School-Based Staff Developers

Increasingly more schools have turned to school-based staff developers as one strategy to increase student achievement. Whether they are called literacy coaches, math coaching, instructional leaders, or school-based staff developer, these talented teachers have responsibilities for providing professional development and support to teachers. School-based staff developers represent a new "front line" in efforts to strengthen professional development and its effects. One might say that in the schools where they work, these educators are probably the people most concerned day-to-day with enhancing teachers' knowledge and skills to improve their performance.

Yet as these master teachers assume new roles, they often do so with limited preparation in working with adult learners and building the relationships necessary to create cultures that promote ongoing learning. NSDC is committed to assisting those who serve as school-based staff developers and their principals know how to increase the impact of this special form of professional development. Working collaboratively principals and their school-based staff developers can ensure that all teachers have high-quality professional development to improve student learning.

Listed below are several NSDC articles, related resources from other organizations, and job postings for these types of positions in schools.

Policies at the local, state, regional, and national level shape learning opportunities for both students and teachers. What policies have been effective in promoting high quality learning experiences? What strategies can educators and policy makers undertake to improve K-12 education and staff development?

• Sample Job Descriptions & Staff Developer Profiles
• NSDC Resources
  • NSDC Speeches, Articles, and Research Information
  • NSDC Standards
  • Learning Strategies and Skill Development
• Web Links & Articles from Other Organizations

What, specifically, is a school-based staff developer? Such educators have different job titles and work in different ways within schools and districts. Below we list some sample job descriptions (in PDF format) to show what roles such folks play. We also have a couple of profiles of school-level coaches; learn what goes on each day for these staff developers.

• Meet the Coach: Bridget Smith (PDF file), February 2005
• Meet the Coach: Chris Kingsbery (PDF file), July 2004
• Meet the Coach: John McDermott (PDF file), July 2004
• Building level student achievement coach (PDF file), Proposed job description and interview questions, February 2004
• Elementary instructional coach (PDF file), Sample job description, May 2004
• High school coach/staff developer (PDF file), Sample job description, May 2004
• District level director of professional development (PDF file), Keller ISD, Texas (contributed by NSDC member)
• District level director of professional learning (PDF file), Adams 12 District, Colorado (contributed by NSDC member)
• Building level student achievement coach (Word document), Adams 12 District, Colorado (contributed by NSDC member)

• Pioneers for Professional Learning: August 5, 2004 speech by Hayes Mizell to the first meeting of the School-Based Staff Developer Learning Community (PDF file)
• Literature review for school-based staff developers and coaches (PDF file) by Terry Greene, NSDC's School-Based Staff Developer Learning Community Coach, July 2004
• Bibliography for school-based staff developers and coaches (PDF file), July 2004.
• Coaches build strong teams, by Joan Richardson, Results, September 2004.
• Instructional coaches make progress through partnership by Jim Knight, JSD, Spring 2004
• Coaching moves beyond the gym by Ruth Galm and George S. Perry Jr., JSD, Spring 2004
• Creating a culture of change by Deborah Patterson and Carol Rolheiser,JSD, Spring 2004
• How to develop a coaching eye by Stephanie Feger, Kristine Woleck, and Paul Hickman, JSD, Spring 2004
• School-based...or not? by Alan Richard, JSD, Spring 2004
• Role of the coach by Susan Herll and Brooke O'Drobinak, JSD, Spring 2004
• Focus on literacy leads to change, by Joan Richardson, Results, Dec/Jan04 (Columbus Park Preparatory Academy)
• "Portrait of success," by Joan Richardson, Results, Nov. 2003 (Ladd Elementary School).
• "Teachers get help from ’guide on the side’," by John Norton, Results, Feb 2000 (Long Beach)
• "The insiders: schools find in-house staff development is more useful and helps build teacher leaders," by Margaret Johnson and Gregory Johnson, JSD, Fall 1999.
• "The multiple roles of staff developers," by Joellen Killion and Cindy Harrison, JSD, Summer 1997.

• "Sights and sounds of implementing standards," by Stephanie Hirsh, February 2004 Results
• "A new way to examine yourself," by Stephanie Hirsh, December 2003/January 2004 Results
• "What's next after adopting the standards?" by Stephanie Hirsh, November 2003 Results
• "Calling all parents to support NSDC standards," by Stephanie Hirsh, October 2003 Results
• "School board adoption of standards is a first step," by Stephanie Hirsh, September 2003 Results
• "Quality teaching in federal spotlight," by Stephanie Hirsh, May 2003 Results
• "Develop teachers' skills as communicators," by Stephanie Hirsh, April 2003 Results
• "Resolving conflicts key to collaboration," by Stephanie Hirsh, March 2003 Results
• "Make clear your theory of change," by Stephanie Hirsh, February 2003 Results
• "Data tell a school's full story," by Stephanie Hirsh, December 2002 Results