How to Introduce Yourself as a Coach...The Engaging Way

Breann Lavergne
Jul 25, 2022
3 min read

Don't Be the Facilitator you Complained About!

As an instructional coach, we have ALL had to sit through some type of PD (Professional Development). Oh yea, PD....

On thing I always thought as a teacher was.

"If I went back and taught my class they way I am being taught right now, it would not be pretty."

I know you thought that too at some point. We are constantly told to engage students in the learning but here I am with a college degree getting a PowerPoint read to me.

Sitting in PLC's as a teacher, I would just get fed information and never got to engage with the information.

As coaches, we had to model what we expect!

I vowed if I ever got out of the classroom that Professional Development would never be meaningless or boring. It would always engage, and push people to question and reflect on their own thoughts.

So here I am going into my first year of coaching on my own and I vow to keep that promise. Beginning day 1!

Sharing Your Role

Walking into a new role is intimidating. Whether the role is new to the school or your new to the role, there is always a little bit of hesitance from staff.

If the role is completely new, that's good news for you! You get to set the stage! There will still be resistance.
If you are new to the role, Congrats!! You will be met with resistance too! You will also likely come after someone and they may have already set a different stage then the one you have in mind.

The point is, either way your role and your idea of the role must be clarified with the staff.

I truly believe in facilitating any Professional Learning the same way I facilitated my classroom. That is why handing over my roles and responsibilities as coach was not the way I wanted to start the year off.

The same way we would get a feel for our students, is the same way we should get a feel for our staff and teachers. What better way than to gauge what their perceptions of coaching are and then clearing up any misconceptions along the way.

In comes "The Coaching Roles" Game

This game is a printable or a digital slide show in Powerpoint. The point is simple, share what my role is and debunk the common misconceptions that come with our role!

Teachers are taking through roles and non roles of our job. With thumbs up or thumbs down sticks, they vote on whether it is our role or is not. Then the BIG REVEAL! Share with them if it is or is not and elaborate on it.

Here is an example of one of the slides. One very common misconception "Coaches are here to fix people". Insert cringy face.

Teachers would vote.
You'd go to the next slide and BAM! Myth debunked. Of course we are not there to "fix" people. We are there to grow and learn together for the greater good of students! (I inserted my Bitmoji for personalization and a good laugh. Do people even use those anymore? Who knows but I did.)
Here is where you would talk about why this is not true. Teachers may want to share an experience where it felt like that. The potential for conversation is endless.

What is included in the printable and digital versions?

*Both Versions are PowerPoint

Printable Version:

-Printable thumbs up/thumbs down cards

-8 examples of coaching roles cards

-8 non examples of coaching roles cards

-Editable slides to add your own

Get Printable Version Here

Digital Version:

-Printable thumbs up/thumbs down cards

-Premade role slides and explanation (have my Bitmoji)

-Editable slide templates to add your own