Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ashley Favors-Daniels
Abstract
In the world of education, there is a problem with educational professionals applying new
practices learned through training or professional development. Educators are finding it challenging
to adopt evidence-based practices after they receive training on these practices. This problem called
transfer of training is significant to examine for educators in urban settings. In these urban settings,
teachers proclaim that they feel unprepared to teach in diverse classrooms, and students are
performing under grade-level academic expectations. In efforts to resolve this problem, schools
across the country have adopted instructional coaching. Instructional coaching is a type of ongoing
instructional practices. Instructional coaching may help teachers overcome the issue of transfer of
training.
The definition, components, and importance placed upon instructional coaching are different
depending on the context of the school. This study examines the implementation of instructional
coaching to enhance teachers’ competence through a partnership involving training and coaching
that leads to the useful application of evidence-based instructional practices. This study question
A qualitative study will be used as the research design of this proposal. The study goal is to
examine interview data from teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators to gain a better
understanding of the impact of an instructional coach on teacher instructional success and student
achievement as well as the factors of effective coaching. The information gathered from this study
will help inform urban schools about effective coaching and help re-design the role of instructional
Introduction
The United States student population is becoming increasingly more diverse, and the
students who attend public school struggle academically (Teemant, 2014). A teacher may be
unqualified to meet the needs of these struggling students. Researchers have shown that schools
located in urban areas have challenges of attracting and retaining the essential number of effective
teachers needed (Jacob, 2007). In urban areas, many teachers discover that the training during their
collegiate experiences is not a complete reflection of the experience in a complex and dynamic
classroom. As a result, teachers understand that they need additional training to meet the demands
of these complex classrooms and the needs of their unique students. This understanding causes
teachers to be open to and seek ongoing professional development. Research has identified ongoing
then expected to improve student academic outcomes (Teemant, 2011). Teacher professional
development has become a common thing for schools, and school districts are willing to spending
created to improve educators’ understanding of the subject in which they teach as well as the
methods used to educate students on that subject. Ultimately, if there is an increase in teacher
There are different models for ongoing professional development, but instructional coaching
creates more positive gains in teacher instructional skills than the traditional forms of professional
development according to research (Teemant, Leland, & Berghoff, 2014). Instructional coaching
has been accepted across the nation as a form of professional development for teachers. However,
there is a need for more exploration of the reality of how coaching is being implemented as well as
identifying critical components of effective coaching. The National Center for Systemic
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Improvement (2019) suggests that how a program, practice, or innovation is put into place impacts
the degree to which we can expect that innovation to achieve its intended goals. In the same notion,
affects the level of teacher and student success. Due to the unique needs of each school district,
instructional coaching is rarely the same from one school district to the next (Hartman, 2013). It is
common knowledge that the quality of professional development changes among different schools.
National studies identify effective professional learning as a critical component of school success
(Green & Allen, 2009). However, there exists a failure to guarantee educators are provided effective
professional education. Low-quality professional development prevents teachers from obtaining the
other skills they need to be a successful teacher. The purpose of this study is to determine how
instructional coaching is implemented at a local school and provide strategies that can help make
Coaching
There are various definitions of coaching in education. One researcher expresses coaching
as “different things to different people” and “simply knowing” (Denton & Hasbrouck, 2009, p.
155). Another researcher stated that “in education, most describe the role of coaching as inherently
multifaceted and ambiguous” (Gallucci et al., 2010, p. 920). Schools are implementing coaching all
over the country, but there is a lack of explanation of how those coaches are spending their time.
However, there is some general correspondence among the various definitions of coaching, like
In addition to the different definition, coaching differs from the type of training given to
educators. Typical, the most common form of training is given through a workshop model where
participants receive some one-on-one time and small group instruction outside of the classroom
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environment. After the training, educators are expected to apply and implement the elements
learned during their preparation, and most of the time educators are expected to master this
a one-to-one conversation that focuses on the enhancement of learning and development through
promotes the self-directed learning of the teachers through questioning, active listening, and
appropriate challenge in a supportive and encouraging climate. (Knight & van Nieuwerburgh, 2012,
p.12).
The definitions, mentioned above, reflect only one aspect of coaching, which is specialist
coaching. When evaluating research on coaching in education, it is essential to have the ability to
distinguish the type of coaching program that has been put into place. as any of the following
examples may be referred to as “coaching.” The three types of coaching are (1) mentoring, where
experienced colleagues support other colleagues in their field through career transitions; (2)
specialist coaching is designated coaches, like instructional coaching or literacy coaching, that focus
where peer educators participate in a reciprocal process (Knight & van Nieuwerburgh, 2012). The
following section will focus only on specialists or instructional coaching in the schools.
Instructional Coaching
teachers to implement research-based, effective practices in the classroom with efforts to improve
classroom instruction through intensive and differentiated support that allows teachers to implement
effective practices. Mangin & Dunsmore (2014) states that “regardless of the particular model,
instructional coaching is understood to build the potential for improvement in instructional practices
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and change through learning opportunities that facilitate change” (Mangin & Dunsmore, 2014, p.
