4.1c/d

Coaches inspire educators and leaders to use technology to recreate equitable and ongoing access to high-quality learning. Coaches:

C. Cultivate a supportive coaching culture that encourages educators and leaders to achieve a shared vision and individual goals.
D. Recognize educators across the organization who use technology effectively to enable high-impact teaching and learning.

As we continue down the Change Agent indicators, we see a movement to focus on educators and increasing positive and lasting relationships that promote shared vision and goal setting. I chose to combine indicator c & d due to the manner that d helps to achieve c. Through the recognition of educators who are effectively implementing technology to encourage high-impact teaching and learning, we are reinforcing the supportive coaching culture mentioned in indicator c. There are multiple experiences that helped me to understand the connection between these indicators, but here are two that formed my basis the most.

1. This brings me back to the importance of creating trusting relationships between teachers and coaches. In our 2nd year in the DEL program, we took a course that was designed specifically around peer coaching. We learned about the components of trusting relationships and the “Building Blocks of Trust” in a coaching relationship. Read more about my findings in my post, Encouraging Risk-Taking Through Trusting Relationships.
   
   
2. When I first began teaching, I was assigned a BEST Mentor through my school district. This Mentor worked with me once or twice a month, watching me teach, and then sitting with me while giving me feedback on my teaching. It was quite helpful to have an experienced teacher sitting in on my lessons and taking the time to give me meaningful feedback. As I progressed through my graduate studies, I remembered this program, and decided to participate in the BEST Mentor Academy to become a BEST Mentor. I learned an unbelievable amount in these professional development sessions about the key components of mentorship! My main takeaway from these experiences was to always look for the good. And while that may sound cheesy, it truly was an important lesson in creating trusting mentoring relationships. I believe that this was the most impactful learning experience for me to see the ways to cultivate a supportive coaching culture while also learning how to help educators in setting and keeping their goals. My favorite piece of the mentoring experience is also the opportunity that you have to recognize those educators who are meeting the goals they set, and are making a difference in their schools. If you would like more information about the BEST Mentor Academy, you can find it here.