Frank Costanzo shares insights into the value of educational coaching.

1. Understanding
Educational
Coaching
A presentation by Frank Costanzo

2. We have heard all about the multitude of coaching programs out there
designed for business leaders. Yet, there are few for coaching programs for
other industries, especially education. Coaching in education is different
from coaching in business. The main goal of all coaching programs is to
strengthen leadership skills, including identifying and resolving issues.
Coaching in education does develop leadership skills, but it’s much more
than that.
Introduction

3. Agents of Change
The actions of teachers, staff and administrators affect the lives of students from
all walks of life. They are “agents of change.” Each day brings new challenges that
require swift responses, which may result in new processes and policies. To be an
“agent of change” in a school district, a teacher (or principal) must be
knowledgeable in many areas, including strategic planning, board and community
engagement, and professional design and curriculum. So why is coaching
needed?

4. An Executive
Coach
Coaching helps a teacher discover the challenges
he or she faces as well as the skills the teacher
has not acknowledged. The ultimate goal is to
enhance performance. A coach can provide new
perspectives to a problem and help the teacher
work towards creating a solution for the problem.
An executive coach can also:
help a teacher take accountability and provide
support to launch initiatives
provide feedback on plans and initiatives
prioritize and align responsibilities
obtain an outside perspective on coworkers’
perception of the teacher.

5. Feedback
Coaching does involve a great deal of feedback
and introspect. A teacher must be resilient enough
to take constructive criticism. If the teacher does
not have a strong desire to grow professionally and
personally, the coaching techniques and guidance
will not take root. This is true for any learning
experience.

6. Funding for an Executive Coach
Despite how beneficial executive coaching is, it is deemed a
luxury expense. Businesses have the money to afford it, in
which the increase in productivity and revenue are the result.
In education, money is tight due to a set budget. Thus, staff
have a hard time convincing the school board and
stakeholders to approve the funding for it.

7. However, executive coaching should be deemed a
necessity, since its focus is to improve
performance. When executive coaching is
implemented, it produces a trickle-down effect. The
teacher who has undergone coaching improves,
which, in turn, improves the school through
increased learning and positivity.
The Value of Coaching

8. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME
PLEASE VISIT
EDUCATOREXECUTIVECOACHING.ORG.