Published: September 22, 2009 07:54 am      

WEST CLARK: Coaching the teachers

School system implements strategy to improve student achievement

SELLERSBURG — Coaches aren’t just for sports anymore.

At West Clark Community Schools, they’re working to improve test scores, too.

Those coaches are called Instructional Coaches, according to Denise Bessler, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Bessler said the district hired nine — two for the district as a whole and one for each school building — to work with principals, teachers and administrators to go through data and mold instruction to achieve better results with students.

The about $600,000-a-year price tag was paid for with a mix of money from economic stimulus, Title 1 and professional development, among other funds, Bessler said.

She said coaches — who all have at least five years of teaching experience and a master’s degree, and are employed as full-time staff — work to empower faculty members to see that they can make a difference.

“We’re not telling [teachers] they don’t have good ideas. But, let’s look at the results and say, what can we do to get better results?” Bessler asked.

She said coaches help to facilitate that conversation by getting teachers together to collaborate and going in classrooms to see firsthand what works and what doesn’t, and sharing that information with others.

“They are a peer. It’s so much easier to take advice form a peer than an administrator,” Bessler said. “Administrators are often seen as authority figures who are evaluating [teachers].”

Lisa Hawkins is one of the coaches. The former teacher of nine years started in her new role early on, beginning in January.

“I felt like as a teacher, I affected a certain group of kids,” Hawkins said. “My hope is to affect a larger group of kids in a different way now.”

She said she already is seeing great ideas that are working in the classroom — such as more hands-on activities — that she is sharing with other teachers.

Teachers said they are open to feedback.

“I hope that she will be able to come into my classroom and tell me ways to improve,” said Jenni Walters, who is in her third year of teaching.

“I’ve already asked her for help,” 34-year veteran teacher Gwen Hardy said, adding that she is still figuring out what the role of the coach is.

Bessler said those coaches also will help implement new programs the district started in hopes of raising student achievement, such as Read 180, a reading-intervention program.

“It continues to evolve and we’re still not where we need to be, but we’re moving in the right direction,” Hawkins said. “The end goal is for teachers to feel comfortable utilizing the coaches, but we’re learning what the coach does still.”

Bessler said the goal is for this program to continue beyond this year, even after the stimulus money is gone. She said the district will work to maintain it on a smaller scale by using Title 1 money and seeking out grants. She said she hopes to continue having some form of coaching support for each building in the future.

“Our goal is doing what’s best for kids,” Bessler said.