How to Design Your Instructional Coaching Program

How to Design Your Instructional Coaching Program

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If you're a brand new instructional coach, you've probably had this thought:

"What am I actually supposed to do?"

You were excited to get hired.

You knew you wanted to coach.

But then you stepped into the role and realized...

No one handed you a roadmap.

No one gave you a coaching program.

No one told you exactly where to start.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

In fact, it's one of the biggest reasons new instructional coaches end up feeling lost and lonely during their first year.

The good news?

It doesn't have to stay that way.

The Journey Every New Coach Goes Through

Over the years, I've worked with thousands of new instructional coaches inside the New to Coaching community.

One thing I've noticed is that almost every coach goes through the same journey.

It usually looks something like this:

Excited and Nervous

You just got hired.

You're excited because you've dreamed about doing this work.

You're nervous because there are so many unknowns.

You aren't even sure what you're supposed to be learning yet.

Lost and Lonely

Then reality sets in.

You realize no one is giving you much direction.

You're trying to figure out your role while also building relationships, supporting teachers, and responding to requests from administrators.

Many coaches begin wondering...

"Am I even making a difference?"

Some even think about going back to the classroom.

If you've felt that way, you're not alone.

Designing and Owning Your Coaching Program

Here's where everything begins to change.

Instead of waiting for someone else to define your role...

You begin defining it yourself.

You develop clarity around what coaching is.

You build a vision.

You create a plan.

And you begin leading that vision throughout your school.

That's where confidence starts to grow.

I Had to Learn This the Hard Way

When I became an instructional coach, I assumed someone would tell me what to do.

I expected my principals to hand me a plan.

Instead...

They looked at me.

They were waiting for me to create the plan.

That was a huge mindset shift.

I realized something that completely changed the way I viewed coaching.

They hired me because they believed I could build the coaching program.

They weren't expecting me to wait for directions.

They were expecting me to lead.

So I sat down and wrote a three-year plan.

I outlined how we would roll out technology, provide professional development, and support teachers.

When I shared it with my principals, they didn't replace it with their own plan.

They gave feedback because they wanted me to lead it.

That experience changed everything.

Your Coaching Program Is Yours to Own

One phrase I come back to over and over again is this:

Your coaching program is yours to own.

As coaches, we often wait for permission.

We wait for someone to tell us exactly what coaching should look like.

But coaching doesn't work that way.

Your administrators hired you because they saw leadership potential in you.

Now it's time to step into that leadership.

Five Phases of Designing Your Coaching Program

Over the years, I've organized this work into five phases.

Phase 1: Discover

Before you can build a coaching program, you need to understand coaching.

Read the coaching literature.

Learn from coaching experts.

Develop your own coaching beliefs.

Ask yourself:

What do I believe coaching should be?

Phase 2: Design

Once you've done the research, begin designing your coaching program.

Clarify your coaching role.

Develop your coaching vision.

Determine how you'll spend your time.

Choose a coaching model that fits your school.

The more clarity you have, the easier it becomes to explain coaching to everyone else.

Phase 3: Align

Your coaching program shouldn't exist by itself.

It should support your school's larger goals.

Look at:

• District strategic plans

• School improvement goals

• Teacher evaluation frameworks

• Student achievement priorities

Ask yourself:

How does coaching help us accomplish these goals?

Phase 4: Lead

Now it's time to share your vision.

Meet with your principal.

Talk through your coaching program.

Explain your role.

Help others understand what coaching is—and what it isn't.

Leadership isn't waiting for someone else to create the vision.

Leadership is helping others believe in it.

Phase 5: Run

Eventually, it's time to stop planning and start coaching.

Set quarterly goals.

Work with your runner teachers first.

Celebrate progress.

Remember...

Building a coaching program doesn't happen in one semester.

It often takes three to five years to build momentum.

What Made You a Great Teacher Will Make You a Great Coach

One of the biggest mindset shifts for new coaches is realizing that you aren't starting over.

The skills that helped you succeed in the classroom still matter.

As a teacher, you:

• Built relationships.

• Created classroom culture.

• Designed instruction.

• Used data to make decisions.

• Celebrated student growth.

Now you'll do those same things with teachers instead of students.

You're not leaving those skills behind.

You're building on them.

If Change Is the Goal, Progress Is the Win

This has become one of my favorite reminders.

If change is the goal, progress is the win.

As instructional coaches, we often want immediate transformation.

But meaningful change happens one teacher...

One conversation...

One coaching cycle...

One relationship at a time.

Don't overlook small wins.

Those small wins are exactly how lasting change begins.

Final Thoughts

If you're feeling lost right now, I want you to know something.

You don't have to stay there.

Your coaching program doesn't have to be something that happens to you.

It can become something you intentionally design.

Start by understanding coaching.

Create a vision.

Develop a plan.

Lead that vision.

And remember...

Your coaching program is yours to own.

When you step into that mindset, you're no longer just reacting to each day.

You're becoming the kind of instructional coach who truly makes change happen.

If you're ready to start designing your own instructional coaching program, I've put together several resources to help you get started. Grab my Instructional Coaching Program Template to begin mapping out your vision, explore my coaching books and resources Padlet for recommended reading, download the Principal & Coach Meeting Agenda to prepare for an intentional conversation with your administrator, or join The Breakthrough Circle if you're looking for ongoing coaching, community, and support as you build a coaching program that truly makes change happen. Wherever you are on your journey, these resources are here to help you move from feeling lost and lonely to confidently owning your coaching program.