Jim Knight Instructional Coaching

Jim Knight and instructional coaching are nearly synonymous, as he has been pioneering the field of instructional coaching for many years. Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development, and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description
of instructional coaching in schools.

What is instructional coaching?

Instructional coaching is a profession and practice that provides support for teachers in the classroom. At ICG, we envision a world where every teacher has a coach supporting them in becoming the best possible teacher for their students.

What do instructional coaches do?

To put it simply, instructional coaches make it easier for teachers to meet the needs of their students. Coaches partner with teachers to help improve learning and support student success. Impact Cycle-trained instructional coaches partner with teachers to identify student-focused goals, implement teaching strategies, track progress, and problem-solve to meet those goals.

What does the Instructional Coaching Group do?

We provide research-based professional development to build system-wide efficacy in education. Led by Jim Knight, our team offers engaging programs to provide support at every level of the coaching system.

We work through research, professional development, and one-on-one consulting.

Our research has helped us identify seven success factors that are essential for developing and sustaining a great coaching program. The goal of our research has always been to improve education for every student.

We host workshops and institutes to help coaches, teachers, and administrators learn and implement the factors, habits, and strategies they need to succeed. ICG’s trained consultants are available to meet with districts to help create plans for developing and supporting highly effective coaching programs.

Our Approach: The Partnership Principles

At its core, a partnership approach is about treating others the way you would like to be treated. We see coaching as dialogical. We believe respectful and collaborative dialogue paves the way to positive change.

Above everything, we know that all professional learning needs to involve real-life application, ensuring that coaching is productive, meaningful, and helpful to teachers and students.

Our Approach

Our Founder: Jim Knight

Jim Knight is the founder of the Instructional Coaching Group. The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools. He paved the way in defining instructional coaching and has written many books and articles as a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning.

Meet Jim Knight