183). Similarly, instructional coaches are partnered with educators to help them integrate research-
based instructional strategies into their daily teaching practices. Although the above descriptions
define instructional coaching, they do not explain the duties of the coaching positions. In the work
of Killion (2009), ten roles that coaches often have to fulfill are identified. It is essential to notes
that these ten roles are not required to implement instructional coaching effectively, but these are
the types of activities coaches may be asked to complete at their local school. Besides, having a
small range of roles for instructional coaches allows them to focus their work more intensely on
tasks that have a high potential of impacting educators' practice that will lead to a positive impact
on student learning.
Identifying these ten roles will help encourage coaches to be more purposeful when
choosing responsibilities. Coaches need to select duties that will be most impactful in their school
environment. Killion (2009) states, “when coaches’ work is so expansive, the potential exists that
coaches will take on too many roles, which can dilute the impact of their work” (p. 9). The ten roles
consist of data coach, resource provider, mentor, curriculum specialist, instructional specialist,
classroom supporter, learning facilitator, school leader, a catalyst for change, and learner. Given the
range of roles that coaches have been required to fulfill, coaching activities can change widely
between coaches, between schools, and within an individual coaches’ practice. The responsibilities
of a coach may not get adjusted throughout this study, but they need to adapt to the developmental
needs of the educators they are supporting. According to Toll (2009), many of the roles listed above
are already filled by other colleagues in the school, and because of this, a “fresh alternative”
approach to instructional coaching is necessary. The alternative method suggests that coaches focus
on collaborating with teachers, like co-teachers, by first listen and learn from teachers, then helping
them set goals, and helping them plan for action (p. 59). Instructional coaches must see their
relationships with teachers as a partnership, which allows them to sincerely provide job-embedded
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coaching starts with teachers’ needs, interests, and questions, then through teacher reflection,
supports teachers in gathering information and making informed instructional decisions” (Toll,
2009, p. 59).
The conditions discussed in this section have been suggested as being essential elements of
job-embedded professional development, and an effective way to influence teacher and student
outcomes. However, is it noted that many of the suggested components are considered necessary
based on the observation and treatment of actual patients instead of theoretical or laboratory studies.
One element of effective coaching is adequate time. When implementing any form of intervention,
like coaching, providing sufficient time as well as making sure to maintain consistency throughout
the implementation is critical to the integrity of the intervention. The number of times coaches
spend with teachers is a crucial factor in changing teacher behavior (Piper & Zuikowski, 2015). As
many educators have express, there are big-time barriers that exist in public education. These time
barriers can get hinder effective coaching. In the work of Shernoff (2015), reports were given by
teachers and coaches stating that their schedules are unpredictable due to last-minute scheduling
Similarly, in the work of Knight (2009), a trainer and researcher of school-based coaches
discussed the conflict instructional coaches with being asked to complete so many non-instructional
tasks that they have little time left to work with teachers (p. 50). Without adequate time for coaches
to meet with teachers, coaches tend to coach on the fly, which means coaches try to conduct their
vital work during liminal moments with limited discussion instead of formal conferences where an
in-depth conversation on teacher practice may be had (Shernoff et al., 2015). During the coaching
process, teachers need to experience coaching activities like setting goals, witness modeling, and
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receiving formal feedback. According to Rodgers (2014), there are four factors for evaluating the
quantity of coaching that occurs. The first factor is “repetition,” which is the number of coaching
cycles in which the teacher and coach work together. The second factor is “intensity,” which is the
amount of energy or focus a coach puts into coaching. The third factor is “duration,” which refers to
the amount of time and effort spent on any one coaching event. The last factor is “engagement,”
which refers to the level of willingness a teacher put into the coaching process. Teachers are not
Another element of effective coaching is evidence-based practices. Knight (2009) states that
“coaches need to have a repertoire of tools to help them assist teachers in addressing their most
pressing concerns” (p. 51). Instructional coaches must have scientifically proven practices, such as
evidence-based practices, to share with teachers to have an impact on the way teachers teach.
programs intended to impact outcomes in specific areas (Shlonsky & Gibbs, 2004). Evidence-based
practice is vital for the focused content of effective instructional coaching. Also, evidence-based
practices can be described as “practices and programs shown by high-quality research to have
meaningful effects” (Cook & Odom, 2013, p. 136). The relationship between evidence-based
practices and coaching has a two-way connection meaning both components can be used to improve
and enhance the other. When instructional coaches use evidence-based practices as a focus, it gives
supplemental benefits that create a model and common language. Coaches should have a variety of
evidence-based practices they can expose to other teachers. Instructional coaches with the necessary
Sadly, coaching methods are hardly looked at critically by research. Usually, coaching
condition using different coaching procedures (McDowall, 2012). Nevertheless, a study conducted
by Knight and Cornett (2008) identifies seven practices that are the most approaching standard of
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being evidence-based for instructional coaching. The seven practices are teacher enrollment,
collaborative planning, modeling the lessons, observing the teaching, teacher-directed post-
development and as a means of acquiring knowledge and skills for improving job performance
(Lynch & Ferguson, 2010). Coaching, as a form of professional development and training, offers
learning that is fundamentally social and collaborative in addition to participants taking an active
role in their knowledge (Lynch & Ferguson, 2010. Besides, job-embedded learning experiences
give an alternative to formal education for teachers to gain the required expertise they need to
develop sound teaching practices. Mintzberg defined and promoted coaching as a catalyst for
Initially, coaching was required only for those that were considered deficient in specific areas.
