of the teachers who received “high intensity”

coaching reported changing their classroom practice.

90% report that coaching impacted their students’

learning

97% report that coaching impacted student engagement

64% were more willing to try new instructional techniques

Coaching results in changes in classroom practices*

Why do we need Coaches at Freedom?

To support district initiatives…• School Performance Profile (SPP)• PVAAS (Growth Expectations)• Keystone Graduation Requirements• CDT and NWEA testing support• Parent Communication

To assist teachers with…• Student Learning Objectives (SLO)• Differentiated Supervision Model• Educator Effectiveness Model• Implementing Common Core Curriculum• Differentiated Instruction• Continue Lead to Learn objectives

Professional Development Model

Lead to Learn

Teachers

Coaches

Teachers

Post-Presentation

Freedom Area School District2015-16

Three Fulltime Instructional Coaches K-12

• Two K-6th One 7-12th

3 full time aides to assist

Areas of Emphasis From Administration

• Student engagement is an expectation

• Data is vehicle to guide instruction not evaluate teachers

• Student growth is emphasized as well as proficiency

2016-17 Instructional Coaching Roles Amy Shultz-Elementary Instructional Coach K-4

Planning with teachers 60%

Data 10%

Professional Development 10%

Resource Building 20%

2016-17 Instructional Coaching RolesEmily Mather-Elementary Instructional Coach K-4

1 (Aide used for Remediation)

Column1

Intervention Planning 10%

Resource Building 20%

Professional Development 20%

Planning with teachers 30%

Data 20%

2016-17-Instructional Coaching Roles Ron Kelm-Middle School Instructional Coach Grades 7-12

(1 aide)

Professional -35%Development

Plan with teachers 15%

Build resources-20%

Data-30%

Presenting Instructional Coaching Points/Tips to Ponder

• Be proactive- Look at your district’s needs and promote instructional coaching as a way to help meet those needs.

• Include data that supports instructional coaching

• Have an easy to follow handout that they can take with them

• Think of the questions/concerns they may have before you present and be ready with answers

• Emphasize that instructional coaching is to enhance student learning, not to make teachers’ jobs easier