What Exactly does a Program Coach do?
This week, Emily Pappa, Director of Flagship Programming, shares about the ins and outs of what our Program Coaches do on a daily basis to support teachers and students.
When I’m asked what it is I do for The Nora Project, the first thing I say is, “Coach educators.” As a small team, each of our roles includes a lot of different tasks. Our job descriptions seem to be ever-changing as the organization grows. But one thing that we don’t foresee ever changing is our priority to always provide high quality, on-demand coaching to our teachers.
During my teaching career, it felt like we were asked to implement at least one new curriculum each year. Ask any teacher about starting a new curriculum and they will tell you that it is exhausting. A big contributor to that exhaustion is that you are largely navigating a box of materials and online access after a single day of training over the summer or at an institute day at the very beginning of the year. While we do have an extensive summer training camp for our teachers, what sets The Nora Project apart is that our coaching does not end there. Every single day our Program Coaches sit down to work, coaching is first on our to-do list. It is my top priority that our teachers feel supported and have everything they need to be successful throughout the school year.
For our team, supporting our teachers means staying connected regularly. All of the teachers I work with are required to have quarterly touchpoints with me. These are opportunities to learn about what is happening in their classrooms, talk about any curriculum updates or materials, and help teachers navigate what’s coming up in their program. We are fortunate to work with an incredible group of educators who work in vastly different schools and have varying experiences in education. The conversations I get to have with them have truly informed, inspired, and motivated our whole team. We have developed everything from new lessons to whole new curricula based on the ideas teachers have shared with us in these regular conversations. These touchpoints have also allowed us to develop relationships with our teachers - relationships that have made them so much more than a name on a roster, but a member of The Nora Project family about whom we care deeply.
It doesn’t end with quarterly check-ins either. We are available whenever any of our teachers need us. They have our email addresses and phone numbers which we encourage them to use often. During a pandemic this has meant getting in touch any time of day, including post bed-time calls once our kids are all in bed. Our teachers reach out for everything from a quick question about where to find something to long stories about the impact the program is having in their classrooms. Every opportunity to connect and celebrate with our teachers is truly valued by our team.
Working with educators through the coronavirus pandemic has added a new layer in my role as a coach. Educators are being pushed to their limits, asked to make countless changes to every aspect of their job, and they are receiving an overwhelming amount of communication from all directions. It’s been really important to me to avoid adding to the weight on their shoulders. This year, when I get the chance to talk to our teachers I have kept three things at top of mind- ask how they are doing - school related or not, ask what they need help with, and celebrate them. Educators, TNP participants or otherwise, need to be supported and celebrated this year. I want them to know that their hard work and exhaustion has not gone unnoticed.
So many of my conversations with teachers have ended with a reminder that nothing about TNP should be stressful and if it is, they need to let me know so I can help. Successful implementation of our curriculum is incredibly important to us, but equally as important is the well-being of our teachers who deliver it. Besides, where would be without them!?
On-demand program coaching is at the core of what our program is and one of the many ways that sets TNP apart from other curriculums. To learn more about bringing TNP to your school, check out this blog post. Click here to learn more about our programs!