Eventually, coaching became a training model used to improve the overall organization; however,
in many instances, it is still used primarily to improve perceived deficiencies (Hagen, 2012). Since
coaching is a developmental practice, it became increasingly popular in the business world creating
definitions of the term in numerous publications. These definitions have common concepts of
individualized guidance and encouragement using some intervention processes for performance
skills (Hagen, 2012; Lynch & Ferguson, 2010). Coaching is often overlooked as a viable means of
personal development, even with its popularity as a means of improving the organizations.
Merriam et al. (2007) conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on adult learning but did
not discuss their methods of selecting and identifying empirical studies. However, a considerable
amount of empirical research was included in the extensive review. Educators were the intended
audience for Learning in Adulthood and it was organized as a resource for practitioners as well as a
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textbook for college education courses (Merriam et al., 2007). In the body of work, there are
numerous studies cited by the authors that showed the primary motivation for adult learners, which
is job training (Merriam et al., 2007, p. 62). In addition to the author citations, the authors
highlighted empirical research that indicated adult education must take into account adults’ need for
teaching strategies for adult learners, (Merriam et al.,2007, p. 85). However, the authors cited
inconclusive results in studies that set out to determine whether achievement and satisfaction are
impacted by the adult learner’s role in the planning of his or her learning (Merriam et al., 2007, p.
90).
Schools experiencing reform have enrolments that may be difficult for various reasons.
Numerous high-profile charity organizations have focused their efforts on improving student
performance and improving public education, although their efforts being controversial and have
not efficiently enough accomplished their reform goals consistently (see VanSlyke-Briggs, Bloom,
& Boudet, 2015;). Also, educational policies have hurt classroom practices, which fails to make a
difference in the classroom. In the work of Cobure & Woulfin (2012), they examined educational
policy reform and found that policy reform to be skeptical about the level of intent of the policy to
reach the classroom” (Coburn & Woulfin, 2012, p. 5). Regularly, schools are subjected to reform
policies, which leads attitudes that lead to reduced staff buy-in. This reduction in but-in affects the
teachers' willingness to support reform policies placed in their school (Knotek, 2005). Pyle, Wade,
Wooley, & Hutchinson (2011) identified the following best-practice to help conquer these barriers
to systemic change. There has to be strong leadership, including teachers in decision making, and
improve the quality of experiences in the preschool classroom. High-quality programs are
associated with higher child outcomes (Mashburn & Pianta, 2007). Coaching provides professional
development and training on topics related to improved quality, such as the learning environment,
teaching strategies, effective practices, curriculum planning, child screening and assessment, and
behavior management. Also, the partnership developed between teacher and coach refines the
coaching should enhance a teacher’s self-reflection skills so that she or he can determine what does
and does not work with students to facilitate better learning (Skiffington et al., 2011).
In the work of Peterson et al., 2009, this idea was implemented by a qualitative study,
including 24 schools in the Minnesota Reading First Professional Development Program. The
interactions among teachers and coaches was examined to identify what components of their
conversations and were viewed as most effective (Peterson et al., 2009). The researchers
discovered from observing coaching conversations among teachers and coaches that in addition to
using research to increase understanding of effective practices and student outcome analysis,
teachers made changes to their instruction when they participated in thoughtful feedback using
detailed data from video and observation notes (Peterson et al., 2009). This factor gives a reflection
teachers expressed the benefits of other styles of support. Providing instrumental and emotional
support normalized the struggles teachers faced in changing their instructional practices as well as
improving teacher confidence. For example, technical support was deemed as necessary but
insufficient given the school context and classroom challenges” (Shernoff et al., 2015, p. 17).
Piper and Zuilkowski (2015) showed cause for coaching for changes in student outcomes by
theorizing that “high-quality teacher professional development gives changes in pedagogy, which
result in improvements in student outcomes” (p. 174). Although, they hypothesize that teacher
beliefs and attitudes would not change until after teachers were able to see these changes to student
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outcomes. The instructional coach, therefore, provides the essential support teachers would need to
adopt new teaching practices before teacher buy-in for the instructional change(Piper & Zuilkowski,
2015). This teacher buy-in would develop after teachers' efforts were rewarded with success among
the students.
