Coaching the Whole Educator

Rolling out a new curriculum? Brace yourself—resistance, frustration, and missteps are inevitable… unless you do it right. Join Sean Lindsey and me as we break down what it really takes to get teachers, students, and families on board—without wasted effort or top-down mandates that fall flat.

We’re talking about:
The #1 mistake leaders make when choosing a curriculum – Teachers and students aren’t just checkboxes in your curriculum rollout. Use a rubric based on their actual needs—not just the shiniest new program. 

How to turn teachers into champions (not skeptics) – Training, time, and real support matter. Mass rollouts of a new curriculum to teachers without these? Recipe for disaster.

The secret to getting parents on your side before they push back – If parents don’t understand the “why,” they’ll resist the “what.” Learn how to engage them from the start.

How school leaders can do more than just cheerlead – Leaders who don’t get the curriculum can’t lead it. We’ll talk about how to remove barriers and create real instructional shifts.

Don’t gamble with your rollout—learn how to make it stick. 

Free Resources:

[FREE] Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

[FREE DOWNLOAD] Levels of Resistance

[FREE RESOURCE] Podcast Playlists (Episodes that focus on Resistance to Change)

Sean Lindsey Info:

LinkedIn  |  Reading Horizons  |  The Reading League

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We aren't here for wishful thinking—we stand for hope as action. Hope-centered leadership isn’t about toxic positivity; it’s about setting bold goals, creating real pathways, and owning the work. Inspired by Dr. Shane Lopez’s research, we fuse agency, optimism, and accountability into an Ownership Mindset that fuels change. Without hope, schools spiral into stagnation and burnout. We’ll break down the three essential drivers of hope—and the strategic actions you can take to embed them in your school. Leaders who clarify the vision, help people see multiple pathways to get there and keep people moving forward, create schools where students and educators achieve their full capabilities. The data doesn’t lie—hope isn’t just nice; it’s necessary.

*Related Episode*

#122: Why Growth Mindset Isn't Enough: The Five Mindsets You Need to Drive Change

Research:

• Hope and School Leadership
• Instilling Hope in Students

Use this podcast for FREE PD! [PODCAST PLAYLISTS]

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Dr. Kim Richardson and I discuss building leadership identity with intention. We look at people-centered leadership backed by the 24 character strengths —like love of learning, empathy, and bravery—not as soft skills, but as essential tools for leaders who actually want to make an impact.

Ethical leadership isn’t a suggestion; it’s a requirement. Richardson lays it out—bravery, honesty, social intelligence, and self-regulation aren’t optional if you want to lead with integrity. If you’re not reflecting on your strengths, you’re leading blind. Join us to learn more about:

• Knowing your top strengths. If you can’t name them, you’re not using them.
• Using strengths to build your team, not just yourself. This isn’t solo work.
• Leading with integrity. Ethics matter.

Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about action. 

Use this podcast for FREE PD! [PODCAST PLAYLISTS]

Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

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Becca and Dr. Chris Jones cohost another episode where they explore how imposter syndrome affects everyone, especially our high-achieving coaches and leaders. Everyone experiences imposter syndrome, no matter their experience level. Here are the highlights:

• Different Reactions to Imposter Syndrome
  • People either overcompensate or underfunction when faced with imposter syndrome.
• Strategies to Manage Imposter Syndrome
  • Chris emphasizes the importance of recognizing and being yourself to manage imposter syndrome.
  • Self-regulation to prevent emotional dysregulation. Become a “professional noticer” to recognize when imposter syndrome is affecting behavior.
• Impact of Unnoticed Imposter Syndrome
  • Unaddressed imposter syndrome can lead to harmful behaviors like micromanagement or avoidance.
  • Operating under the weight of imposter syndrome harms both leaders and teams.
• The Role of Transparency and Vulnerability
  • Leaders admitting to imposter syndrome can foster authenticity and improve connections within teams.
  • Leaders should invite collaboration by admitting when they don’t have all the answers.
  • Be conscious of the stories you tell yourself and make an effort to change the narrative.

Here's the "How fascinating!" video clip!

[Catalyst Mindsets] Ep. #122: Why Growth Mindset Isn't Enough: The Five Mindsets You Need to Drive Change

Work with The Whole Educator! Check out our programs and offerings.

Check out our FREE RESOURCES here as well! 

Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

Let's Stay Connected!
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Are you ready to lead with real impact? In their new book, "Coaching Education Leaders," Michelle Jarney, Michael Kim, and Nancy Gutierrez get real about their Facilitative Competency-Based Coaching (FCB) approach—a method designed to push school leaders out of their comfort zones and into real transformation. Their message? If coaching isn’t making people uncomfortable, it’s not working.

They break down the power of precision questioning—not just to make people think, but to expose blind spots, shift mindsets, and drive real behavior change. They dig into the Tailor Your Approach chart and Clutterbuck’s Levels of Dialogue, giving coaches a framework to move leaders beyond surface-level conversations and into deep, systemic change.

The Hard Truths:

• Coaching isn’t passive. If you’re just listening, you’re not coaching.
• Stop coaching for comfort—create inescapable learning moments that force self-insight and behavior shifts.
• Coaches must be adaptable. One-size-fits-all coaching doesn’t work.
• Questioning is a strategy, not a checklist. Purposeful questions expose hidden barriers and unlock change.
• Leaders need to be held accountable. Reflection is great, but action is everything.

[Catalyst Mindsets] Ep. #122: Why Growth Mindset Isn't Enough: The Five Mindsets You Need to Drive Change

Work with The Whole Educator! Check out our programs and offerings.

Check out our FREE RESOURCES here as well!

