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Listening First: Building Trust During a Season of Transitions

September 10, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann Leave a Comment

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

My second year of teaching didn’t start off great. I was returning to the same role, but the coaches in our building were brand new. The previous year I had built an amazing relationship with my instructional coach, and I assumed one of the new coaches would be able to pick up where we left off. Not quite. Due to scheduling conflicts we weren’t able to meet until the sixth week of school, so I asked them to help me with my SMART goals. They jumped in feet first! I was inundated with book study ideas, instructional strategies to try, and a draft of how I could fill in the school division’s template. I left the meeting feeling overwhelmed and unheard.

Looking back, I can empathize with those coaches. Although they were new to me, they were veteran coaches that knew what types of goals a teacher in my position should pursue (and the resources that would go along with them). Sometimes, as coaches, we feel pressure to act and to help. It’s in our nature. What we need to remember is that the real power lies in simply listening first.

Why Trust Comes Before Change

There is a reason why Domain 1 of Forward Edge’s Core of Coaching Framework is Building Relationships. How many times have we heard, “Maslow’s before Bloom’s”? Just like the students in our classrooms, teachers also need to feel psychologically safe before they can experiment, reflect, or grow. Active listening has a multi-pronged impact on building this foundation. It models empathy, creates space for honest dialogue, and affirms teachers as individuals with specific needs.

Three Coaching Practices That Center Trust

Lead with curiosity instead of solutions: Approach each challenge with an open mind (and ear). It is easy to jump to conclusions when you hear a problem that you have previously solved. Avoid offering a strategy or tech tool too soon before you understand the scope of the issue. Ask questions such as, “Can you tell me more about your goal?” or “What is working well for you right now?”
Normalize Emotional Honesty: Verbally acknowledge the feelings in the room. It is okay to recognize when a situation is overwhelming or if there is ambiguity in the system. One comment to try is, “You’re not alone. Lots of teachers are feeling that way right now, too. Let’s figure this out together.”
Honor Teacher Autonomy & Voice: Use a coaching version of the looping strategy! Reiterate what you hear the teacher say and ask if you heard them correctly. Ask follow-up questions to ensure you fully understand their perspective. This allows them the opportunity to clarify their intentions while validating their expertise. Looping has been shown to promote understanding and empathy, two pillars of trust.

Tying This to the VSTE Certified Coach (VCC) Program

VCCs are trained to listen deeply, lead with empathy, and recognize each educator as an individual. These aren’t just nice-to-have “soft skills”! In order to create systemic and sustainable change, there needs to be a foundation of trust. Also keep in mind that even if a teacher isn’t “ready” for coaching (yet), building relationships is coaching!

Tools Coaches Can Use

Try Elena Aguilar’s Coaching Sentence Stems as open-ended prompts to deepen reflection and build rapport
Use or create a digital check-in for ongoing pulse checks
- Suggestion: Try this one from SchoolAI
Incorporate a thinking routine into your own practice such as “See, Think, Wonder” or the “Ladder of Inference”
Learn more about the intersection of Maslow’s & Coaching with this blog post from Brooke Conklin

Coaching Reflection Prompt

What is one way you can build trust with a hesitant teacher this fall?

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.

Common Sense Education Resource Share – August 2025

September 4, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann Leave a Comment

"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:

ChatGPT and Beyond: How to Handle AI in Schools
Digital Literacy and Well-Being Curriculum
Movies Based on Books with Reviews and Resources
Professional Development Opportunities!
- AI Toolkit for School Districts: Though not technically PD, this toolkit can help your school(s) prepare for the impacts of generative AI.
- AI Teacher Assistants Risk Assessment: If you're planning to integrate AI tools for teachers, first take a look at our risk assessment.Engaging Families in Digital Well-Being: Click with Purpose

For Parents & Caregivers:

- Try These 5 Methods to Cope with Stress: The back-to-school season can be stressful, so pass along these tips to families.

All Resources via Common Sense Education

All VSTE Posts of Common Sense Education Resources

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

August 5, 2025 by Patrick Hausammann

A 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

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.”
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.”
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.