Carmen, who is beginning her first year as a coach, wrote me asking, "What does the first week for a coach look like? And how does a schedule play an important role for the coach and her principal in terms of what they're expecting?" These are great questions and timely to the start of a new year.
Listen, Listen, Listen
Let's start with a coach's first week. If you're new to the school, you'll want to spend the first few weeks learning about your new site. You'll want to listen to everyone you come into contact with--students, parents, staff members, teachers and administrators--so that you can gain a deep understanding of this school and hear different perspectives. Ask: What's going well here? What do you appreciate about this school? What concerns do you have? What changes would you like to see?