The body of literature shows that teacher professional development has become a common
thing for schools, and school districts are willing to adopt new forms of professional development.
The research points out that professional development is created to improve educators’
understanding of the subject in which they teach as well as the methods used to educate students on
that subject. Ultimately, if there is an increase in teacher competence, there will be an increase in
student achievement levels. There are different models for ongoing professional development, but
instructional coaching creates more positive gains in teacher instructional skills than the traditional
forms of professional development according to the research. Instructional coaching has been
accepted across the nation as a form of professional development for teachers. The study has
competence, which is then expected to improve student academic outcomes. However, there is a
inconsistent and inconclusive relative to methodology and conclusions. Also, there is a lack of
teachers on instructional coaching. However, the findings of the studies indicate positive attitudes
extensive variation in the types of coaching models being implemented nationally, the support of
teachers to put in place effective practices to improve teaching strategies is a common motivation.
There is also a scarcity of empirical evidence regarding the perspectives of teachers on instructional
coaching.
The participants in this study will be convenience selected from a group of staff members a
part of the math and English department based on convenience. “Convenience sampling is a type of
nonprobability or nonrandom sampling where members of the target population that meet certain
practical criteria, such as easy accessibility, geographical proximity, availability at a given time, or
the willingness to participate are included for the purpose of the study.” (Etikan, Musa, Alkassim,
2016, p. 2). Four classroom teachers (two math and two English), two instructional coaches (one
math and one English), and two administrators will participate in this study. Teachers, coaches, and
administrators play significant roles and include essential stakeholders in the coaching process.
Therefore, including each of these roles will allow for a complete picture of the coaching process.
The four teachers participating in this study have been teaching their current content-subject for at
least three years at this current school. They have been a part of a professional learning community
and received professional development from the instructional coaches in this study. The
instructional coaches and administrators in this study have been in the current roles at this school
The purpose of this project is to identify the structures and strategies that make instructional
coaching useful. This research examined instructional coaching that is occurring at a local high
school in Marietta, Ga, from January 2020 to March 2020. Instructional coaching is one of the
action steps in the school’s Title I plan. The instructional coaches were put in place to help facilitate
collaboration communities and provide professional learning to increase the mastery scores on the
state End of Course test. Collection and analysis of open-ended interview data were used to evaluate
the implementation of instructional coaching and to identify specific components that support and
constrain the coaching process. The majority of the studies, unlike this study, limited their
collection of data to only one particular group of educational professionals like teachers,
contrasts with other studies by collecting data from three different groups of educators. This
What are the perspectives and experiences of teachers, coaches, and administrators with
instructional coaching?
How do teachers, coaches, and administrators describe the impact of instructional coaching
on their work?
effective or ineffective?
This study is delimited to those factors that were relevant to the study, such as the number of high
school teachers who have participated in instructional coaching through the Cobb County School
district and who will volunteer to participate in the study. Also, the study is limited to instructional
coaching and not mentoring or executive coaching. Since the research involves interviews, time will
be considered a limitation because interviews take a reasonable amount of time that might not be
readily available to the interviewer or interviewee. Besides, time constraints are limited because of
the unpredictable school calendar and scheduling conflicts. Administrators, instructional coaches,
and teachers had limited days to work together. The study can become more ethical by increasing
the population from a local school to two or three other schools in the same district that are different
(socially, demographically, and other cultural legacies) or the same as the current school of this
study. Using a large and diverse population can allow for a greater insight into instructional
coaching from different perspectives over the district, the need for instructional coaches, and how
To begin the action research process, the research team contacted, through email, the
principal of the participating school. This email informs him of the proposed research work that
could be completed at his school. Also, the email asked the principal for verbal permission to begin
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scheduling team meetings and interviews with teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators.
The principal responded to the email and gave his approval to conduct research.
During the first team meeting, the team met to establish norms of trust, communication, and
introduction to the project. Each teacher completed an Instructional Coaching Survey (see
Appendix A). The survey focused on each member rating their current knowledge of instructional
coaching, their understanding of the meaning of coaching or instructional coaching, their awareness
of the coaching process at their school, and believes on the impact of instructional coaching. This
information can help determine which methods to use in the professional learning plan. Also, the
survey helped determine if teachers are interested in collaborative lesson planning with their PLC
(professional learning community) members. This strategy can help teachers move away from the
traditional style of teaching. The survey revealed that most of the teachers need to learn more about
coaching and instructional coaching. Based on the results of the survey, 100% of the teachers
disagree that they have a strong knowledge of coaching, and 25% of the teachers disagree that they
have a strong knowledge of instructional coaching. However, 100% of the teachers agree or
strongly agree that they have a relationship with their instructional coach.
Over the next four to six weeks, the team focused on multiple aspects of the project. First,
the team participated in professional learning on action research and the elements of the literature
literature and other sources that explain the purpose and process of instructional coaching. To attack
this need, the faciliatory utilized the “Say Something!” protocol. This protocol is used when
participants are asked to read and make meaning from a text during a professional learning
community meeting. Also, this protocol supports individual learning by promoting short dialogue
points throughout the reading, as well as at the end through whole group dialogue.
