Teacher Leaders Building Social Capital Through Individualized Instructional Coaching

• In Event: 66.080 - Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: 66.080-20 - Distributed Leadership and Teacher Leaders in School Improvement

Abstract

For this study, I use a social capital lens to illuminate how three department chairs Cross-case analyses yielded several themes; however, for this paper I identified one for more extensive discussion: individualized, one-on-one instructional coaching. Chairs engaged in frequent, formal and informal, one-on-one dialogues with their teachers during which they monitoring their teachers’ progress, provided valuable feedback on instructional practices, and re-enforced the values and expectations for their professional community. Through coaching, chairs effectively enhanced aspects of professional community such as de-privatizing practice, shared norms, and collaboration. Chairs tailored their approach to suit the career stages and individual needs of each teacher. As more and more districts hire instructional coaches, the fine-grained examples of teacher leaders coaching teachers becomes relevant.

Author

• Mark Benedict, Elmbrook Schools