Instructional Coaching Program
The Crown Center Instructional Coaching Program at Colorado College is a peer-to-peer professional development program that supports colleagues to advance their curricular, pedagogical and assessment practices.
Become a Coach: The IC program seeks to hire two new instructional coaches for the 2026-2027 school year. We currently have a strong pool of coaches from the Natural Sciences Division and ID programs, so we are looking for applicants who represent Social Sciences and Humanities Divisions for this round.
Preference will be given to applicants who have previously participated as a ‘coachee’ in the program.
Instructional coaches serve as pedagogical thought partners who are responsible for observing and supporting the development of one-two “coachee” colleagues throughout a semester or the academic year through two-four coaching cycles. Coaching cycles typically include a pre-observation conversation, a 2-stage classroom observation using the Inclusive Pedagogies Observation Protocol (IPOP foundations and advanced and a shorted version of these tools), and a post-observation debrief. Coaching cycles can also include syllabus support, assignment and assessment design.
New coaches are required to attend a two-part instructional coach training early in Block 1 along with a ~2-hour asynchronous training in between these dates. Exact dates and times will be collectively determined.
All coaches are required to attend a semesterly check ins and returning coaches are required to attend further training during the fall semester.
Instructional coaches are paid $2750 each academic year to support the professional growth of one-two coachees for a total of 4 coaching cycles (one coachee per semester OR one coachee for the entirely of the academic year).
Apply to become an instructional coach here.
Questions? Contact Instructional Coaching Faculty Fellow Tina Valtierra at kvaltierra@coloradocollege.edu
Get a Coach: The IC program invites faculty and instructors of all ranks including visiting instructors, to sign up for the Instructional Coaching Program. Instructional coaching includes use of the Inclusive Pedagogies Observation Protocol (IPOP foundations and advanced and a shorted version of these tools) but is also flexible depending upon your goals and needs. Coaching cycles can also include syllabus support, assignment and assessment design.
The coachee’s teaching challenges and successes revealed through this program are not shared with department/program chairs, mentors, or colleagues. Privacy and confidentiality are taken very seriously because we want this program to be a space where educators can be vulnerable, can experiment with new teaching approaches, and feel supported as they continuously learn and grow as instructors.
Participants in the coaching program must commit to two coaching cycles in either the fall or spring semester, proactive scheduling, and communication with their Instructional Coach. Participants are also required to attend a coaching program orientation during block 1, date and time TBD.
Apply for instructional coaching HERE
Questions? Contact Instructional Coaching Faculty Fellow Tina Valtierra at kvaltierra@coloradocollege.edu
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Instructional Coaches are talented teaching faculty of all ranks trained in dialogic coaching and the Inclusive Pedagogies Observation Protocol (IPOP). The IPOP features research based pedagogical approaches to establishing an equitable classroom environment, inclusive instruction, authentic assessment, generative classroom dialogue and critical consciousness.
Participation is voluntary and designed to support faculty and instructional staff to reach their pedagogical goals through:
- peer-to-peer classroom observations
- syllabus, assignment and assessment design
- reflexive questioning,
- goal setting and feedback.
Participants can choose to receive coaching support on a semesterly or yearly basis.
In tandem with one-to-one instructional coaching, the program also offers team coaching for programs, departments and groups of colleagues invested in collaborative learning and instructional growth. The Team Instructional Coaching Program is flexible, depending on your shared problems of practice, goals and needs, and can include facilitated opportunities for colleagues to engage together in:
- classroom observations and feedback
- student feedback via surveys, interviews and focus groups
- support with curriculum and syllabi design
- and, more!
The IC program is non-evaluative, confidential and designed to engender trust and collective professional growth to optimize student success.
Please contact Professor Tina Valtierra at kvaltierra@coloradocollege.edu for more information.