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Secondly, the team collaborated on the creation interview questions and the interview
protocol (Appendix B, C, & D). Semi-structured questions were used based on the research
questions. These questions can provide the interviewer and the interviewee with some format as
well as a guide to facilitate the responses, but there will be room for the participant to elaborate. The
interviewer can simplify answers, and the interviewee can clarify questions, which is not possible
with a questionnaire. Semi-structured questions are more time-consuming in carrying out the
interview as well as analyzing the data collected from the conversation. These interviews were
conducted on a one-to-one basis instead of a small group. Also, the participants discussed others
within their interview which can cause an uncomfortable feeling when having this discussion in
front of other colleagues. One-to-one, face-to-face interviews were used instead of interviews
conducted over the phone. Unlike telephone interviews, non-verbal communication can be
observed, and a special relationship can be developed. Even though this method will be time-
consuming, useful information should be gained as lots of information can be gained non-verbally.
Thirdly, the team discussed the scheduling of interviews and interview instruments.
Interview schedule agreements were made through email correspondence. The agreement includes
scheduling interviews with the teachers, coaches, and administrators during the provided
professional development and planned time that happens directly following each school day. If the
time frame was not suitable for the interviewer or interviewee, arrangements were made to select
another time frame that is convenient for all parties involved (possibly during the workday).
Interviews were recorded on a protected digital device (smartphone, tablet, and other devices). At
the closing of each workday, the meetings' audio files were uploaded to a password-protected
laptop. The audio files were removed from the digital recording device immediately after the upload
is complete. Once the audio files are transcribed, they were deleted.
Lastly, analysis of the interview data was completed using a constant comparison approach,
which is rooted in grounded theory. According to Leech & Onwuegbuzie (2011), this approach is
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particularly suitable for addressing process-oriented questions, such as the questions in this study
about the process of instructional coaching, and to answer common questions about the data. The
constant comparison method creates theory by coding the content of (e.g., interviews) numerous
times. The previous coding in the sample will inform later coding. Each round of coding combines
the information into more meaningful units that allow themes to be detected. The coding of
transcripts occurred through a process that has three phases. The first phase involves line-by-line
coding by reading the transcriptions, and each sentence is described in a few keywords for its main
idea or thought. In the second phase, axial coding took place which involves comparing the line-by-
line coding of each interview to the coding of the other transcripts. During this process, the team
members combined descriptions and ideas into themes. The third phase involves evaluating themes
to determine whether they would be included in the final analysis. Topics were selected for the final
analysis if they are endorsed by at least 20% of the sample. Themes that are supported by fewer
than 20% of the respondents would not be included in the final analysis unless they represented a
point of view that added further clarity to the themes already present. Once coding is completed,
After completing the coding analysis, twenty-two themes were identified from the eight
participants’ interviews. These themes are organized in order from the highest frequently validated
topics to the least validated themes as well as labeled correspondingly. The name of each theme, the
frequency count, percentage of total respondents, and who endorse each theme, is included in Table
1. Based on the analysis of interview data, identified themes have been selected to addresses each of
Table 1.
Research Question 1: What are the perspectives and experiences of teachers, coaches, and
Participants reported similar perspectives and experiences as well as the difference in their
experience, given their level of responsibilities. All participants expressed that the relationships
among the administrators, coaches, and teachers are positive (Theme 5) and they all have positive
perceptions of each other (Theme 4). For example, when describing the relationships with her
instructional coach, Administrator #1 explained, “My relationship with my instructional coach is the
opposite of top-down. I respect her knowledge and skillset with teachers (Theme 14). We have a
two-way relationship where we work as a team”. Similarly, Instructional Coach #2 states, “My
administrator and I have a collaborative relationship that allows us to be on the same page before
start implementations with teachers”. All participating teachers expressed that they have positive
and supportive relationships with administrators and instructional coaches (Theme 5 and 18).
