John F. Nau, Jr. | Division Chief
Bureau of Teaching and Learning Support
PA Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg PA 17105
Phone: 717.214.9391 | Fax: 717.783.3946
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-----Original Message-----
From: Stekovich, Nancy
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 8:47 AM
To: all-iu@lists. cas. psu. edu (all-iu); all-sd@lists. cas. psu. edu (all-sd)
Cc: Nau, John; Stekovich, Nancy; 'Ellen Eisenberg'
Subject: The Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching (PIIC)
*PennLink
To: Intermediate Units, School Districts and Curriculum Coordinators
From: John F. Nau, Jr., Chief, Division of Student Interventions and Instructional Supports, Bureau of Teaching and Learning Support and Coordinator of the Collaborative Coaching Board
Subject: The Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching (PIIC)
The purpose of this message is to inform you of an important statewide professional development initiative, the Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching (PIIC). PIIC is jointly funded by the Annenberg Foundation and the Department of Education and fully supported by our partnering organizations: Foundations, Inc. and PLN, technical providers; and the Academy for Educational Development and MPR Associates, our research and evaluation providers. PIIC will focus on service to Pennsylvania's 29 Intermediate Units around instructional coaching and instructional mentoring. It will train an identified instructional mentor in each Intermediate Unit who will offer mentoring support to instructional coaches, school-based mentors and administrators at schools throughout the Intermediate Unit.
The six Intermediate Units who will participate in the first year of the initiative are IU 3, IU 8, IU 9, IU 15, IU 21 and IU 25. Other Intermediate Units will be added at five or six each year until all Intermediate Units are involved. As PIIC grows, the cadre of instructional mentors will become skilled leaders, supporting the state's commitment to instructional coaching and mentoring across all content areas.
Additional information about the initiative and frequently asked questions and answers about the initiative are attached. If you have questions about the initiative, you can contact John Nau at or Ellen Eisenberg at .
Two attachments included
The Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching (PIIC) (First attachment)
Vision
The Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching is a statewide effort designed to develop and sustain high-quality instructional coaching with substantive training, professional development, mentoring and other collaborative whole school reform practices that embrace Pennsylvania's architecture for school improvement: supporting standards aligned systems and resilient protective factors in students, improving student outcomes and building teacher capacity.
Mission
The mission of the Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching is to provide a vehicle for the uniform and consistent delivery of professional development and sustained support to all teachers, coaches, mentors and administrators through instructional coaching and mentoring. All statewide initiates with coaching components will be aligned and will collaborate in promoting highly effective and engaging classrooms. Every classroom will have a teacher skilled in SAS and 21st century skills with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes across all content areas.
The Theory of Change
The Institute model posits that instructional coaches are critical to helping teachers change their instructional practice in ways that will improve student outcomes. To be successful coaches need excellent mentors, and both coaches and mentors need training and ongoing professional development in order to support teachers and promote the standards aligned system essential to improving student outcomes. The Institute will design programs and services to meet these needs. Institute programs of study will focus on developing skills that will help teachers improve instructional practice, student engagement and academic outcomes. The Institute will also work to build capacity and support among school leaders-skilled leaders, knowledgeable about coaching and supportive to coaches, are essential to support systemic change. A carefully designed evaluation process will monitor PIIC programs and will be used to build a continuous improvement strategy.
The Service Delivery Model
The Institute's immediate objectives are to implement a basic professional development program of uniform, high-quality initial training for coaches in schools; provide support for coaches with an IU and district/school-based mentoring program; engage additional partners needed to build a sustainable system and generate additional resources to support growth and expansion of the Institute.
The Institute's objectives will support student engagement and learning in specific ways: *Provide teachers with instructional strategies designed to increase student engagement and improve student achievement at participating schools;
*Build teacher capacity through one-on-one instructional coaching and professional learning communities within and across schools and districts; *Prepare students for college and careers through the use of research-based content, learning and development practices;
*Build coaches' and administrators' capacities through mentoring and sustained, embedded support and professional development;
*Develop an evidence-based system of continuous improvement through the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data (including information obtained from teachers and about students); and
*Sustain and expand the instructional coaching model to promote consistent use of effective instructional practices in high schools across Pennsylvania.
Organization of Services
The Institute will be statewide, focused on service to Pennsylvania's 29 IUs. The service delivery model will involve an "instructional mentor" in each IU. The instructional mentor will work with coaches, district- and school-based mentors and school administrators.
Instructional mentors will train and support coaches at high schools throughout the IU. The instructional mentor will offer consultation and support to coaches individually and in groups on site, and by email, video conferencing and other means-regardless of the funding source of the coach or the coach's content focus. The instructional mentor will strive to create a "coaching community" in the IU, bringing together coaches who will benefit from regular professional development and support. The instructional mentor's objective is to improve, enhance and standardize coaches' skills around the processes of coaching and their content interests (e.g., literacy, math, technology). The Institute will develop toolkits, guides, handbooks and general and specific materials to help coaches perform at a quality standard that will promote improved instructional practice and superior outcomes for schools and students. The IU instructional mentors will also convene training sessions and workshops to support the professional development and capacity building of coaches, and where appropriate, teachers and school administrators.
