Coaches Help Us Become Better Selves and Better Educators
April 11, 2022
Read Jennifer's article for Learning Forward -- why coaching is invaluable for educators.
Excerpt:
When I work with school leaders and their teams, I always share this belief: Growing into who we can become is a lifelong journey that never ends. Usually, there is pushback. Some will ask, “Shouldn’t education leaders be there already? That’s why we got the Schools should be places where everyone — not just students — learns, matures, and develops. Jennifer Abrams (jennifer@ jenniferabrams. com) is an independent communications consultant and leadership coach. Vol. 43 No. 2 job, right?” Others will say, “I have so much on my plate as it is. How could I find time to grow?” While I agree there is a fundamental level of competence and professionalism that should be expected of all school leaders, I also believe that our development as professionals is never complete. We should always aspire to be better selves and better educators. We should model for those we teach and lead what it means to be a work in progress and stretch at our edges. Schools should be places where everyone — not just students — learns, matures, and develops. We should not solely be in the child development business. We should be in the human development business (Abrams, 2021). In this ongoing process of growth, coaching is invaluable.
About Jennifer Abrams
Jennifer has been recognized as one of "21 Women All K-12 Educators Need to Know" by Education Week's 'Finding Common Ground' blog. She considers herself a "voice coach," helping others learn how to best use their voices – be it collaborating on a team, facilitating a group, coaching a colleague, supervising an employee and being an all around better human being in all types of interactions.
Work with Jennifer
Praise for Jennifer
“I recently participated in an enlightening online workshop titled ‘Having Hard Conversations’ facilitated by Jennifer Abrams. This virtual workshop brought together participants from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and shared learning. Despite the physical distance, Jennifer created an immersive and thought-provoking experience. Through interactive exercises and discussions, we explored practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations. Active listening, empathy, and building trust were emphasized as crucial elements. The online format seamlessly integrated multimedia resources, enhancing our learning experience. Engaging in discussions and collaborating with fellow participants added a valuable dimension to the workshop. Jennifer’s expertise and the virtual platform allowed us to address the specific challenges we face within our contexts effectively. Participating in Jennifer Abrams’ online workshop was transformative. I am grateful for the insights gained and look forward to applying them in my interactions. Thank you, Jennifer Abrams for facilitating meaningful conversations, even in the online realm.”
