But, after completely my first year as an instructional coach, I can truly say it is the best job I ever had.
I have taken the first steps, and I am very excited about what lies ahead on my journey.
Things I enjoyed this first year:
1) Building better relationships with staff. In years pass I never really had the need to leave the math hallway. This year, I was always out and about the building popping into many different classrooms and getting to know a lot more of the staff.
2) Still teaching and working with students and staff. Opposite of what many people thought when the position was created, but I actually spent a lot of time in classrooms co-teaching with several different teachers, leading lessons, filling in and covering classes, and of course teaching/leading professional development for staff. I also worked weekly with students struggling in math, something that wouldn't have been possible without my position.
3) Learning! I learned so much from observing my colleagues. My fellow coaches would agree, that if we did go back to regular classroom teachers we would be so much better from all that we learned through watching some of the amazing teachers that we have.
Things I didn't expect:
1) Books, so many books! I would have never expected to get so many resources. The running joke was that they should have given us an office key and bookshelf when we accepted the instructional coaching position.
2) Lots of meetings. I have probably attend more meetings this year then all my teaching career combined. But many of those meetings were very important and helpful to my role as instructional coach. For example, we would meet once a week with the coaching team and administration. Those meetings were key in helping support our teachers.
3) "I'm FINE" The phase most often heard by coaches in efforts to support our teachers. I was surprise by the resistance of staff to want to work with a coach and how many teachers felt like the instructional coaches were there to evaluate them. BUT...
It's a long road, and the journey has just begun. The first steps have been taken and we are looking ahead, and the future is filled with promise. I am excited about the journey that lies before me!
