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Patrick Hausammann

Clarity from Day One: Defining Your Coaching Role for a Successful Start

August 5, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann Leave a Comment

 

 

VSTE Certified Coach logo with the text: Clarity from Day One: Defining Your Coaching Role for a Successful Start" A VSTE Certified Coach Blog Series on Transformative CoachingA VSTE Certified Coach Blog Series on Transformative Coaching

This blog is authored by VSTE's Certified Coach Program Coordinator, Katie Breaud


Introductions can be truly awkward as a coach. People have an innate understanding of sport coaches and life coaches, but when you say that you’re an instructional technology coach (or insert your coaching title) there can be that blank-stare moment. In the hustle and bustle of back-to-school chaos, it’s easy to be seen as the “fixer.” The person who will come into the classroom and make sure the student devices are ready. Or help hang posters and make sure copies are ready for Open House. While these experiences can help build relationships, they may also muddy the waters around a coach’s professional role. In order to build trust, transparency, and long-term success, defining our role matters, and it isn’t a one-time thing.

 

Why Clarity is Critical

As defined in Forward Edge’s Core of Coaching Framework, building relationships is the bedrock of successful coaching and a key component of that is clarifying the coaching role. When teachers truly understand what a coach brings to the table, and knows what to expect when they engage with a coach, they thrive. Professional educators need to know the “why” in all professional learning situations to attach value to the experience. Coaches who are able to communicate clearly about why working with a coach is a value-add reduce confusion, resistance, and stress.

 

Three Ways to Define Your Role with Intention

  1. Align your message to school or division goals: Coaches should have a deep understanding of their school and/or school division’s goals. Use these goals to explain your purpose and reason for placement. Be specific. Include talking point examples such as: “My role is to help ensure all students succeed through personalized instruction.”
  2. Be transparent about boundaries: Teachers need to know if coaching interactions are confidential or not, how coaches will behave in their classrooms, and how coaching support works. Remind teachers: “I’m not an evaluator. Our coaching work is a safe space for growth.”
  3. Be consistent across all interactions: Develop a “coaching elevator pitch” that highlights what you bring to the table. Don’t be afraid to re-introduce yourself early and often. Keep your messaging consistent across all formats including emails, face to face interactions, professional learning sessions, and newsletters.

 

Tying This to the VSTE Certified Coach (VCC) Program

If you’re already a VCC, remember how this aligns with your training in coaching clarity and equity of support. As we head back to school, keep in mind that “starting fresh” is a continuous process and not a one-time event. What artifacts do you already have that could be updated to better serve your teachers this coming year? Is there a strategy you hoped to implement this coming year that needs to be put into action? Hold yourself accountable and reach out to the network if needed!

 

Tools Coaches Can Use

If you’re hoping to improve your role clarity this coming year, consider incorporating any of the following:

Coaching menu or service business card (include your contact information!)
Introductory welcome email to all staff
A short video introducing your coaching focus
A visual calendar so that staff will know where to find you and your general schedule

 

Coaching Reflection Prompt

How did you introduce your coaching role this year, and what part of your message seemed to resonate most with staff?

 


This post is part of a monthly series inspired by the VSTE Certified Coach program and the Core of Coaching Framework, designed to support and grow coaches across Virginia.

Transparency Statement: This blog post was co-developed with support from an AI writing assistant (ChatGPT). The author retains full creative control and authorship of the post content. AI was used to brainstorm ideas, organize outlines, and review grammar and spelling.

 

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Filed Under: Blog, VSTE Coaching Tagged With: Core of Coaching, EdTech Coaching, Instructional Coaching, VCC, VSTE Certified Coach

Common Sense Education Resource Share – June 2025

July 28, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann Leave a Comment

An image of students working on laptops in a classroom. A Common Sense Education text overlay appears in the top right of the graphic."Common Sense is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all kids thrive in a world of media and technology. They support pre-K–12 schools with lesson plans, edtech reviews, family resources, and everything else students need to thrive in a connected world." Below is a custom set of resources pulled from this month's newest updates! Check them out via the links and explore even more at www.commonsense.org/education. VSTE is proud to partner with Common Sense Education.


