For the first time in twenty-six years, I didn't start this school year in my own classroom or with my own students. This year I have an office - an office where I meet with teachers and research educational strategies, as well as keep records of my work. I have embarked on a new journey as an Instructional Design Coach at Royse City High School and my fellow educators are my students.
This journey began in the summer with training at Google in Chicago as part of the Dynamic Learning Project, a partnership between Google, Digital Promise, and the EdTech Team. Let me tell you, this partnership has it together. We learned. We practiced. We applied our learning, and we even played a little. Making a career change is always a little scary, but the experience at Google affirmed my decision that I was up for the challenge.
I am finishing up my first quarter as a coach and here are few things I've learned:*Educators are amazing people. I have worked alongside eight professionals in four different subject areas, each one setting a personal goal to improve their practice. They have opened their classroom, their conference time, and their hearts to this rookie coach. We have learned together.
*Students are genuinely curious and want to do well. Even the toughest ones want to hear they've done a good job. I witnessed this in more than one classroom.
*Good teaching is good teaching. Best practices are called best practices for a reason. I realized my title, Instructional Design Coach, means just that - our instruction needs to be designed to meet the needs of our students. We can't just think about the content. To maximize learning, we have to think about the delivery of the content.
*"My teachers" didn't mind having a coach. They liked having someone to bounce their ideas around with and who would take the time to find a way to do something they might not have considered before. They enjoyed hearing the positive things they were doing in the classroom. Encouraging words go a long way.
*I'm grateful to have my own coach. I meet weekly with my mentor, Dee Lanier, from the EdTech Team. In our meetings, I'm able to ask questions, discuss challenges, and problem-solve solutions. In addition to my meetings with Dee, I also meet regularly with the district Coordinator of Instructional Design, Cody Holt, and RCHS Principal, Sean Walker. We have systems in place where the other coaches and I can work together to ensure we are doing the best job possible.
*Most importantly, I am super proud of the teachers I've worked with. They have graciously met with me each week, allowed me to come into their classrooms, and attempted some activities that may be out of their comfort zone. I've learned a lot this quarter, and ways I can improve with my next round. So thank you, Ariel, Myra, Brandon, Ashley, Travis, Nicole, Hayley, and Tessa for working with me this quarter as I grow in my professional career, and continue to follow my dreams. I can confidently say - I STILL Love What I Do.
