Klista Rader, founder of 21 Vision Education Consulting, stood in the front of a South Callaway Middle School classroom Monday. Instead of students in the seats, the district's instructional coaches sat in the classrooms chairs, with iPads in hand. Rader discussed presentation techniques and technology integration with South Callaway's instructional coaches.
Rader started 21 Vision Education Consulting in March, but she has taught and worked in education for more than 10 years. She currently consults with three school districts and has other contracts on the table that aren't finalized just yet. She provides districts with training related to project-based learning and technology integration in the classroom.
"If you really break it down, I teach teachers," Rader said.
The South Callaway R-II School District added instructional coaches this year to better support teachers with their classroom goals and technology usage. South Callaway put iPads in the hands of each student last fall. Mary Van Orden, director of curriculum and instruction for the district, said South Callaway Schools continue to research new ways to utilize apps and technology to help students learn better.
Before deciding to add instructional coaches, South Callaway looked at other districts to see what they were doing, not only with technology, but with teaching strategies, too. The instructional coach technology integration specialist idea, Van Orden said, is not new. In its research and observation of other schools, South Callaway saw a great deal of instructional coach-type positions. While not new, Rader described instructional coaches as a growing trend.
"It is something that a lot of districts utilize for many different reasons. It is an opportunity for teachers to have more support," Rader said.
Rader said every district uses instructional coaches the way that best fits their needs while working toward their district's goals.
"Sometimes the instructional coaches only work on engagement and instruction whereas sometimes they are solely focused on technology integration," Rader said. "Every district is different."
Van Orden said each school South Callaway observed and researched used instructional coaches differently. The South Callaway district had to decide how it wanted to utilize instructional coaches in its schools. It decided to have have instructional coaches who still teach, but teach a lighter course load. The coaches provide peer feedback, research new apps and help teachers with class activities as needed. Rader described South Callaway's model as a blend of technology and instructional support.
"The coaches are still teaching. They are still involved in all of the day-to-day of what a teacher has to do so that way teachers can better relate to them. Sometimes they wear an instructional hat. Sometimes they wear a technology hat,"Rader said.