What is Instructional Systems Coaching?
Hi there!
When doing a quick Google Search of “instructional systems coaching”, to figure out what on earth I was talking about, you probably didn’t find much. This position was created by my district last year; after a year and a half of pandemic teaching, the needs of teachers have drastically changed, and this position was designed to place one supporting individual at each building to work with teachers on new instructional methods and tools, streamline initiatives across the building and district, and work to build and strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for students.
That’s a lot of edu-jargon for being a school-level change maker.
What I love about this job is the word “systems”; it gives me the ability to turn macro ideas into micro changes in my high school. I am at the table to share ideas and engage in discussions about school-wide impact, but then I get to work with teachers to make those goals a reality in every classroom.
This may seem like it could be tech-heavy (and I am filling the role that was vacated by a technology coach, so my school/district is still learning what this position can do) but I’ve really been impressed by the ways teachers have taken what worked from our technology-centric pandemic teaching years and woven it into their best no/low-tech teaching activities. When I talk about initiatives, or instructional strategies, I make sure to discuss with teachers what not only works for them, but also their content and their audience (their specific class of students). Intentional use of technology is critical, and my work gets to wield best practice and tools as just one part of my toolbox!
The MTSS work I do is still in its early stages, but I am incredibly excited about the potential. We are able to bring stakeholders to the same table to discuss tangible solutions for struggling kiddos who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Coming out of the pandemic, that number has greatly increased, but our work is starting to change the trajectory some of those students were on. As a classroom teacher, I would have loved to sit down with all of the teachers for specific students and share strategies, but this so rarely is able to happen at a high school level (frankly, because scheduling is a bear).
Leaving my English classroom was an incredibly difficult transition. I was not sure if I was ready to leave my kiddos and the content that I absolutely loved. But this access to big picture ideas, and the ability to actually make systemic change in my building, has been such a great transitional step. It is everything I love about the education field as my day job, rather than what I would fill my afternoons and nights with while I was a classroom teacher! I am continuing to impact the educational journey of students, and I get to be a part of so many more classrooms… can’t say enough great things about this position.
This blog will be a place for me to share my tips and tricks, and reflect on my roles and responsibilities, as I get started in this new role. Thanks for following along!