Teacher # 4 stated, “I would say our relationship (with administrator) is a good supportive
relationship. She supports me with good feedback and morale booster”. Similarly, Teacher #3
explained, “I’m the type of person that has a hard time trusting people, but I trust my coach. We
have a trust relationship because I know she has my best interest in mind”. In addition to the
positive perceptive and relationships, all participants stated that the instructional coaching process
implemented new teaching practices (Theme 8 and 10). Teacher #1 stated, “My coach helped me
realize that I was spending too much time at the board. To help with this issue, my coach introduced
me to daily drills and tasks that are student-driven”. Similarly, Teacher #2 explained, “I was having
issues with helping students monitoring their learning during class and my instructional coach
showed me how to use learning targets in my daily lesson that help students monitor their
progress.” All participating teachers testified that students’ engagement increased (Theme 15) after
adopting new teaching practices, which, in turn, help improve student results (Theme 9). For
example, Teacher #1 stated, “I experienced a higher level of engagement during the daily drill
section of my lesson because my coach helped me make the drills interactive.” Teachers have
become more confident in teaching their content area (Theme 11) as a result of coaching. This
increase in teacher confidence was reported from instructional coaches and teachers. All responding
teachers commented on a change in confidence due to students improve after implementation and
coaching support. Regarding administrators and coaches' experience, both have expressed that
instructional coaches have an overwhelming workload (Theme 19). Instructional Coach #2 stated,
“My workload is too heavy. I don’t have a set schedule. My schedule depends on how the day is
going. Normally, my schedule is full of meetings (department, PLC, Tile I,…), preparing
professional development, and meeting deadlines for Title I budgets. All of this causes me to have
Research Question 2: How do teachers, coaches, and administrators describe the impact of
The impact of instructional coaching on teachers’ work is very similar to the response for
teachers' experience of instructional coaching. All participating teachers describe the effect as
improvement in student achievement levels (Theme 9), increase in student engagement (Theme 15),
increase in student confidence (Theme 13), adopting new research-based practices (Theme 10), an
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increase in teacher confidence (Theme 11). All participating coaches describe the importance of
modeling strategies or providing teachers with materials (Theme 12), supporting teachers through
continuous monitoring (Theme 16), and building teacher leaders. Instructional Coach #1 stated,
“The biggest change in teachers that I have observed as a result of coaching is becoming a teacher
leader within the department. In my opinion, I believe creating teacher leaders should be one of the
main priorities for instructional coaches”. Overall, participants expressed only positive impacts of
instructional coaching.
There are six factors that the participants identified as effective factors of instructional
coaching. First, the administrators and teachers described both coaches as supportive,
knowledgeable, trustworthy, excellent communicators, and collaborative (Theme 4). These positive
attributes enhanced the effectiveness of their instructional coaching. Second, coaches and teachers
described the relationships as positive relationships with each other (Theme 5). Third,
administrators set expectations and provided time for coaching activities (Theme 22). Administrator
#1 explained, “The leadership team decided to implement common planning for the four main
content areas to give teachers and instructional coaches time to collaborate.” Fourth, each coaching
sessions are well organized, and expectations were clear (Theme 2). Fifth, coaches aided in progress
monitoring (Theme 16). Coaches (100%) and teachers (75%) reported that weekly monitoring was a
significant benefit for them. Teacher 1 stated, “At the end of each week, she gives individual
feedback based on her walkthrough observation, which is very encouraging and helpful for future
adjustments.” Also, coaches expressed that this progress monitoring should have been done by
teachers as well, but it allows coaches to determine where teachers are and their growth over time.
Lastly, coaches addressed classroom and behavior management (Theme 17). This behavior support
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was provided by giving feedback to teachers (50%) on classroom and behavior management
There are three factors that the participants identified as ineffective factors of instructional
coaching. First, the participants (100%) expressed that not having clear expectations or vision
among all parties (administrators, coaches, and teachers) is an ineffective factor of instructional
coaching (Theme 3). Instructional Coach #1 and #2 expressed that there needs to be a clear vision
school-wide and among departments, in addition to a routine monitoring tool that is used school-
wide. Instructional Coach #2 explained, “These tools will help improve expectations and gives
teachers a measurement tool.” Teacher #4 stated, “There needs to be a consistent expectation from
and supported.” Second, there is an issue with scheduling coaching sessions and a lack of adequate
time for coaching activities (Theme 1). All participants expressed that sufficient time is the main
barrier to successful coaching. Third, teacher beliefs, attitudes, and mindset toward coaching
hindered successful coaching (Theme 6 and 7). Instructional Coach #1 stated, “Some teachers are
resistant to change their teaching process. I have experienced teachers being resistant to feedback
and believed that new techniques (like coaching) were short term changes that did not deserve their
investment.” Teacher #4 expressed, “Leadership has to increase teacher buy-in. Some teachers
haven’t bought into the coaching process”. Lack of buy-in has caused teachers to have minimum
involvement (outside of what is required) in the coaching process and shows poor follow-through.
within the context of an urban high school. Ultimately, the results of this analysis demonstrate that
these urban teachers, coaches, and administrators found that implementing instructional coaching
was beneficial for the participants as well as their students. Additionally, participants indicated that
the instructional coaching components used at this school held up in their practice and in their
The identified themes from participants' interviews supported two of the three main
categories of components of instructional coaching. Six of eight participants identified roles that
coaches usually fulfill in their school (Killion, 2009) were validated in the identified themes from
participants interviews: data coach (Theme 16), resource provider (Theme 12), curriculum specialist
(Theme 14), instructional specialist (Theme 14), and classroom supporter (Theme 17). Participants
did not validate the roles of school leader and catalyst for change but it is consistent with Killion’s
(2009) description of these roles that they are not all being completed by a coach at the same time;
these are not necessarily the roles that coaches should be fulfilling but are the tasks that coach most
frequently find that they are required to fulfill in the schools in which they work.
