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Make sure you build relationships! It sometimes

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The challenge I have found to consume me is the biggest of all time - finding time to do what I need to do. Because we are a small district, we often wear multiple hats, and this was something I clearly did not anticipate. I began the year with a mission to be more present in the classrooms, but as the year progressed and duties become more prevalent, I lost my ability to be in the classrooms as much as I had desired. If I could make a suggestion to a new coach, I would definitely encourage the coach to create a plan with the administrative team that allowed for protected time to be in the classrooms each week. Having this in place before the school year began would have been a game changer for me, and this is definitely something I will be bringing to the table as we plan for the next school year.

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In terms of successes, I would say that being an instructional coach has been incredibly rewarding for me. I really love having the opportunity to help teachers reflect on their own practice and search for ways to improve what they are doing in their classrooms. However, there are definitely challenges. The biggest one for me has been that although I am a huge introvert, this career can be lonely even for me. You really have to search out a PLN and connect with it on a regular basis. You are many times the only person like you in your building... Sometimes even in your district. There are times that no one in that building has any interest in talking to you, and while you are building those relationships with your teachers, it can be lonely. So finding your PLN early is so important! Connect, connect, connect!

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Making changes in the system, within a site, and/or with a teacher takes momentous effort- much like turning the Titanic. And it is impossible to do this without developing relationships built on trust... and establishing these relationships also take a lot of time. Optimism, compassion, and relentless patience are helpful

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Challenges will exist, however, focus on positivity and small wins. Early in my role, I started a notebook of 5-10 positive things that I saw every single day. When I was to cry because resistance, negativity, or mean people, I force myself to write about the positive things that are happening. No matter how small, we do many a difference - and, if we pay attention, we make ripples. I also celebrate teachers doing break things. Not only did teachers appreciate that someone noticed, this encouraged others to step out for similar recognition. And, when days were tough, I leaned on my coaching PLN - many that I found through conferences and social media.

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In my experience, the transition from classroom teacher to instructional coach is hard. That is really the bottom line. There will be good days and bad days. One challenge I faced was having many different focus areas. In my first few years I felt stretched very thin and wasn't able to go deep with anything.  Also, in the beginning I felt like I was always fixing problems. It took some time, however, now I am working in a proactive capacity, but many things had to be "fixed" or cleaned up first.

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For me I loved technology so coming out as a technology coach my passion came through to others- they saw it, so there was more buy in that way. Another success was that I got to reach more teachers and students.
For challenges, I was the only coach in my building so there was no one to bounce ideas off of, or to back up initiatives I put in place. It was also a challenge to overcome a sense of loneliness. I didn't have a "team" like I did as a classroom teacher so I missed that aspect of teaching.

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I think one of the most challenging this is thinking that you will be able to do SO MANY THINGS your first year of coaching. My advice would be to first build relationships with all the teachers and students. In the beginning of the year, I went into every classroom and read a book for 20 minutes to give teachers a little break that first week. I always have chocolate in my office and always make rounds in the morning to see if anyone needs anything. Also, only focus on ONE thing as an instructional goal. I had my hand in way to many things and I don't think I was that successful in any of them. Next year I am having one focus, guided math, and all of our PD's will be focused on that.

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One challenge for a teacher transitioning was that when I changed positions thinking that everyone would welcome me with welcome arms and accept everything I had to say.  My position was an interventionist teacher changed into a coach.  Teachers were not happy that their kids were not being pulled and blamed me for that transition.  Getting thick skin and knowing that everyone is not always going to welcome your advice and everyday is not going to be the best just like teaching!

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A success I found was when I saw one of the teachers I was working with develop a passion for changing  the way he was teaching math, to see him start questioning what he was doing, seeking out resources on his own, asking me about how he was using those resources and becoming a leader in changing the way mathematics was being taught in his building.

A challenge is always scheduling- being in rooms and meeting with teachers- making sure my time is being utilized in the most productive manner.

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To assure you are ready for backlash.  Sometimes teachers need their time and do not want you in their space.  To understand that sometimes that is okay, is hard.  To have someone trust so much one day and then the next shut the door in your face is hard.  Another very important part of understanding this transition is knowing that just because you can teach and grow students does not mean you can do the same with adults.  It is a very separate monster.  Success is knowing the beginning is slow moving and assuring relationships and trust is built first should always be primary focus.

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Relationships and trust are super important. It is the only way to get the work done.