If you follow me on my social media platforms, you might have noticed that I recently started utilizing TikTok!
I've been "on" TikTok for a while, but I've mostly been using the platform as an observer. To wind down after my family is asleep, I usually scroll the platform and find myself chuckling at funny pet videos, saving recipes that I want to try, being inspired by #teachersoftiktok, or learning about new #edtech tips and tricks that I can pass along to teachers I'm coaching.
However, recently, I made the decision to start posting video content on TikTok because of some commentary that I saw posted in a teacher group on Facebook… My first video explained this briefly, but today, I’m using my blogspace here to explain my “TikTok Transmigration” in a little more detail.
Below are some screenshots of the Facebook comments (names and photos have been blurred) that were my inspiration for my TikTok videos...
There were many more comments of this nature...
No, not all of the comments were bashing instructional coaches. Many were extremely positive like these…
But even with all the positive commentary, I was disheartened to see that there were SO MANY negative comments, especially among a group of professional educators. So disappointing… We need to be better to each other inside this profession because Lord knows we get enough negativity from those on the outside!
Anyway, after reading through the entirety of the commentary, I gleaned several insights.
1. There are rockstar instructional coaches out there absolutely killing this role as evidenced by the teachers they are supporting who gave them some major kudos among the haters. So, clearly, this is a role that is needed and it is being done right in many schools and districts.
2. Some schools and districts have made some major mistakes, the first mistake being not clearly defining the roles, responsibilities, and boundaries of the instructional coaching job. The second mistake schools and districts are making is not providing the necessary training to the individuals hired into the instructional coaching role. And the most egregious mistake that schools and districts are making is hiring the wrong person entirely for the job. All of these mistakes or a combination of these mistakes have led to some pretty awful situations for both instructional coaches and the teachers they're supposed to be supporting.
3. There is a lot of confusion out there about what an instructional coach is actually supposed to be doing.
All of this inspired me to start generating some content on TikTok to maybe help shed some light on the roles and responsibilities of instructional coaches.
Here is a glimpse into the support that I’m able to offer teachers as an instructional coach:
