Olympia School District recently launched a new Instructional Coaching Model to provide K-12 teachers with ongoing, job embedded professional development in support of student success. This updated approach to Instructional Coaching is grounded in our Board’s Recovery Plan. OSD’s instructional coaching team includes six full-time elementary coaches, four secondary coaches, and four K-12 coaches who support specific programs. The team is connected to Teaching and Learning.  The vision is that eventually every school will have an instructional coach so that every teacher will have access to a coach.

What do Instructional Coaches do?

Coaches partner with educators to engage, equip and empower teachers to incorporate research-based instructional practices into their teaching. They serve as co-learners, reflective partners and consulting partners while honoring teacher-directed interests and goal setting. Coaches collaborate with teachers in 1:1, small group and large group settings in support of classroom management, content, instruction, and assessment for learning and equity.  

Who are the Instructional Coaches?

Elementary Instructional Coaches include:

• Carolyn Balderston (LP Brown)
• Angela Leonard (Garfield)
• Ashley Patrick (Hansen)
• Chelsey Schneidemann (McLane)
• Jennifer Cronquist (Roosevelt)
• Melissa Hayes (Madison)

Secondary Instructional Coaches include:

• Casey Church (Math)
• Malia Lee (Humanities)
• Katie Savinski (Humanities)
• Paula Perryman (Career & Technical Education)

K-12 Instructional Coaches include:

• Carmen Kardokus (Science)
• Rachel Diane Brock (Intervention & Extension)
• Kris Norelius (Social Emotional Learning)
• Susan Williams (Professional Growth & New Teacher Induction)

For an overview of instructional coaching see “Coaching — Not Just for Athletes” in Instructional Coaching in Action: An Integrated Approach That Transforms Thinking, Practice, and Schools found in the Gale Professional Growth e-Library.