The Program of Study
As described in other documents, training materials and field guides for coaches and mentors will be built on products already in use and developed during PAHSCI. Training will be provided by the executive director, director of mentoring services and the PAHSCI partners-Foundations Inc., PLN and PDE. Training will emphasize development of the skills and processes associated with the standards aligned systems and effective one-on-one instructional coaching and mentoring. Topics to be featured in the training and field guide for instructional coaching include the selection of coaches, roles of the coach, working with teachers and school personnel, communication skills for effective coaching conversations, building coaching capacity, leading professional development and self assessment.
PIIC Rollout
Six IUs will be selected for year one participation in PIIC. Each year, five IUs will be added to the PIIC community. As PIIC grows, the cadre of instructional mentors will become skilled leaders, supporting the state's commitment to instructional coaching across all state supported programs.
Frequently Asked Questions (Second attachment)
Funding and Hiring
1. How will the IU mentors be hired? Some IUs already have a staff member who qualifies for the position. If not, a job posting will be necessary. The hiring practices of the IU are the responsibility of the individual IU.
2. What funding supports the IU mentor position? The Pennsylvania Department of Education is providing funding for the IU mentor position. Using a generous cap, there will be full funding in the first year of each cohort; 66% in the second year and 33% in the third year. Beginning in year one, PIIC and the executive directors will work together to explore additional funding sources to sustain the IU mentor position. An option for sustainability may be through a fee for service model.
3. How long will the IU mentor maintain the mentoring position? The IU mentor is hired by the IU; the agreement for employment is between the IU and the mentor. The PA Institute for Instructional Coaching is funded through a seven-year grant from the Annenberg Foundation and a three year commitment from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
4. Can the IU mentor position be a part-time position? Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the position is for a full-time mentor whose sole responsibility is to support instructional coaching and instructional coaches in each of the districts in his/her IU.
5. Will the IU mentors be reimbursed for travel expenses? The IU mentor will be reimbursed for travel expenses approved by PIIC and the IU executive directors. A cap for other expenses will also be included.
Roles and Responsibilities
6. What are the roles and responsibilities of the IU mentor? The mentor will regularly visit assigned school sites. He/she is expected to collaborate with coaches and school leadership team to identify the school's teaching and learning needs by collecting and analyzing appropriate data, developing a plan that articulates problem solving actions and goals, and establishing effective procedures for communicating information about the impact of coaching on student learning to the entire school community. The mentor will provide resources and support for the coaches that reinforce effective instruction via ongoing professional learning opportunities and professional study groups. The mentor will attend mentor meetings and other PIIC professional learning opportunities and maintain confidentiality with instructional coaches and the teachers they support.
7. What is the role of the IU mentor if there are only one or two districts in the IU with instructional coaches? Most high schools across the state have Classrooms for the Future coaches. The IU mentor will work with all instructional coaches in high schools across the state. The mentor is also expected to work with districts that anticipate implementing an instructional coaching model.
8. Who supervises the IU mentors? The IU mentors are supervised by the IU executive directors; the Foundations, Inc. mentors are supervised by Foundations, Inc. Oversight for all mentors and the programs of study will be provided by the PIIC executive director and the executive team.
Support and Professional Development
9. IU mentors are learning about the Penn Literacy Network (PLN). What if the districts they serve are already implementing another literacy framework? The Penn Literacy Network embraces instructional techniques and literacy strategies designed to enhance student outcomes, change teacher practices and increase student engagement. It is not meant to supplant any instructional/literacy framework already implemented in districts. PLN offers additional instructional techniques and strategies for a teacher's toolbox.
10. How will the IU mentor be supported? The IU mentor will be supported by the Foundations, Inc. mentors, PDE, IU staff members and by PIIC's executive team.
11. How will the superintendents of each district learn about PIIC and the IU mentoring services? The IU executive directors will communicate regularly with each superintendent in the IU. The curriculum coordinators in each IU will also be instrumental in sharing information about the professional development opportunities for the IU mentors. Mentors are expected to facilitate on-going professional development for the instructional coaches in each district. Our website, newsletters and other print materials will be sources of information.
12. What professional development will the IU mentors receive? IU mentors are expected to participate in all PIIC professional learning opportunities. Planning these opportunities is collaborative with PDE, the IU executive directors, the IU curriculum coordinators, current mentors, current coaches, experts in the field and other appropriate entities.
13. How will the IU mentors work with coaches? The IU mentors and the Foundations, Inc. mentors will work together to plan a schedule for visitations with the instructional coaches and for facilitating ongoing professional learning opportunities for the districts in each IU.
14. What professional development will be offered to the coaches in each IU? There will be a full program of study for the instructional coaches designed during the pilot year which will reflect ongoing assessments for program improvement as suggested by the current mentors and IUs.
15. Is PIIC only a high school model? PIIC is currently designed to address the needs of instructional coaches and teachers in high schools across the state. Over the next 3-4 years, PIIC will expand its array of professional development and support to include grades K - 16.
16. How does PIIC support PDE's six circles and the resiliency/wellness approach to student achievement? The PIIC programs of study will enhance PDE's standards aligned system and are designed to help coaches, with the support of the IUs, help teachers improve student academic achievement and increase student engagement across all content areas in all schools.
Nancy L. Stekovich | Administrative Assistant
Bureau of Teaching and Learning Support
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717.787.9841 | Fax: 717.783.3946 |