For Teachers:

  • 3 Core Skills to Build Before AI Use
  • Offline and Off-Screen Activities for Minds-On Learning
  • A Community-First Approach to Cellphone Bans
  • Professional Development Opportunities!
    • Engaging Families in Digital Well-Being: Click with Purpose

For Parents & Caregivers:

    • Kids and Tech: How Much Is Too Much (and in Spanish)

 

 


All Resources via Common Sense Education

All VSTE Posts of Common Sense Education Resources

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Filed Under: Blog, Common Sense Education Tagged With: Common Sense Education

Common Sense Education Resource Share – April & May 2025

June 3, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann

An image of students working on laptops in a classroom. A Common Sense Education text overlay appears in the top right of the graphic."Common Sense is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all kids thrive in a world of media and technology. They support pre-K–12 schools with lesson plans, edtech reviews, family resources, and everything else students need to thrive in a connected world." Below is a custom set of resources pulled from this month's newest updates! Check them out via the links and explore even more at www.commonsense.org/education. VSTE is proud to partner with Common Sense Education.


For Teachers:

  • Copyright, Creative Commons, and Fair Use in the Classroom
  • Help Students Fact-Check the Web Like Pros
  • 27 Fun Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year
  • Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the Classroom and Online
  • Professional Development Opportunities!
    • Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight: The Common Sense Census Report
    • Reading Games Well: A New Lens for Literacy in the Classroom

For Parents & Caregivers:

    • 50 Movies to Help Raise a Kind Kid
    • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls

 

 


All Resources via Common Sense Education

All VSTE Posts of Common Sense Education Resources

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Filed Under: Blog, Common Sense Education Tagged With: Common Sense Education, common sense media

2025 Outstanding Technology Teacher, Coach and Leader of the Year Award

June 2, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann

VSTE will recognize and honor Virginia Educators, Technology Coaches and Leaders who are VSTE members or at least 30 days prior to nomination and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education. Award recipients will be selected from a pool of nominations submitted by VSTE members from around Virginia.

Nominations will be accepted from June 1 - September 21, 2025. Nominations will be reviewed by the VSTE Awards Committee and past winners. Select nominators will be contacted in early October to provide additional evidence and documentation. Nominators are encouraged to work with the nominee to gather this additional information.

Decisions will be made prior to the VSTE Annual Conference. Award winners will be recognized during a general session at the annual conference. They are also provided with a complimentary conference registration and three nights of hotel accommodations for the annual conference. This year's conference will be held December 7-5, 2025, in Virginia Beach, VA.

The Awards Committee uses the VSTE certified coach standards developed with ForwardEdge as the basis for judging the Outstanding Technology Coach awards. Please review the appropriate standards when preparing nomination materials. Nominees are rated solely using criteria identified in the rubric.

Please use this form to nominate a technology coach for this award.

More information about the ForwardEdge Core of Coaching,  ISTE Standards for Educators, ISTE Standards for Education Leaders.

Questions should be addressed to awards@vste.org.

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Filed Under: Awards, Blog, VSTE Annual Conference, VSTE News Tagged With: Annual Conference, Awards, Conference, VSTE25

New VSTE Conference Lead Named

May 16, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann

The Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) is proud to announce that Heather Hurley has been named the organization's next Conference Lead, beginning July 1, 2025. Heather currently serves as Assistant Principal of a virtual elementary school and brings deep expertise in instructional technology, professional learning, and large-scale event planning.Heather Hurley headshot

Heather has long been a dedicated member of the VSTE community, having served as a Board Member, Presentations Chair, and Exhibits Lead for the annual conference. Her leadership extends nationally through her work with ISTELive, where she has held multiple roles in conference planning and content development.

"Heather's deep knowledge of instructional technology and her proven leadership in local and national arenas make her an ideal fit to lead the VSTE Annual Conference," said Craig Spraggins, outgoing Conference Lead and incoming Executive Director. "She understands the value of connection, innovation, and meaningful professional learning."

Heather will officially begin her tenure as Conference Lead on July 1, 2025.

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Filed Under: Blog, Events, Live Events, VSTE Annual Conference Tagged With: Annual Conference, Conference, Conference Lead, Conference Team Lead, VSTE Conference

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