Most of the factors that are hypothesized to facilitating instructional coaches carrying out
their roles in schools were considered in the themes identified in the participants' interviews. The
amount of time coaches spends with teachers is a critical factor in changing teacher behavior (Piper
& Zuikowski, 2015), but time is often lacking in public school settings (Shernoff et al., 2015). All
participants endorsed these conclusions concerning time and identified that the lack of this factor
was a significant barrier to instructional coaching (Theme 1). Participants (coaches) highlighted that
time during team meetings is scheduled for the teachers to develop intervention and for coaches to
model possible techniques for interventions, but also the other components of the coaching process.
Themes describing positive relationships between teachers and coaches were highly supported by
participants (Theme 4 and 5); Both topics were supported by 100% of participants. This finding
shows that coaches worked to develop relationships and that these relationships were positive. The
positive relationships between coach and teacher may best be described as an essential component
for allowing the work of coaching to proceed (Knight, 2009a). Teachers described participating
coaches as supportive and provided some examples of how coaches were supportive (Theme 18).
Shernoff et al. (2015) suggest coaches become more effective as they provide additional types of
support beyond technical support to participating teachers. These examples of supportive coaching
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activities offered by teachers showed how coaches become more active as they provide other types
of support. This finding suggests coaches should utilize a range of support styles to match the needs
of teachers.
With carrying out his project, I have learned that time remains the biggest obstacle to
shifting teaching practice. Teachers continue to deal with the pressures of daily classroom demands
with job-embedded supports in place, which impacts both the coaches and the teachers being
coached. Thus, it is essential to continuously seek ways to support teachers by allowing more time
for teachers to collaborate and reflect. Administrators and school leaders need to understand the
demands of coaching and create solutions that will adjust the required responsibilities to provide
This action research project helped me to continue emerging as a teacher leader and increase
had to analyze my own beliefs and experiences as it connects to racism. This process helped me to
improve my practice and encourage positive learning environments for all teachers and students. In
the action research process, there has been a big push for collaboration with colleagues. In efforts to
help my colleagues realize the connection between research and professional growth, I had to lead
by example. Also, I had to create a safe space for my colleagues to feel comfortable discussing their
authentic feels without judgment. More importantly, my colleagues were suitable to be open about
their beliefs, which increased their willingness to be open to self-reflection that can lead to
discussions about how teacher beliefs affect the learning of students as well as the learning of
teachers. The action research process helped me look closely at the experiences of each participant
and helped me better understand how teachers experience change. This project increases my desire
to become an instructional coach with the hope of improving the coaching process to enhance the
Conclusion
The results from this analysis provide support for a model of instructional coaching based on
existing literature and identifying specific themes about instructional coaching. Participants in this
study offered positive reports about their experience with instructional coaching. These participants
also had positive perceptions of instructional coaching. Although it cannot be said definitively,
based on qualitative interview data, that instructional coaching led to improved student outcomes,
participants reported that students performed higher as a result of coaching in addition to enhanced
Participants reported similar improvements in teachers like enhanced teaching skills and
more confidence in their teaching ability. Factors such as the positive relationship between coach
and teacher, setting clear expectations during coaching sessions, and the coaches providing support
to teachers increased the recognized effectiveness of instructional coaching. Factors such as a lack
of adequate time and teacher resistance through attitudes, beliefs, or mindset about instructional
wanted instructional coaching to continue at their school and participating teachers are opened to
This analysis provides support for many of the presupposed factors of effective instructional
coaching. Also, the study showed additional factors that should be included in the process of
coaching such as coaching increases teacher confidence, providing other types of support, teacher
characteristics and behavior could influence the efficacy of instructional coaching. This study is
critical, given the context of urban schools. Urban schools are more likely to have low student
academic achievement as well as a small number of effective teachers. Instructional coaching may
studies should use empirical approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of specific coaching practices
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compared to other coaching practices. Future research must continue to identify factors that
contribute to successful coaching, tasks, and roles that coaches undertake that should be fulfilled by
other educators instead and evidence-based coaching practices. Such findings will allow models of
instructional coaching to become more specific, prescriptive, and predictive of student outcomes.
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APPENDIX A
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iOYLD_QevczJqAC7IQbBPE2N842O-SGyuogypdF4snw/edit
Effective Coaching Page
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1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
APPENDIX B
Hello, my name is Ashley Favors-Daniels, and I am conducting a formative evaluation of the imple-
mentation and impact of instructional coaching. One component of this evaluation is interviewing
teachers, coaches, and administrators to gain a deeper understanding of instructional coaching. Your
perspective is critical as we try to provide information to reflect on this topic to learn, grow, and im-
prove continually.
3. Describe the coaching model or program that is being implemented at your school?
9. What kind of support do teachers need from their administration team in order to get the
most out of coaching?
