Building a Coaching Structure
A coaching structure is the system of people, processes, and supports that makes coaching possible and sustainable in your school or district.
It’s more than assigning people the title of coach. A strong structure includes a shared vision, clearly defined roles, communication pathways, leadership support, dedicated time, and systems for problem solving and continuous growth.
Coaching Framework
Guided by implementation science, these phases help to build the roles and supports that turn professional learning into consistent classroom practice.
- Prepare — Lay the foundation by identifying the need, mapping current supports, clarifying your vision, and securing the leadership conditions required to move forward
- Design — Define roles, build a professional learning system, establish resources, and create a communication structure
- Implement — Put the structure into practice, collect data, and build toward sustainability
Coach Leaders
Coach Leaders partner with administrators to develop a coaching structure that supports consistent coaching practices. Together, they identify priorities, clarify roles, establish communication and decision-making processes, and ensure the time and resources are in place to sustain coaching across the district.
Coaching Structure Development Resources
Coaching Structure Checklist
An ISD or district planning tool that helps teams assess their current coaching structure, identify priorities, create an implementation plan, and monitor progress toward consistent coaching practices and long-term sustainability. The Coaching Structure Checklist will help you identify where to get started and next steps during your development of a coaching structure.
- Note: This Coaching Structure Checklist is a work in progress as we revise the Coaching Structure Guidebook.
- Coaching Structure Checklist (Google Doc)
- Coaching Structure Checklist (Fillable PDF)
Coaching STARTs Here Guidebook - under development
Guides your team through the Prepare, Design, and Implement phases with practical tools, activities, and reflection prompts to create a coaching structure that supports lasting implementation.
3-5 year Coaching Structure Plan - under development
Helps teams organize and monitor implementation over time by documenting priorities, action steps, resources, and barriers while keeping coaching efforts aligned and on track.
Start where you are. Whether your team is building a coaching structure from the ground up or strengthening an existing one, the Coaching Resources will help you identify your current foundation, build on your strengths, and prioritize your next steps.
Definitions
Coaching is a structured set of responsibilities and activities that supports educators in improving practice and building capacity within schools. It serves as a bridge between professional learning and the day-to-day use of effective practices by providing ongoing, job-embedded support grounded in evidence-based practice and an understanding of the school context. Coaching is a goal-oriented, facilitative process that builds educator competence and confidence by helping teams identify priorities, set meaningful goals, and implement practices that enhance student success.
Educators who establish and sustain a coaching structure that builds system capacity for the effective implementation of evidence-based practices for inclusive settings. They have dedicated time and organizational support to design coordinated systems of ongoing training, coaching, and collaboration with district coaches and/or building coaches within districts.
Educators regularly present in the building who establish collaborative partnerships with their colleagues to support the implementation of evidence-based practices by assessing strengths and needs using structured tools (CETA & SPOT) to set goals, action plan, engage in observations, and problem-solve using reflection and feedback. Working in partnership with Coach Leaders, Building Coaches have completed training in evidence-based practices and coaching approaches