INSTRUCTIONAL+COACHING

Instructional Coaching Request Form Staff Assessment of the Coaching Program - Take this survey after receiving any services and/or at the conclusion of the school year.  **What does an instructional coach do? The instructional coach:**
 * Assists with classroom organization, such as setting up classroom, establishing routines, managing various issues.
 * Offers curricular assistance, such as assisting teachers with selecting content and/or resources, aligning content to standards, pacing, curriculum mapping, etc.
 * Observes instruction and provides feedback to help students.
 * Consults and discusses ideas to engage students and elicit desired student responses and achievements.
 * Plans activities related to specific lessons with individual teachers or groups.
 * Helps with gathering resources and materials.
 * Assists teachers with data collection and analysis, examines and observes student work, assists in data-driven decision-making, and test preparation.
 * Facilitates learning teams (professional learning communities), organizes teacher study groups.
 * Teaches, co-teaches, models lessons, strategies, technology use and integration.
 * Conducts or facilitates workshops and activities on topics of interest to staff.
 * Uses anecdotal records to create data and keep track of the nature of the work of instructional coaching.

When your administrator says, "Work with the instructional coach!", this simply means doing one or more of the following:
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">TALK to me (about teaching, students, identifying issues or needs, setting goals, problem solving). I don't have all the answers and never will, but I will do my very best to get them and I have access to an amazing network of coaches, mentors, and teachers across the state who can help us get whatever we need. :)
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Develop, share and provide materials TOGETHER.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Develop curriculum TOGETHER.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Participate and plan professional development TOGETHER.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Lead or participate in study groups and professional learning communities.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Assess students and reflect on the results TOGETHER.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Co-plan lessons and units.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Hold team meetings (grade level, subject area, other) and invite the coach.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Analyze student work TOGETHER.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Interpret assessment data and use the results for instructional decision-making.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Model and discuss lessons.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Co-teach lessons/units.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Invite me to class!
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Conduct a lesson study TOGETHER.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There are obviously many other ways we can work (that's right, TOGETHER), but the above are just a few ways to get the process started! I look forward to working with you!

<span style="font-size: 140%; lineheight: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; marginbottom: 10pt; marginleft: 0in; marginright: 0in; margintop: 0in;">Neshannock’s Instructional Coaching Program Defined <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Instructional mentoring and instructional coaching reflects the growing consensus about what constitutes good professional development for teachers and ultimately leads to increases in student engagement and achievement. It is: <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">For an instructional coaching program to be successful, coaches need skillful mentoring (provided by the state to districts who have committed to the model), and both coaches and mentors need ongoing professional development to help teachers improve student achievement. Neshannock Township School District participates in the Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching (PIIC), funded by The Annenberg Foundation, which provides the following resources to the district and instructional coach: <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Mentors **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">: Each IU will have an instructional coaching mentor, a position funded by PDE. Mentors will work with districts, schools, and coaches to make mentoring an integral part of the instructional coaching system in Pennsylvania. Mentors will: <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Coaches **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">: Instructional coaches provide one-on-one, “over-the-shoulder” assistance to teachers, helping to strengthen classroom practice and increase student achievement. Coaches will:
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Ongoing and job-embedded.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Linked to state standards, curriculum, and assessment, so teachers’ knowledge and skills directly relate to what students need to learn.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">**//<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Confidential and non-evaluative //**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">, so that teachers can work honestly and openly with their coaches and colleagues.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Founded on evidence-based strategies for improved instruction, to offer teachers practical, classroom-focused assistance.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Technology integrated when and where appropriate to students’ mastery of skills.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">An ongoing program of study on instructional coaching, mentoring, and teacher professional development.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Online resources for mentors and coaches, including toolkits, guides, and training curricula.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Materials and training for school leaders to build their capacity to support coaching.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Specific training, as appropriate, in the Penn Literacy Network’s evidenced-based strategies for developing reading, writing, and comprehension skills across the curriculum.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Research and evaluation to analyze the effectiveness of instructional coaching and gather data to support continuous improvement.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Collaborate with coaches, teachers, and school leadership to identify needs.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Analyze appropriate data and develop goals and a plan of action.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Provide support for coaches individually and in groups, on-site or by email and videoconferencing.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Create a “coaching community” within the IU.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Participate in PIIC training to expand their instructional coaching knowledge and skills.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Organize a variety of professional development activities for coaches and other school staff.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Have the opportunity to participate in PIIC professional development activities.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Work one-on-one with teachers in classrooms, offering confidential, non-evaluative feedback.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Foster a collegial learning network of teachers in the district and coaches across the state.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Work with school administrators and leadership teams to support teachers, the curriculum, and the coaching program.

For more information on the instructional coaching model, please visit [].