11. What changes you think should be made in order to make the process of instructional coach-
ing more effective?
12. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?
Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me and for participating in this project.
Effective Coaching Page
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APPENDIX C
Hello, my name is Ashley Favors-Daniels, and I am conducting a formative evaluation of the imple-
mentation and impact of instructional coaching. One component of this evaluation is interviewing
teachers, coaches, and administrators to gain a deeper understanding of instructional coaching. Your
perspective is critical as we try to provide information to reflect on this topic to learn, grow, and im-
prove continually.
3. Describe the coaching model or program that is being implemented at your school?
Is there an open-door policy for coaching?
What percentage of your department takes advantage of the open-door policy?
5. What kind of support do teachers need from their administration team to get the most out of
coaching?
12. What changes you think should be made to make the process of instructional coaching more
effective?
14. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?
Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me and for participating in this project.
APPENDIX D
Hello, my name is Ashley Favors-Daniels, and I am conducting a formative evaluation of the imple-
mentation and impact of instructional coaching. One component of this evaluation is interviewing
teachers, coaches, and administrators to gain a deeper understanding of instructional coaching. Your
perspective is critical as we try to provide information to reflect on this topic to learn, grow, and im-
prove continually.
3. Describe the coaching model or program that is being implemented at your school?
7. How would you describe your perspective of your teachers when you first met them versus
now?
9. What changes, if any, did you make in your teaching practices as a result of the coaching
you received?
Concerning their English or Math instruction?
Concerning their behavior and classroom management skills?
What have you learned about teaching practices from your experience with coaching?
14. What changes you think should be made in order to make the process of instructional coach-
ing more effective?
16. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?
Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me and for participating in this project.
APPENDIX E
Dear Mr. M
As you may know, I am finishing up my specialist program at Kennesaw State University. As a par-
tial requirement for my specialist degree, I would like to conduct research to study the implementa-
tion and impact of instructional coaching. The purpose of this letter is to request your permission to
speak with participants (administrators, coaches, and teachers) to schedule a date, time, and place
for an interview at their convenience. At no time will the interview sessions interfere with your
school’s instructional program. With the participants’ permission, I will tape the interview using
multiple audio recorders. I will transcribe the data, and with the following transcription, I will pro-
vide participants a copy to review. I will make transcripts of the recordings, code the transcripts
with pseudonyms, and then destroy the recordings. Also, pseudonyms will be used to protect partic-
ipants’ identity and the identity of the school. Participants' names and the school name will be kept
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strictly confidential, and I will not release information to anyone in a manner that could identify the
participants or the school.
All data collected will be encrypted and stored on the Kennesaw State University secure server.
Only my capstone teacher and I will have access to the data. Staff participation in the study is vol-
untary, and they may decline to answer questions with which they are uncomfortable. Thus, they
may choose to skip questions they do not wish to answer or withdraw their participation without
penalty or loss. Once the study is complete, I will be happy to provide you with a summary of the
results if you so desire. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you may telephone me at 404
547-6738 or send an email to afavors4@student.kennesaw.edu or ashley.favors@cobbk12.org
Sincerely,
Ashley Favors-Daniels
Specialist Candidate
If there are any questions or concerns, I can be contacted at my office at (___) _____- ________
or by e-mail at ___________________________________.
_______________ _______________________________________
Date Printed Name of Principal
_______________ _______________________________________
Date Signed Name of Principal
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APPENDIX F
Dear Participant:
I would like you to participate in a semi-structured open-ended interview to learn your views on and
experience with instructional coaching. Your participation in this study will take approximately 30
to 45 minutes of your time. With your permission, I will tape the interview using multiple audio
recorders, and you may decline to answer questions with which you are uncomfortable. I will make
transcripts of the recordings and then code the transcripts with pseudonyms. Following transcrip-
tion, I will provide you with a copy to review. After reviewing the transcript, you may withdraw
your response to any question, or make changes or clarifications as you see fit before you return the
transcript to me. I will accept your changes or clarifications to the document.
Pseudonyms will be used to protect your identity and that of your school. Your response will be
kept strictly confidential, and only my capstone teacher and I will have access to the data. Data col-
lected will be encrypted and stored on the Kennesaw State University’s secure server. Audio
recordings will be destroyed immediately after the completion of my capstone presentation.
Monetary or other compensations or inducements will not be given for taking part in this study.
This study does not present any financial costs to you, the participant. One possible benefit from
taking part in this study is an intrinsic value of knowing that you are contributing to educational en-
deavors that support student learning. Furthermore, this study will aim to gain an understanding of
those factors influencing instructional coaching.
Additionally, there are no foreseeable risks for taking part in this study. Your participation is volun-
tary, and you may choose to skip any question you do not wish to answer or withdraw your partici-
pation without penalty or loss. Once the study is complete, I will be happy to provide you with a
summary of the results if you so desire.
Sincerely,
Ashley Favors-Daniels
Bagwell College of Education
Kennesaw State University
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