Building a System of Supports for Instructional Coaching: Insights from the New Teacher Center

Instructional coaching has gained increased attention as a growing body of evidence supports its effectiveness. In contrast to traditional professional development workshops, coaching provides individualized support for teachers and learning teams that is adapted to their needs and grounded in their classroom contexts. Despite the promise of coaching, implementing a districtwide coaching program can be challenging. Without clear expectations and support from district leaders, coaches might not devote sufficient time to the full range of coaching activities needed to improve teachers’ instruction. This brief offers insights from the New Teacher Center on how districts can better implement instructional coaching by tracking coaching activities, providing clear guidance to coaches, and engaging district leaders as they implement a coaching program.