An instructional coach is an educational leader who works alongside teachers, admin, and support staff to help them in reaching their goals. They can work directly in a school, or as a virtual support coach. Whether you are ready to become an instructional coach, educational coach, or a teacher leader and mentor you’ll want to stick around. 

What exactly is an instructional coach? 

They are typically educators (former and current) who work with new and seasoned teachers to improve the quality of their lessons and the overall quality of education. They can serve as mentors or role models, helping new and seasoned teachers incorporate and use the latest techniques and technologies in their classrooms.

So how can you turn what you already know about the education system into a rocking coaching model? 

Get ready because we are breaking it down:

Instructional coaching, educational coaching, educational consulting whatever you call it- all falls under a really broad umbrella. Basically, there isn’t a one size fits all plan for how you will support teachers and add value to their teaching day.

Top 3 Instructional Coach Positions, Ideas, and Opportunities

Many educational coaches have decided that they want to work exclusively with parents, families and caregivers as an advocate. Whatever the family needs help navigating in the world of special education is a larger umbrella that could be refined.

• Primary Special Ed Consultant Who Helps With 504s And Ieps
• High School Special Ed College Admissions Counseling
• Executive Function Coaching And Mentoring 
• Life Skills Support 
• The Possibilities Are Endless

Some educational consultants specifically help students to get into college or pursue a specific career path.

• Highschool Seniors Looking To Get Into Universities
• Adults Looking To Pursue Higher Education
• Transition Planning For Those Looking For A New Career Path
• Post Graduate Options 
• College To Career Strategies
• Trade Or Certificate Program Opportunities
• Students Looking To Get Into A Work Program

Instructional coaches and consultants can work with schools to design and facilitate professional development workshops. 

A workshop that meets the needs of the individual school climate or teaching team is a great place to start.

• Create Peer Coaching Models At The District Level
• Grade-Level Peer Groups In A Single School Or Across A District
• Specialized Teaching Mentor Groups (Art, Science, PE, Languages, Etc.)
• Teaching Team Support And Guidance
• Professional Development Mentors

You could work solely in-house with the teachers, admin, or school leadership. Or branch out and find a space in the virtual space. Teachers as leaders and mentors are really the best of all the worlds. 

How To Become An Instructional Coach

Online Presence:

Do you have one?

• How are your people finding you?
• Through a website hub?
• A social media platform?
• Or word of mouth in a local area?

If you haven't started your online presence, it isn't too late. You can get started learning how to make money blogging, when to start your education podcast, or Youtubing to start sharing your message. 

Offers:

Have you thought about what your offer could include?

• Would you show up in person, or be completely virtual?
• Who are you serving?
• Have you decided to coach and mentor on a topic completely unlike anything you have ever seen?

Online education looks very different than what it once was. Education in every space, online and traditional is constantly changing and evolving. Trends have fast-forwarded us to a dynamic future filled with unlimited potential. 

Coaching and consulting in the future will be so much bigger than anything you ever dreamed of. So you could apply all the ways to make money before the end of summer. And turn your large offer into a full-fledged educational coaching and consulting business. Someday you’ll realize that you were on the ground floor of the newest viral education trend. 

Connection:

How will you continue to connect with your audience to nurture and lead the people who need you most?

• Email list
• social media
• live video
• FB group

Get started with what we like to call a discovery meeting. Do some research on a school website to see if they would be a good fit for your services. Are they struggling with their math scores and you are a math instructional coach? Add that to your media kit and bring it up during your initial meeting. 

Add some testimonials to your online hub, and optimize your content so people who are searching for a specific term find you. And they can see right out the gate others have worked with you and their thoughts. 

Create an online form they can fill out prior to your meeting. Ask relevant questions to how you will support them in the future. 

• How relevant do their teachers feel current PD is to their grade level? 
• Do they feel supported in the IEP process? 
• What are the top 3 questions about the college-to-career process? 

Make the questions specific to the audience you serve and your services. That way all parties are on the same page to begin. 

Get your contracts in order. There are a few places you can go online to find legal help when creating a consulting business, we love Honeybook and Creative Contracts to help you with your needs. 

Instructional Coaching Models That Support All Teachers

One of the big mistakes we see with our students who are looking to become instructional coaches is doing whatever anybody needs in a school. 

• Maybe a school needs additional help for all of their language teachers to teach vocabulary. 
• Or maybe all the grades could benefit from some support with classroom management. 
• What if they are looking for someone to facilitate new and engaging lessons and curriculum content?

Yes, you might know how to do all of that (and let's be honest – usually a whole lot more). But it's about leaning into one specific thing (your teaching magic) and the transformation that you are able to help teachers or leaders complete. 

A framework can help you get clear on your passion and your purpose to turn it into a cohesive plan that becomes a full-fledged business. 

When you begin think of your offers in terms of an introductory point. Where the school can get an overview topic that would help a majority of teachers. This may be a little less when it comes to budget, but it's also the least customized of your services.

Then think about a mid-tier offer. Something that gives them the overview of a specific topic, grade level, or specialty group, plus a follow-up call/meeting/live contact. 

And your signature offer could be something more detailed and specific to their needs. (Just remember this is still niche specific). Don’t say sure I’ll teach all of your teachers how to implement a brand new math curriculum. Especially if you specialize in classroom management for primary grades. Create a custom experience that solves their current issues AND falls within your area of expertise. 

Then as you grow building a library or catalog of coaching offers, premade PD, and leveled offers could be something you work toward. Think of it as a college class that you need the foundation of math and science before you take advanced Chemistry- agh! 

The Beauty Of Teachers As Leaders

The beauty of an instructional coaching business is there is no “one size fits all” solution. Nor is there a “one-size-fits-most” structure to designing your business. You’ll find what works best for your clients' individual priorities and needs and work to help them transform their lives.

We need more brilliant teachers like you, stepping up to share your wisdom and become the change we all want to see in the world. It's your turn to determine if you are ready to turn your teaching expertise into something that will increase your income and impact and influence beyond the walls of your classroom. Educational consulting can be the next success path you choose to expand your reach in the online space. 

Lighting Up CEO Teacher® Hearts: Choose Your Pathway to Success

• Podcaster
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• Digital Resources Creator
• Tutor
• Subscription Seller
• Teacher Influencer
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Instructional Coach Training With The CEO Teacher®

Are you getting stuck just thinking about creating an educational coaching program in general? Let’s work to get you unstuck and headed down the path of creating the life you have always dreamed of. Whether you are a Beginner Boss and wondering if this life may be for you. Or a growing go-getter, who is wanting to learn more about how to make all the pieces you have created actually work for you. Even a seasoned CEO Teacher® already making a steady income and ready to grow and scale your ideas to the next level. The CEO Teacher® Membership has all the tools, templates, coaching, and lessons you could ever need to get your teacher business up and running.