In this episode of Coaching Conversations, ICG Consultant Jessica Wise looks back at three standout episodes from 2025. Each one pushed her thinking about how we can better support educators and help schools flourish.

Listeners will hear why connection sits at the heart of real change and why strong support systems matter so much for educator well-being. Jessica also highlights practical ideas for creating schools where mental health is a priority and where people feel safe, supported, and encouraged.

Drawing on insights from our expert guests, Jessica encourages listeners to reflect on their own practice—nurturing relationships, taking mental health seriously, and building cultures where both educators and students can thrive.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

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Learn more about our Instructional Coaching Institutes:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/in-person-intensive-instructional-coaching-institute/

Learn more about our 1:1 Impact Coaching:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/jim-knights-1-1-impact-coaching/

In this week's Coaching Q&A episode, Jessica Wise and I dig into one of the most important topics in education today: the role of school leaders, especially principals, as instructional coaches.

We talk honestly about what great coaching really requires, the common challenges leaders face, and why authentic partnership matters so much more than compliance-driven conversations. We also explore what it looks like when leaders show up as true collaborators, using evidence-based practices and meaningful dialogue to support teachers' growth.

During this episode I also walk through the Impact Cycle, my go-to framework for creating real, sustainable improvement, and share why quick fixes or surface-level coaching won't get us where we want to go.

Throughout the conversation, Jessica and I share practical advice, encouragement, and real examples designed to help leaders foster genuine change, honor teacher autonomy, and build a culture of continuous learning that ultimately leads to better outcomes for students.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

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• Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about Better Conversations:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/better-conversations/

Learn more about Managing Challenging Conversations:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/managing-challenging-conversations/

In this episode, Jim Knight sits down with the brilliant Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. They discuss how teachers can bridge the gap between knowing and doing; bringing the science of learning and culturally responsive practices together to truly empower students.

Zaretta shares powerful insights on building students’ “learning power,” developing metacognitive skills, and shifting from compliance-based teaching to what she calls a pedagogy of possibility.

It’s a rich, practical conversation about equity, deep learning, and helping every student become an independent, confident learner. 

Thank you for being a part of our community.

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• Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about Partnering with ICG Consultants:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/instructional-coaching-program/

Chris Munro, John Campbell, and Jim Knight talk about what leadership coaching really looks like in schools. So much of it comes down to the conversations we have every day—the small moments that help people think, reflect, and grow.

In this episode they discuss ideas from their latest book Growth Talk, including tools like the Learning Conversations Map and the GROWTH model—both designed to help leaders turn ordinary interactions into meaningful opportunities for learning. They also talked about some of the core skills that make coaching powerful: asking good questions, really listening, and being fully present.

Tune in to learn about the mindset behind coaching—valuing progress over perfection, and seeing every exchange as a chance to build trust, clarity, and hope. Whether in schools or beyond, these ideas remind us that great leadership starts with how we connect with others.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

• Feedback: We love hearing from you! Leave us a rating or comment to let us know what you think.
• Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about Introduction to Leadership Coaching:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/introduction-to-leadership-coaching/

Learn more about Managing Challenging Conversations:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/managing-challenging-conversations/

Jim Knight talks with William DeJean, founder of Unleashed Learning, about what it means to teach and lead in what he calls the “era of overwhelm.” Their conversation explores how systems thinking, a clear teaching and learning mission, and the use of both “what” and “how” data can create real coherence in schools. Together, they unpack how shared language and sustainable coaching practices can help educators move past compliance and scattered strategies toward classrooms where learning is purposeful and engaging. 

Thank you for being a part of our community.

• Feedback: We love hearing from you! Leave us a rating or comment to let us know what you think.
• Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about The Impact Cycle workshop:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/the-impact-cycle/

In this episode, Jim Knight and Jessica Wise look back on the 2025 Teaching Leading Coaching (TLC) Conference, sharing moments that stood out and lessons that stayed with them. They talk about what makes instructional coaching meaningful, how caring communication shapes real partnerships, and why collaboration among educators matters so much. 

The conversation touches on memorable keynote sessions, useful coaching practices, and the sense of community that continues to grow through TLC. Jim and Jessica also share what’s ahead for future conferences and new coaching opportunities, all centered on helping educators learn together and stay focused on what matters most—students.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

• Feedback: We love hearing from you! Leave us a rating or comment to let us know what you think.
• Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about The Impact Cycle workshop:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/the-impact-cycle/

Learn more about 1:1 Impact Coaching:

https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/workshop/jim-knights-1-1-impact-coaching/

What does it really take to build a coaching program that works - not just on paper, but in real schools with real people? In this conversation, Jim Knight talks with TLC 2025 presenter Dr. Jataune Jones, about what makes instructional coaching thrive, the power of core values, strong partnerships between coaches and principals, and the importance of shaping coaching around each school's unique context.

Dr. Jataune Jones also shares practical ideas like auditing coaching roles, creating school coaching profiles, and building networks where coaches can truly support one another. It's an honest look at how relationships, networks, and shared purpose can lead to meaningful growth for teachers and schools alike.

Thank you for being a part of our community.

Feedback: We love hearing from you! Leave us a rating or comment to let us know what you think.

Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

On the Coaching Conversations podcast, Jim Knight and Jessica Wise come together for their monthly episode of Coaching Q&A, where they talk about Jim's upcoming keynote, “Learning from Experience,” for the 2025 TLC Conference. Their conversation looks at how lessons from life—love, forgiveness, courage, and even the way we use our time—shape who we are and how we coach. Jim shares stories and research that show how everyday choices and genuine relationships influence both learning and living.

Coaches are encouraged to consider their own experiences, how those experiences guide their practice, and how they might grow alongside others in the TLC community. And if you can’t be there in person, there’s still time to join TLC virtually and be part of the experience.

Thank you for being a part of our community.
Feedback: We love hearing from you! Leave us a rating or comment to let us know what you think.
Stay Connected: Follow our podcast for more episodes packed with insights and inspiration.

Learn more about TLC 2025:

https://shorturl.at/E9wTa

Learn more about the Coaching Accreditation Program:
https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/coaching-accreditation-program/