The Effective Instructional Coach: Leading Growth, Navigating Challenges
Build your coaching expertise to guide teachers across all areas of instruction that you support: literacy, math, science, social studies, and/or technology.
This 9-day training is designed for all school-based coaches including instructional coaches and those who support literacy, math, science, social studies and/or technology. You’ll learn how to better understand your role and how to effectively coach teachers at your school.
Register to participate in-person at Lesley University or virtually!
- Literacy Coaches/Teacher Leaders
- School & District Leaders
- Graduate Credit Participants, please see “Graduate Credit Options” tab for pricing information
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
Gain expertise in how to support teachers who are working to achieve equitable student outcomes across all academic areas.
Join us for this 9-day professional development institute designed to sharpen your skills as an instructional coach and help you lead improvement efforts across all content areas. Spread over four months, this training equips you to confidently define your role, set clear goals, build strong relationships, and use purposeful language in every aspect of your work.
As the training unfolds, we’ll examine a variety of ways to maintain your coaching momentum across the school year. You’ll develop confidence using facilitative language with teachers to promote trust that contributes to a healthy, professional learning community in your school. And you’ll walk away with 14 essential coaching “plays” to use in every context—from one-on-one coaching to data meetings—along with practical strategies to collaborate with administrators and overcome common challenges. Leave ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Course Outcomes:
- Define and articulate your multi-faceted coaching role to foster clarity and improve communication
- Identify the critical attributes of a healthy, professional learning community for adult learners and how to build it in your school
- Learn how to use language that opens conversation, builds trust, and promotes the analysis of teaching and its effects on learning
- Examine the coach-administrator partnership in supporting teacher development
- Learn how to coach in every context utilizing a variety of “plays”
- Facilitate discussions that use an “assets-based” lens to look at data and make instructional decisions
- Create and use observational tools to refine the analysis of the teaching
- Link coaching sessions to professional development to optimize teacher growth
- Analyze your coaching conversations with colleagues before and after a lesson to get immediate and thoughtful feedback
- Examine the use of technological tools including AI to enhance literacy coaching, support the professional learning of teachers, and organize your work
- Discuss how to navigate and overcome coaching challenges
You’ll earn 54 clock hours upon completion of this training, or you may enroll for 3 or 6 graduate credits.
Cynthia Downend, Associate Director, Literacy Programs
Cynthia Downend has worked at the Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership for over 15 years, serving in the roles of primary level literacy trainer and currently as the Assistant Director for Primary Literacy Programs.
Cynthia has worked with many school districts across the United States to train and develop district level literacy staff developers, literacy coaches, classroom teachers, literacy interventionists and school administrators on a variety of topics related to improving literacy instruction.
Prior to her work at Lesley University, Cynthia held positions as a literacy coach, Reading Recovery teacher, and classroom teacher for over 20 years working in a variety of school settings including urban, suburban, and international schools.
Linda Murphy, Associate Director, Literacy Programs
Linda has worked in school districts in New York in a variety of roles and settings. Prior to her joining the center at Lesley University, Linda held positions as a principal of an intermediate school, a Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Reading, a district trainer for Literacy Collaborative Intermediate, a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and a classroom teacher. Linda holds licenses in Elementary Education and School District Administration.
Required Materials (mailed to you)
- Agents of Change: How Content Coaching Transforms Teaching & Learning
- Your Literacy Coaching Playbook: What to Know, Say, and Do
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-Credit Participants
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Wednesday, October 1, 2025. There is a $50 cancellation fee. If you request a cancellation after the deadline, you will not be issued a refund. Substitution requests are acceptable. Please email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request.
Graduate Credit Participants
Registration Deadline
The registration portal closes at 5pm ET on October 7, 2025. If you register within the week before the start of this training, you may experience delays in receiving the required professional text included with your registration and you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the clock hours.
In-Person or Virtual Attendance
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu.
Graduate Credit Options
With additional assignments, this institute can be taken for 3 or 6 graduate credit hours. During the registration process, you will have the option to register as a Graduate Credit attendee and you will also be charged the graduate credit fee listed below. The totals below reflect the registration fee and the graduate credit fees.
When your registration is complete, contact centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu to finish the required secondary registration process for grad credits through Lesley University.
Course Number: LEDUC 6159
PRICING:
- 3 Credits Total Payment: $6,230 = $3,500 registration fee + $2,730 ($875*/credit + $35*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change
- 6 Credits Total Payment: $8,960 = $3,500 registration fee + $5,460 ($875*/credit + $35*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change
On-Site Professional Development
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district. For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers
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