Director of Leader Programs Nina Fitzerman Blue understands how difficult and lonely school leadership can be. As a former school leader herself she knows it can feel alienating when you don’t always have someone to consult and check your decision making. TLI’s School Leadership Cohort is designed to address this need by making space for […]
Category: Instructional Leadership
Lots of focused practice, leads to widespread school change.
School leaders get the most out of the TLI School Leader Cohort when they are committed to understanding their practice and making changes that will lead to better outcomes for students. Coaches work with leaders to target a specific action that will have the greatest impact, and they practice these skills to build expertise and […]
Good coaching is specific, targeted and empowering. That’s the heart of TLI’s approach.
As a former teacher and school leader, TLI Director of Leader Programs Nina Fitzerman-Blue understands that every minute of the school day is precious and that leaders work relentlessly for their students. School leaders don’t have time to waste. This is why TLI uses a one-on-one coaching model that pinpoints areas of growth to make […]
Think of it like self-care: Make time for your growth and development
School leaders often tell us that they don’t have time for coaching. With unrelenting schedules, taking time for your own growth and development can feel overwhelming or even frivolous in the face of daily to-dos. But research shows that great leadership doesn’t just happen. Leaders who reach their full potential effectively prioritize their time and […]
5 Tips for Curriculum Leadership
District-level curriculum roles are often pulled in hundreds of directions. But the role is crucial for supporting the leaders and teachers who impact students. We’ve compiled 5 tips to keep in mind as you navigate endless to-do lists and never ending demands. Tip 1: Get On The Balcony. It is easy to get sucked […]
DIY Instructional Leadership Team
In many Oklahoma districts, a single principal can lead a 40-member staff in charge of nearly 600 students. With such a demanding job, principals need a team who’s committed to building instructional skills and getting things done even when the principal is pulled away. Typically, instructional leadership teams include teacher leaders, instructional coaches, additional administrators, […]
Coaching Confidentiality vs. Principal Collaboration: Where Is The Line?
Although instructional coaching evolved from research on teacher supervision and instructional leadership (Knight, 2009; Neumerski, 2013), most instructional coaches do not have the formal authority to evaluate teachers. In contrast to principals who also coach teachers, instructional coaches are usually positioned in a non-evaluatory, supportive role. Despite shared teacher and school improvement goals, the difference […]
Making Time: The Case for School Leader Coaching
It’s no secret that school administrators have jam-packed schedules and daunting to-do lists. With so much to do, it’s easy to shy away from leadership development due to time constraints. TLI’s Director of Leader Programs Nina Fitzerman-Blue urges leaders to make a different choice. “This is how we make time. Leadership coaching is how we […]
School Leader Cohort: What Is Leader Coaching Like?
School leadership can be isolating work. TLI’s Director of Leadership Programs Nina Fitzerman-Blue is working to change that. Each week, she offers focused, personalized coaching for school leaders in TLI’s School Leader Cohort. Under Nina’s direction, our fellows receive year-long support to develop instructional leadership skills, ranging from teacher coaching to adult culture to managing […]
Greasing The Skids
In this 6-week change management series, TLI staff examine the big ideas and often-overlooked strategies for successfully leading school change. Catch the series introduction or earlier blogs here. Successful building-level shifts require more than a strong leader. A new curriculum is worthless without the teachers to skillfully integrate it into class. A new technology initiative […]