Page 11 - EdViewptsSpring2017

The Monthly Menu Our school is filled with a wealth of into student learning! In fact, “95% of
Creative and innovative, our in-house knowledge, and the coaching program teachers that experienced high inten-
provides a venue in which to share it
sity one-on-one coaching changed
PD called iLearns, are presented in and collaborate. their practice” (Teacher Perceptions
an interactive manner several times a of Instructional Coaching, 2).
month and are designed to enhance Four times a year, we also offer Chat
teachers’ pedagogical and technical and Chews with teachers. These are Our Mission
skills with the purpose of engaging informal lunches that are designed
students to increase their growth and to assess the needs of various staff Four teachers, not self-proclaimed
achievement. iLearns have ranged members. These groups include but are experts, but leaders in their respective
from increasing engagement and not limited to mentor teachers, novice departments, have come together to
purposeful integration of technology teachers, end of year all staff reflection, foster a program that provides their
to content specific skills. These iLearns and specific subject area groups. colleagues with an opportunity to brain-
are presented every period during storm, learn and create a program that
the day and teachers willingly use supports teachers through one-to-one
their preparation periods to attend. and small group coaching, in-house
In addition to the knowledge gained, professional development, as well as
opportunities for teachers to share
our administrative team at Randolph ideas and strategies. This success
High School also provide teachers would not be possible without the
time for professional development, as foundation of trust among the teach-
they value the noticeable improvement ers, coaches, and administrators that
in classroom strategy. Jennifer Corley, the program is purely non-evaluative
a history teacher with three years of and confidential in nature. The ad-
experience confirms, “The coaches’ ministration’s collaborative approach
iLearns give me the tools I need to One to One - Turning has allowed this program to creatively
make my classroom more engaging Professional Development foster growth and truly be a resource
and interesting, and my students have into Learning for all staff.
greatly benefitted from these strategies.”

According to the Pennsylvania Insti- The heart and soul of coaching is in The most impactful initiative our high
school has ever implemented is that
tute for Instructional Coaching “100% the personal, non-evaluative, and of the instructional coaching program.
of teachers who had high participation situational one-to-one meetings with While there are several models with
in coach led activities changed their teachers. These meetings turn the differing ideology, the model that Ran-
classroom practice” (Teacher Percep- monthly menu of development op- dolph High School has created is one
tions of Instructional Coaching, 2). portunities into learning and ultimately focused on already successful teach-
While our iLearns are attended by 40- student success. Teachers book ers refining and enhancing their skills.
50 staff members each, we still look meetings with a coach of their choice It is a growth model that has gained
to involve more staff by peppering the and discuss classroom dynamics, enormous popularity, with nearly 100%
month with programs such as Teacher lesson planning, incorporating one participation, even though it is purely
Spotlight and Chat and Chews. of the iLearns or Teacher Spotlight voluntary. Reaction from the teachers
techniques with students, classroom
Teacher Spotlight is the ultimate show management, engagement, etc… This has been overwhelmingly positive,
and tell! Both veteran and new staff ongoing and connected professional as they have witnessed first-hand the
love to sign up for a ten-minute spot development allows for consistent benefits of collaborative teamwork and
in the limelight. Teachers bring fresh and timely feedback on a daily ba- experienced the immediate impact on
ideas, projects, new ed tech, and sis. These meetings are confidential, their students.
expertise to share throughout the day. purposeful, and effective. Honest
Some of the Teacher Spotlight ideas feedback, a personal relationship,
turn into more in depth iLearns that are and a laugh are crucial to the coach-
often co-facilitated with the teacher. ing cycle of transforming adult learning

References
Teacher Effectiveness. Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. http://cepr.harvard.edu/teacher-
effectiveness.
Teacher Perceptions of Instructional Coaching. Retrieved January 20, 2017 from the PIIC Wiki: http://piic.pacoaching.org/
images/PIICdocuments/Research_and_Eval/piic%20teacher%20perceptions%20march%202013.fhi360.pdf.

Educational Viewpoints -9- Spring 2017