During my first year as an educational technology specialist I found myself constantly clarifying what my role was to administrators and teachers. Some teachers thought I was an administrator who was there to evaluate them, while others thought I was a technician who could fix their computer or printer. It is important to clarify your role as an instructional coach to ensure teachers are able to utilize your skills.

Joseph Kanke discusses some strategies for introducing yourself to administrators and teachers:

A document that will be key to ongoing support is a “job description.” The components of this document will give your position delimitations and provide those you support with a clear definition of what you actually do.

Kanke also explains that it is important for building level administrators to define your role and introduce you at faculty or team meetings.

Another way to create a connection is to have the leadership team introduce you at a whole staff meeting and explain their commitment to coaching, as support will go a long way in establishing a culture of a growth mindset.

One of the most important parts of being a successful instructional coach is building relationships with teachers.

I used the introductory letter to further demystify some of the common concerns new coaches hold, such as the fact that coaching is non-evaluative and confidential. I also included a paragraph about my experience as an educator, emphasizing my classroom experience, and a final paragraph about my hobbies and interests.

These strategies will help to properly define your role as an instructional coach and begin to develop a level of trust with the teachers you will work with.

Source: TeachBoost The Launchpad

Photo: geralt / Pixabay