Coaching for Equity is a comprehensive guide for educators who are committed to creating equitable schools. It offers concrete strategies, a sequence of action steps, inspiring anecdotes, information, and resources. It is written for educators at all entry points—from those who are just starting to cultivate an awareness of equity, to those who have led for equity for many years. It is a book for teachers, teacher leaders, principals, superintendents, school boards, and anyone working in and with schools who aspires to fulfill a vision for equitable schools.
Coaching for Equity will respond to the following commonly asked questions:
- What does equity mean? What does an equitable school look like?
- How can I recognize inequity? What does it look like in my classroom and school?
- How did we get here--to a place where there are so many inequities in schools?
- How do we create something different? And what would that something different be?
- What do I need to know in order to create equitable classrooms? What do I need to be able to do? What new awareness do I need?
ELENA AGUILAR is the founder and president of Bright Morning Consulting, an international education, coaching, and consulting firm that brings new learning practices to organizations. Elena has extensive experience working in diverse school environments as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and leadership coach. She is the bestselling author of The Art of Coaching, The Art of Coaching Teams, and Onward.
Introduction:
- On Bridge Building
- Defining Equity
- The Contents and Organization of this Book
- Who You Are—the Readers
- Who I Am—the Author
- How To Get the Most from this Book
- Interlude: Compassion
Chapter 1: Transformational Coaching: A Model for Change
- Structures to Span Chasms
- Assumptions Behind Transformational Coaching
- Transformational Coaching
- The Three Components of Transformational Coaching
- The Four Phases of Transformational Coaching
- The Five Principles of Transformational Coaching
- Interlude: Curiosity
Chapter 2: Jumping into Coaching for Equity
- Building Relationships and Surfacing Strengths
- Low Expectations and a Deficit Mindset
- The Undulating Landscape of Emotions
- Turning Inward
- A Conversation about Crying
- Interlude: Connection
Chapter 3: What You Need to Know about Race, Racism and White Supremacy
- What Is White Supremacy?
- What is Racism?
- How Racism Manifests in Schools
- The Power of Words and The Language of Oppression
- It’s Time to Take Action
- Interlude: Courage
Chapter 4: How to Talk about Race
- Recognizing What Is and What Could Be
- Attending to Myself
- A Time of Growth
- The Path to Racial Healing
- Why Calling People Out Doesn’t Work
- Ten Ways to Respond to the Question, “Am I Racist?”
- Interlude: Purpose
Chapter 5: What You Need to Know about Adult Learners
- The Gaps Between Current Ability and Desired Ability
- How to Sequence Adult Learning
- The Coach as Learner
- Interlude: Compassion
Chapter 6: How to Change Someone’s Mind
- Addressing Beliefs and Behavior at the Same Time
- Six Conditions in Which Beliefs Change
- How to Build Trust
- What to Say When…
- For People of Color Doing this Work
- Interlude: Curiosity
Chapter 7: What You Need to Know about Emotions
- Towards an Appreciation of Emotions
- Exploring and Embracing our Needs
- Responding to Resistance
- The Connection Between Emotions and Justice
- A Transformational Coach’s Way of Being
- Next Steps in this Learning
- Interlude: Connection
Chapter 8: What You Need to Know about Identity
- The Social Construction of Identity
- How to Facilitate Reflection
- Addressing Racial Differences
- Interlude: Courage
Chapter 9: Surfacing Current Reality
- A Prequel
- Building Trust with Khai
- Planning a Coaching Conversation
- A First Classroom Visit
- Interlude: Purpose
Chapter 10: Recognizing Impact
- Debriefing an Observation
- A Pause to Look Inward
- Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Coaching a Way of Being: The Legacy Question
- When to Talk about Race
- Interlude: Compassion
Chapter 11: Exploring Emotions
- When Anger and Doubt Arise
- The Power of Student Experience Data
- Confronting Bias
- Interlude: Courage
Chapter 12: Creating New Practices
- Developing New Behaviors
- Data that Reveals Beliefs and Ways of Being
- Practice, Practice, Practice
- Evidence of Deepening Will and Commitment
- The Ups and Downs of Learning
- Celebrating Growth
- Interlude: Purpose
Conclusion: Towards Liberty and Justice for All
Appendix A: The Phases of Transformational Coaching
Appendix B: The Equity Rubric
Appendix C: Transformational Coaching Rubric 2.0
Appendix D: Advocating for Systems Change
Appendix E: The Core Emotions
Appendix F: Resources for Further Learning
Appendix G: Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Author
References
Index
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