Members of the Teaching and Learning Department recently completed eight days of Thinking Collaborative’s Cognitive Coaching Foundation Training. This professional learning experience was designed to strengthen our ability to support educator thinking, reflection, and continuous improvement through structured coaching conversations. As a result, eleven members of the department are now trained in Cognitive Coaching, expanding our capacity to support schools and educators across ESU 10.
Throughout the training, ESU 10 T&L Coordinators developed skills in facilitating three types of coaching conversations: planning, reflecting, and problem-resolving. These conversations are designed to support educators in setting clear instructional goals, analyzing the impact of their practice, and addressing challenges through thoughtful decision-making. The emphasis of this work is on building independence, strengthening professional judgment, and promoting continuous growth.
This work aligns closely with our ongoing implementation of Adaptive Schools. While Cognitive Coaching is centered on supporting individual thinking through coaching conversations, Adaptive Schools provides structures and strategies for effective group collaboration. Together, these frameworks create a cohesive system that strengthens both individual and collective efficacy. The integration of these approaches allows us to more effectively support educators, teams, and leaders in meaningful and sustained improvement efforts.
Beginning in 2026, the Teaching and Learning Department will intentionally implement both Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools across our work. Within department meetings, staff will model and refine these practices to strengthen our own collaboration and reflective processes. In collaboration meetings, these strategies will be embedded to support more effective team interactions and shared responsibility for outcomes. In our work with schools, staff will utilize Cognitive Coaching conversations to support administrators and educators, while also facilitating professional learning grounded in Adaptive Schools to strengthen team functioning and leadership capacity.
This training represents an important investment in building the skills and structures necessary to support continuous improvement across ESU 10 and our partner districts. By strengthening both individual thinking and collaborative practices, we are positioning our services to more effectively support educators and improve outcomes for all students.