Many coaches shift from one grade level to
another or from one content area to another this time of year. They may start
at a new school or district and that can be a difficult change to make.
On this episode of The Coaching Podcast, my guest is Megan Williams Martin. She’s an instructional coach that recently moved from elementary school to middle school.
We talk about what the change was like for her
and some things she did to connect with the teaching team. She shares how she
built relationships and applied what she already knew to her new campus.
Megan and I discuss ideas for bridging your
knowledge from one grade level range or content area to another. We also talk
about the similarities and differences between primary and secondary school.
This episode is especially helpful if you've
shifted roles. Even if you haven't, I think you're going to walk away with
some valuable tips for the work that you're doing on
your campus.
Changing Roles as an Instructional Coach
Megan admits that she was nervous when she
decided to switch schools and grade levels. It was a big transition.
On the episode, Megan shares what she did to
make the move a little bit easier. She mentions multiple times that she arrived
at the school as a willing learner and open to suggestions. She also made it
clear that she was passionate about educating teachers and kids.
In the beginning, she listened and learned
about the team and the school. She did lots of research too. When the time was
right, she offered suggestions that showed her value. She also made herself
available to the staff as a sounding board.
Megan was honest with the team that she didn’t
know everything. She explains in the episode that it’s OK not to know everything. The important thing is that you know how to do research and know who to
ask to find the answers.
Another thing she did was find her people
quickly. In the episode, she talks about how coaching is a difficult job to do
alone and how to find support to make the job more joyful.
From Primary to Secondary School
We chat about how Megan’s work as a teacher
and reading specialist in elementary school prepared her to become a middle
school instructional coach.
She was keenly aware that going from primary to
secondary school would pose a challenge in terms of credibility and tried her
best to be prepared for it. The middle school teachers would be the experts in
the content, but she was confident that she had a toolbox of strategies to
share.
Instructional coaches often feel like they are
the experts and need to know everything. But nobody knows it all.
Megan was honest with the staff that she did
not have experience with middle school students. She explained to the teachers
that what she did have was some great practices to help support teachers and
meet the students' needs.
She was intentional about how and when she
offered new ideas. She didn’t dump out all her strategies at once, but rather let
it occur naturally.
Megan is a lifelong learner and soaks up
everything. She said it was this openness to learning and her ability to find
answers that led to success on her new campus.
To build relationships with teachers, she made
sure to show her personality and got to know the teachers. She let them know that
she was not there to change everything and that built trust.
One of the things she said helped the most was
going into classrooms and offering support from the start of the year. She
started with those teachers that were willing. In time other teachers
recognized that she wanted to help and had good ideas.
Thinking about Changing Roles as an Instructional Coach?
Her final piece of advice is to try new grades
and subjects. She never thought she would leave elementary. Now she says that
secondary school is home for her.
I agree that coaches should be willing to try
new things. If nothing else, you’ll learn a lot about what you like, what you
don't like, and the way things work in different places. At best, maybe you’ll
love it.
If you want to hear all about Megan’s
transition from elementary to middle school, be sure to check out the entire
episode. She shares practical tips that can help you get ready for any new
coaching role.
Ready to listen? You can listen below with the
media player, or search for Buzzing with MS. B: The Coaching Podcast anywhere
you listen to podcasts!
Check me out at buzzingwithmsb.com and on Instagram @buzzingwithmsb.
Podcast produced by Fernie Ceniceros of Crowd & Town Creative
