Instructional Coaching

Coaches

Instructional coaching is an evidenced-based partnership between a coach and teacher focused on designing instruction targeted towards specific student learning outcomes. The focus is always on what is best for students and their learning.

Mokena SD 159 utilizes the "Student Centered Coaching Model" by Diane Sweeney.

Student centered coaching introduces a new way of delivering instructional coaching that puts the needs of students front and center by focusing on goals for student learning rather than on fixing teachers, an instructional coach can directly impact instructional practice and student achievement.

Student centered coaching differs from teacher centered coaching by keeping student work at the center of the entire coaching cycle. During student centered coaching, teachers and coaches analyze student work to gauge student progress towards one or more specific learning targets.

Instructional coaches do this by partnering with teachers to set learning goals, co-plan lessons, co-teach in the classroom, and review student learning data.

7 practices

Meet Our Coaches!

Mrs. Lisa Fiene

Lisa

Lisa is the Instructional Coach at MES for Kindergarten and 3rd grade and at MIS for 4th and 5th ELA, Science and Social Studies.  This is her 7th year in Mokena, 20th year overall in education.  She has 12 years classroom experience and 3 years as a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach. Lisa is currently in her 5th year as an Instructional Coach in Mokena.

Mrs. Stacey Lavelle

Stacey

Stacey is the instructional coach for Mokena Junior High. Stacey works with all content areas. Prior to becoming an instructional coach, Stacey taught special education and was a reading specialist. This is her second year in Mokena and 15th year in education.

Mrs. Sharon Youngblood

Sharon Youngblood

Sharon is the instructional coach at Mokena Elementary School where she works  with 1st and 2nd grade teachers and Mokena Intermediate School with 4th and 5th grade teachers of Math/Science/Social Studies.  This is her 9th year in Mokena School District and 25th year in education.  Prior to becoming an instructional coach she taught 2nd grade for 20 years.  This is her 5th year as an instructional coach.