Empowerment zone: Coaching academy primes teachers to become instructional leaders

摘要

A northern New Jersey consortium created a Coaching Academy to develop coaches to work with early career teachers. The academy's goal was to build a cadre of instructional coaches who could provide increased classroom support for teachers. Motivated by a passion to help peers succeed, a desire to gain understanding of coaching skills, and an eagerness to work outside of their home school, 40 teachers applied. At the end of the year, coaches reported increased efficacy, mutual learning, cross-pollination of school practices, and a breakdown of hierarchical barriers.