Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging

Abstract

In recent years, many international schools have been considering whether or not to invest in instructional coaching programs. However, discussions on both sides usually proceed from the assumption that coaching programs are mainly intended to lead to improved student learning. This chapter explains that properly implemented instructional coaching does much more than that; it creates a culture of growth and belonging which can lead to greater teacher satisfaction and retention. By demonstrating a school's commitment to personalizing teacher professional development, coaching empowers teachers to flourish and creates a humanizing community of learning. Incorporating material from over 30 interviews with coaches, teachers, and leaders who have appeared on the podcast #coachbetter, this chapter explores what instructional coaching is and isn't, what the coaching process looks like in practice, why coaching is important to schools focused on teacher retention and professional growth, and what helps coaching programs succeed, particularly in international schools.