Leadership-Focused Coaching in Action: An Approach to Continuous Improvement and Supporting Public Schools

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2022v18n1a1159

Abstract

This article details the efforts of one program’s collaborative efforts toward continuous improvement and strengthening partnerships with local school districts using Leadership-Focused Coaching, a research-based model for principal preparation programs. Practical experiences and lessons learned from the ongoing online program improvement and redesign initiative are shared. In advance of two accreditation visits, data and feedback were gathered from partner districts, recent graduates, current students, and employers, which helped to identify ways in which the program could better prepare instructional leaders. This article describes the efforts, successes, setbacks, and future plans of a group of professors working to improve a program while preparing for accreditation visits and strengthening district partnerships.

Résumé
Cet article détaille les efforts d’un programme spécifique de collaboration afin d’assurer une amélioration continue et un renforcement des partenariats avec des districts scolaires locaux au moyen du Leadership-Focused Coaching (coaching axé sur le leadership), lequel est un modèle basé sur la recherche pour les programmes visant à mieux former les directeurs d'école. Cet article partage les expériences et les leçons pratiques tirées d’une initiative en cours qui consiste à améliorer et reconcevoir le programme en ligne dont il est question dans l’article. Avant deux visites d'accréditation, des données et des commentaires ont été recueillis auprès de districts partenaires, de diplômés récents, d’étudiants actuels et d’employeurs, ce qui a permis d’identifier les moyens par lesquels le programme pourrait mieux préparer les leaders pédagogiques. En somme, cet article décrit les efforts, les succès, les revers et les projets d'un groupe de professeurs travaillant à l'amélioration d’un programme tout en se préparant aux visites d’accréditation et en renforçant les partenariats avec les districts.

Keywords / Mots clés : leadership preparation, university-school partnerships, leadership field experience, leadership-focused coaching, leadership mentoring / préparation au leadership, partenariats université-école, expérience de terrain en matière de leadership, coaching axé sur le leadership, mentorat en matière de leadership

Author Biography

Julie A Gray, University of West Florida

Dr. Julie Gray is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of West Florida in the Department of Teacher Education and Educational Leadership.  Her research interests include professional learning communities, school effectiveness, mentoring, enabling school structures, collective efficacy, and academic optimism.  She earned her B.A. in Spanish and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at The University of Alabama.  Her Master’s of Education was also in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida.

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Published

2022-06-23

How to Cite

Gray, J. A., Walker, A., Zimmerman, S., & Dickson, J. (2022). Leadership-Focused Coaching in Action: An Approach to Continuous Improvement and Supporting Public Schools. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 18(1), 15 pp. https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2022v18n1a1159

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Section

Policy