One of the keys to being an effective instructional coach is to be absolutely clear on your role: What is your purpose in coaching? What are you supposed to do as a coach? These questions pop into my mind when I'm working with a teacher or leader and I start feeling unclear on my role or purpose--and usually what comes into my mind is a tinge of self-doubt and the question, "What am I doing here?"

This question grounds me in my role which after many years, I feel closer to understanding. Simply put, I think my role as a coach in schools is to help someone else develop as a professional so that they can most effectively serve the community for which they work. Coaching is professional development. The point of the professional development is to serve the children, families and communities in which we've chosen to work.

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