Enabling Agents of Change: Applying Leadership Coaching and Improvement Science to Localized Problems of Practice

• In Event: Leading Successful Schools in Context

Abstract

In this paper, we illustrate how leadership coaching centered around continuous improvement efforts in a research-practice partnership can help school leaders learn to address localized problems of practice. We utilized interviews with 18 school leaders, participant observations of coaching sessions, and documents collected over a two-year period. We found that leadership coaches helped leaders learn to address localized problems of practice by personalizing the learning, deepening leaders’ understandings of their problems, providing an outside perspective, encouraging a sustained focus, and modeling an openness to learning. We conclude the paper with implications for research, practice, and policy.

Authors

• Hans W. Klar, Clemson University

• Angela Carter, Clemson University

• Noelle A. Paufler, Clemson University

• Susan E. Purser, Clemson University