Teacher Preparation Blog

The Art of Coaching Teachers

Elena Aguilar, an experienced K-12 educator, trains individuals and teams to build resilient, just communities. She is the author of The Art of Coaching (2013), The Art of Coaching Teams (2016), and Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018). She is also the founder of Bright Morning Consulting (brightmorningteam.com) and is active on social media. This blog is no longer being updated.

Education Opinion The Arc of a Coaching Conversation: Six Steps to More Effective Meetings
A basic plan for a coaching conversation provides a routine that allows you and your coachee to enter each conversation with confidence, while also providing a structure to return to should the conversation digress.
Elena Aguilar, November 15, 2018
3 min read
Education Opinion Why Coaches Deserve More Appreciation, and How to Get It
While educators as a whole are terribly underappreciated, coaches might be the least appreciated group of all.
Elena Aguilar, October 26, 2018
3 min read
Education Opinion How to Validate Coachees, and Why
As a coach, you are trained to have a critical eye, and as an experienced educator, you may first see what isn't working in a classroom before you notice what is working. Coaches and their coachees will benefit greatly when a coach focuses first on what is going well in a classroom and not on what needs to be fixed.
Elena Aguilar, October 17, 2018
2 min read
Education Opinion Five Coaching Rules to Live By
There's so much advice, suggestions, tips and tricks for coaches, but here are my top five rules. These keep me grounded and effective as a coach.
Elena Aguilar, October 7, 2018
3 min read
Education Opinion Questioning Coaching Commitments When a Teacher Is in Crisis
The teacher she was coaching was in crisis, and although she was using all her coaching strategies, students were exasperated. Have you ever felt torn between the needs of your client and the needs of students? In this honest and thought-provoking post by guest, Lizzie Salzfass, she describes this tension and how she navigated it.
Elena Aguilar, October 4, 2018
4 min read
Education Opinion Strong Leadership Lies in Strong Coaching
How can you use your coaching skills to strengthen your leadership role? Guest blogger, Lori Cohen, offers three core lessons and clear actionable steps for new leaders.
Elena Aguilar, September 25, 2018
7 min read
Education Opinion Five Pitfalls to Avoid as a New Instructional Coach
Being a new instructional coach is hard. What to focus on? How to prove your competence and value? What to share about previous experiences? Yet in the beginning of the year especially, new coaches can make some big mistakes that can be hard to come back from.
Elena Aguilar, September 3, 2018
2 min read
Education Opinion When to Be Directive in a Coaching Conversation
What's the difference between directive and facilitative coaching, and when should you use each method?
Elena Aguilar, August 27, 2018
3 min read
Education Opinion New Coaches: Technical Tips For Getting Started
The first year will bring challenges, but with some reading, learning, and practice, you may be able to avoid some big pitfalls.
Elena Aguilar, July 27, 2018
2 min read
Education Opinion Big Lessons From a Year of Coaching: Stop Talking and Be Fearless
Here are Elena Aguilar's five takeaways from a year of coaching that encompassed both high and low points.
Elena Aguilar, June 14, 2018
4 min read
Education Opinion How Can I Stop a Teacher From Quitting?
Here are six suggestions for coaches when a teacher wants to quit.
Elena Aguilar, May 25, 2018
3 min read
Education Opinion 3 Strategies for Effective Coaching Across Difference
This is part two of a series of blogs written by Noelle Apostol Colin, Bright Morning Consulting associate.
Elena Aguilar, April 18, 2018
4 min read
Education Opinion Why Instructional Coaching Matters in Independent Schools
While independent schools can feel quite different from their public, charter, and parochial counterparts, the glue that holds all schools together is this noble charge we call teaching.
Elena Aguilar, April 3, 2018
6 min read
Education Opinion The Discomfort of Coaching While White
Coaching across lines of difference can feel very challenging, writes guest blogger Noelle Apostol Colin.
Elena Aguilar, March 26, 2018
3 min read