Let's Stay Connected!
Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

Growth mindset? Oversold. It’s not the magic bullet schools think it is. Telling teachers and students to “just believe in improvement” without addressing what’s blocking them is like throwing seeds on dry, compacted soil and expecting a lush garden—without loosening the ground, adding nutrients, or ensuring there’s water, those seeds don’t stand a chance.

Becca reveals five Catalyst Mindsets™ —Value, Ownership, Belonging, Success, and Growth—that actually move people from burnout to engagement and from passive compliance to real action.

Value Mindset: If it doesn’t matter to me, I’m not investing energy. Connect initiatives to personal goals, or watch engagement stay surface-level.

Ownership Mindset: Stop waiting for someone else to fix it. Agency, accountability, and integrity drive real change.

Belonging Mindset: If I don’t feel like I belong, I’m not taking risks. Schools must create real psychological safety, not just “niceness.”

Success Mindset: If I don’t believe I can succeed, I won’t even try. Coaching must reinforce small wins and self-efficacy to build real confidence.

Growth Mindset: It’s a continuum, not a checkbox. Where someone falls on that continuum matters more than whether they “have” a growth mindset.

Coaches and Leaders: Your Challenge 

• Identify Resistance—Which mindset is missing?
• Make Change Manageable—Break it down into small wins that build confidence.
• Stop Asking About Growth Mindset—Ask where someone is on the continuum and coach them through the messy middle.

Growth mindset alone won’t move the needle. Change happens when we address the right mindsets, in the right way, at the right time.

Want more info? Check out these resources:

The Five Catalyst Mindsets™: Why Growth Mindset Isn’t Enough [BLOG]

Download the Catalyst Mindsets™ One Pager Here

Human Centered Academy

Ready to diagnose the biggest mindset gap on your team? Take the free Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**! 

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Warren Buck, founder of Future Finders, transformed his life from a struggling student to a powerhouse principal. His journey proves that self-determination theory (SDT) isn't just theory—it's the fuel that drives real change. Competence, autonomy, and relatedness aren't optional; they're essential for thriving schools.

Power Moves for School Leaders
Buck delivers no-nonsense strategies that ignite teacher growth and motivation:

• Unify with a School-Wide Rubric: Give teachers the power to own their growth within a clear, shared framework that aligns with school goals.
• Cultivate a Thriving Culture: Lead with transparency, unshakable support, and relentless optimism to create an environment where everyone wins.
• Coach for True Autonomy: Autonomy isn't chaos—it's the freedom to excel within a structure that supports success.

Listen in to learn very specific strategies Warren used to shift away from compliance and grow a deep level of commitment within his school.

Upcoming Coaching Conferences:
VASCD Power of Coaching Conference
Simply Coaching Summit (*DATE CHANGE* March 10-11)

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In this episode, Becca Silver and Dr. Chris Jones shake up the coaching conversation by tackling a common trap: over-reliance on protocols. While structure and frameworks can be helpful, they break down why rigid scripts won’t make you a great coach—and might even hold you back.

Chris and Becca debate:
The Pros & Cons of Protocols – When they’re useful and when they become a crutch.
Coaching Beyond the Checklist – Why developing deep skills in listening and questioning matters more than following a script.
The Complexity of Coaching – Coaching isn’t about running a formula—it’s about adapting to real humans.
Intentional Conversations – The key to powerful coaching isn’t in a protocol, it’s in knowing where you're headed and how to guide the conversation there.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re relying too much on protocols—or if you need a better way to guide coaching conversations—this episode will challenge your thinking in the best way. Tune in for real talk, real laughs, and real coaching wisdom.

Want to request a topic for Becca and Chris to discuss? Share it HERE!
Upcoming Coaching Conferences:
VASCD Power of Coaching Conference
Simply Coaching Summit (*DATE CHANGE* March 10-11)

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***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here.***

What if your go-to PD moves are secretly keeping your teachers stuck?  Dr. Julie Slayton takes a bold stand against the outdated, ineffective professional development (PD) systems that dominate schools today. She calls out the traditional "one-size-fits-all" approach for what it is—a waste of time and money—and demands a paradigm shift.

Slayton exposes the systemic barriers holding educators back. She dares us to disrupt the status quo, arguing that only by addressing these deep-rooted issues can we empower teachers to grow and thrive. With transformative frameworks like Levels of Readiness and Feedback Stages, she challenges leaders to rethink how we support teachers' growth, meeting them where they are and guiding them toward adaptive, lasting change.

Upcoming Coaching Conferences:
VASCD Power of Coaching Conference
Simply Coaching Summit (*DATE CHANGE* March 10-11)

Let's Stay Connected!
Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

***Watch the full, unedited YouTube version here.***

Becca and Dr. Chris Jones co-host another episode where they discuss the challenges that come when instructional coaches and school leaders are "naturally gifted" in certain areas. Here are the highlights:
The Ladder of Conscious Competence

• Four stages: Conscious/Unconscious Competence & Incompetence.
• This can explain why there’s a lack of knowledge transfer at your school
• Why having unconscious competence makes skills hard to teach.

The Peter Principle in Education

• People are promoted beyond their skillset (shifting from teaching children to teaching adults).
• Success in one role doesn’t guarantee success in another.
• Effective leadership requires a balance of three key skill sets: technical, conceptual, and human

Coaching Missteps to Avoid

• Avoid coaching people to mimic your personality or style (Focus on enhancing the coachee’s unique strengths.)
• Avoid sharing personal success stories excessively ("When I was a teacher, I...").
• Ignoring the critical need for developing adult-learning skills.

The Whole Educator PD:
The Whole Educator Academy
Breaking Through Resistance and Building Buy In PD
All Professional Developments

Learn more about Dr. Chris Jones and VATLL (previously VASCD)

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