How do you enroll teachers?

[Carole Fuller]

So, as we begin a new school year - how do you enroll teachers to work with you as coach? Do you have any new ideas or tried-and-tested ways to share?

Here's a few of mine:

• A short presentation or "pitch" to all faculty, with sign-up sheets (attached). Teachers I worked with last year shared their experiences of coaching and how it helped them.
• Gathering ideas from teachers for study circles. We usually have two circles, this year I'm thinking of expanding that to four or five and developing more coaching relationships out of them.
• Dropping in on all new teachers each break time to be supportive and start building relationships.

How about you?

 

[Kathy Perret]

Love your "I'm Interested" Form. I'm also thinking of providing something similar via a Google Form since I serve two buildings and am only at each 2 days week.

 

I'm meeting with principals this week to determine my focus, plan a short intro presentation.

 

We are offering gaining license renewal or grad credit for working with coach. 1 credit = 15 hours, plus additional outside work. Time will include 3 coaching cycles with coach, attending/reflecting on PD, etc... I think that may help enroll some teachers.

 

Thinking of having a monthly "Coffee with Kathy" to just bring teachers together to talk about coaching: impact on students, questions, feedback, requests etc...

 

 

[Stina]

Hi! Thanks for starting the conversation. I'm curious to hear from people - to what extent does building leadership/admin make it "optional" to work with you? It seems that if it's really all optional - then it's often easier for some to not use the resource. In my case, this year we are equally sharing the literacy specialist's (me) time amongst all the classroom for equity's sake, and to reinforce that the position is a resource for all to use. Thoughts? 

 

Stina

[Carole Fuller]

In my case, it's entirely optional for teachers to work with me. It's pretty much my job to recruit teachers to the idea of using coaching as a resource. I posted about how I do that on my blog here: http://butlerwales-justwondering.blogspot.com/

Ultimately, I think the foundation of a good coaching relationship is trust...and trust comes from choice... so I would find it very hard to work with teachers who were required to work with me even though they were resistant. How do you deal with that?