Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching — A Partnership Between the Annenberg Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Oct 2017 PLO Described by Attendees as “Mind Blowing!” PDF Print E-mail

Instructional coaches, district administrators, other school leaders, PIIC Mentors, and Regional Mentor Coordinators (RMC) from around the state came to the Penn Stater Conference Center for PIIC’s latest Professional Learning Opportunity (PLO) that took place October 30 – November 1, 2017.  

The event kicked off on October 30th at noon with PIIC Executive Director, Ellen Eisenberg, welcoming the attendees.   After the guests were welcomed, participants attended one of six pre-selected breakout sessions.  These sessions were centered around one-on-One and small group coaching:

·         Instructional Learning Visits: Before, During, and After facilitated by PIIC Associate Director Bruce Eisenberg;    

·         Building coaching relationships: Initiating the BDA cycle facilitated by Laurel Area SD Instructional Coach Shelly Mrozek, and IU PIIC Mentors Donette Porter and Diane McGaffic;    

·         Evolution of the Coaching Caravan facilitated by Westbranch SD Instructional Coaches Stacy Ricciotti and Greg Hubler, and Glendale Area School District Instructional Coach Karen Woods;

·          Coaching Out of Your Element facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors Mike Zwanch, Sondra Humenansky, and Scott Snyder         

·         Captive Audiences: 5 Practices for Engaging Small Groups facilitated by IU PIIC Mentor Andy Gavalis and educational consultant Kathleen Eich;

·         Coaching Outside the Lines with BDA Gamification facilitated by Loyalsock Township School District Instructional Coach Rebecca Leid and IU PIIC Mentor Brooke Beiter.

After a short break, participants attended Time to Act, a general session facilitated by educational consultants Kathleen Eich and Amy Walker, and IU PIIC Mentors Terri Lewis and Heather Moschetta.

Between the reception and dinner, the special guest speaker was David Volkman, Executive Deputy Secretary of Education, PA Department of Education.

Day 2 started off with new PIIC participants attending Coaching 101 facilitated by PIIC Executive Director, Ellen Eisenberg.   This required session helps coaches new to PIIC learn about the PIIC Instructional Coaching Model.  Veterans attended one of five pre-selected breakout sessions.  These sessions were centered around collecting, analyzing, and using data:

·         Taking Action: Using Data to Drive Coaching Conversations facilitated by IU PIIC Mentor Diane Hubona and educational consultant Amy Walker; 

·         Coaching for More Than Achievement… Growth for All facilitated by IU PIIC Mentor Mike Zwanch and West Shore School District Instructional Coach Sara Lobaugh;

·         What Does the Coach do During Instruction? facilitated by educational consultant Kathleen Eich, and IU PIIC Mentors Andy Gavalis and Missy Petrilak;

·         Unlocking the Mysteries of PVAAS: Coaching Like Sherlock facilitated by Boyertown Area School District Instructional Coach and IU PIIC Mentor and Gail Porrazzo;

·         Coaching with CDTs: Impacting Instructional Practice facilitated by Dan Richards, Director of Office of Professional Development, IU 14, and IU PIIC Mentor Cindy Shaffer.    

After a break, next on the agenda were the concurrent sessions: Time to Act, Part II: Creating an Action Plan facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors and educational consultants.  This session was a follow up to the previous day’s general session, Time to Act.

Participants then attended their third pre-selected breakout session.  These sessions were centered around using evidence-based literacy practices:

·         A Thousand Words… Coaching the Use of Non-Traditional Text facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors Jeremy Gabborin and Cindy Shaffer;

·         Disciplinary Literacy: A New Term for Teaching Across the Content Areas? Not Quite! Facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors Terri Lewis and Alicia Hull;

·         Engage Your Teachers – And Coach Them to Engage Their Students – with Sketchnote facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors Heather Moschetta and Suzanne Reed;

·         Academic Discourse: Coaching Classroom Conversations that Deepen Learning facilitated by IU PIIC Mentor Diane Hubona and IU 10 instructional coaches;

·         The Sensational, Sustainable Six facilitated by Altoona Area School District Instructional Coaches Michael Baker and Kelli Livermore, and IU PIIC Mentor Jen Herncane.

After a short break, the day ended with IU team time (an opportunity for IU groups to reflect together on their new learnings) and mentor reflection (an opportunity to process information and plan for future use).

Day 3 kicked off with announcements made by Ellen Eisenberg and Ivan Charner, Director, National Institute for Work and Learning.  Participants then attended their fourth pre-selected breakout session.  These sessions were centered around supporting reflective and non-evaluative practice:

·         What to do when the School Board asks, “So what do you do?” facilitated by Freedom Area School District Instructional Coach Ron Kelm, West Branch School District Instructional Coach Greg Hubler, Glendale Area School District Instructional Coach Renee McQuown, and IU PIIC Mentors Lori Ceremuga, and Diane Hubona;

·         Is “Non-Evaluative Feedback” an Oxymoron? facilitated by educational consultant Kathleen Eich and IU PIIC Mentor Chris Mitcheltree;

·         The Power of Conversation: How our Words Transform our Practice facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors Amber Molloy and Jamie Pitcavage;

·         Self-paced Professional Development: A One-on-one-derland Awaits! Facilitated by Altoona Area School District Instructional Coaches Keri Harrington and Julie Storm, and IU PIIC Mentor Jen Herncane;

·         Listening with Curiosity Leads to Powerful Coaching Questions facilitated by IU PIIC Mentors Gail Porrazzo and Janine Presloid.

After a short break, the day continued with Ivan Charner introducing the Afterthoughts sessionsTopics discussed during the Afterthoughts session were developed by participants and were intended to continue conversations from the sessions that took place during the first two days of the PLO.  Participants then ended their day with independent reflections, IU team time, and more mentor reflections. 

Feedback from the PLO was positive:

“My mind was blown by this conference! Thank you for EVERYTHING you have done to change the way we coach!”  -- Instructional Coach

“This conference is always refreshing and I learn so much. I enjoy being surrounded by positive, liked-minded people who enjoy being challenged. The networking with other coaches is priceless.” – Instructional Coaching

“The variety of topics and meeting other coaches from other districts was very useful! The topics were relevant and were presented in a way that we walked away with several new ideas and resources to take back to our districts for use.” – Instructional Coach

You can read more feedback from this PLO on the Testimonials page.   The PLO agenda is available on our Past Professional Learning Opportunities page.  You can also find photos from the event in the PIIC Photo Gallery.  Our next PIIC Professional Development will be January 8th – 10th at the Penn Stater Conference Center.  For more information, visit our Events Page or contact your IU PIIC Mentor.