To work effectively with teachers, coaches must demonstrate that they believe that all students can learn...Coaches are most effective when they believe teachers have the knowledge and skills or want to learn the knowledge and skills to eliminate the achievement gap between different groups of students.
- Joellen Killion and Cindy Harrison; Taking the Lead

The Role of the Instructional Specialist:

As an instructional specialists, coaches help teachers select and implement the most appropriate strategies to meet the learning needs of all students. This role is frequently combined with classroom supporter; coaches often plan with teachers then demonstrate, co-teach, observe and offer feedback to teachers.
- Joellen Killion and Cindy Harrison; Taking the Lead

Here are some ways that FCPS Instructional Coaches serve in this role:

• Planning with teachers as partners.
• Reflecting on instructional practices.
• Collaborating with teachers to make decisions about appropriate resources for instruction.
• Sharing ideas for differentiating instruction.
• Building capacity in teachers in instructional areas (e.g., developing formative assessments to inform instruction).
• Examining student engagement and increasing higher level thinking and discourse.