Coaching the Whole Educator

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🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨
Let’s start with a question we don’t ask often enough:
What if resistance isn’t the problem?
Chris and I push on a pretty common assumption in education; that resistance is something to manage, fix, or eliminate. I offer a reframe that’s shaped a lot of my own leadership: resistance is often a signal. 

Engagement. 
Unmet needs. 
Something important trying to get our attention.
Chris takes it deeper, looking at what pushback usually points to beneath the surface, missing clarity, insufficient support, a lack of trust, or not enough voice. And together we name a few uncomfortable truths: compliance isn’t the goal, “shoulds” shut people down, and curiosity beats control every time.
Here’s the shift we’re inviting: instead of bracing against resistance, what if we listened to it?
Because resistance can be a compass. It can point leaders toward more responsive, more human, and ultimately more effective ways of working.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or worn down by pushback, this episode might change how you see it, and how you respond next time.
🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨

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In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down again with veteran instructional coaching expert Steve Barkley to unpack one of the most overlooked but powerful parts of the coaching cycle: the pre-conference. Together, they break down why pre-conferences are essential for effective instructional coaching, teacher growth, and human-centered school leadership.
Steve explains how pre-conferences create trust, increase teacher agency, and ensure coaching conversations feel relevant and meaningful. Instead of using coaching time for “I gotcha” observations, Steve shows how a strong pre-conference transforms the work into “I got you,” helping teachers reflect, self-identify needs, and experience immediate shifts in clarity and confidence.
Listeners will learn:
What a pre-conference actually is and why it’s the most important step in the coaching cycle
How pre-conferences build trust, value, and relevance for teachers
Why skipping the pre-conference leads to ineffective coaching and wasted time
How focusing on teacher-driven goals increases engagement and efficacy
The role of questioning skills, reflective listening, and open-ended questions in high-quality coaching
How coaches can diagnose what teachers truly need by listening for payoffs vs. costs
This conversation gives coaches and school leaders practical, classroom-ready strategies for improving observations, strengthening post-conferences, and building a human-centered coaching culture where growth actually sticks. If you want to deepen your instructional coaching practice, increase teacher buy-in, and elevate the impact of every classroom visit, this episode is a must-listen.

Download the Stages of Competence resource, here!
Episode 74 pairs perfectly with this episode! Take a listen!
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🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨
Here’s a question I keep bumping into as a leader and a coach:
When does empathy help, and when does it quietly stall us out?
In the first episode of our three-part series on coaching and leadership, Chris and I dig into one of leadership’s most uncomfortable tensions. I’ll say it plainly: empathy matters. A lot. And… sometimes leaders have to make decisions with incomplete buy-in, imperfect timing, and information others don’t have yet.
Chris makes a strong case for empathy as the foundation, without it we miss what’s really going on for people. I push back from lived experience: if empathy runs the show unchecked, leaders can hesitate, over-process, and get stuck trying to keep everyone comfortable.
This episode kicks off an honest, practical exploration of leadership as a paradox: heart and backbone. And the judgment to know which one the moment is asking for.
🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨

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This episode dives straight into the conversation every educator and leader needs right now: How AI is reshaping coaching, leadership, and the way we build an Innovator’s Mindset in schools.
Becca sits down with George Couros, world-recognized educator and author of The Innovator’s Mindset, to unpack how AI can support real human-centered leadership instead of replacing it. Together, they explore how AI can fuel curiosity, deepen critical thinking, and expand teacher and student agency when used with intention.
You’ll hear George break down:
Why innovation is not about technology, but about creating “new and better” ways of learning
How leaders can build ownership by giving real choice and voice
How AI tools like ChatGPT can save hours of time while strengthening reflection, planning, and connection
Why discernment is now a core skill for educators
How teachers and leaders can model meaningful AI use before bringing it to students
What the rise of AI search means for school leadership, professional learning, and even hiring
This conversation mixes practical AI strategies, mindset shifts, and real talk about the skills educators and students need in a world where information is easy... but wisdom isn’t. If you’re a coach, teacher leader, or administrator wanting to use AI without losing the human heart of your work, this episode is your new favorite.
Check out more about what George is up to on his website!
Download the FREE Human BINGO card, here!
Start with connection, and everything gets easier from there!
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Looking for inspiration and real talk you can actually use as a school leader? This episode brings you a powerful conversation between Becca and the vibrant duo behind The Principal Exchange, Andra and Sarah. Together, they explore the real challenges principals face every day. The isolation. The constant demands. The search for support that truly understands the weight of school leadership.
You will hear the story of how Andra and Sarah built their platform from the ground up and how their resources and virtual events are creating an authentic community for leaders who often feel alone in the work. They talk openly about the shift from classroom to front office and what it feels like to be handed the keys without a roadmap. Their honesty shines a light on why it matters to connect with people who genuinely get the role and how practical solutions like candid conversations and time saving strategies can help leaders feel more supported and more effective.
With insights on professional growth, simple actions you can put into motion right away, and an inside look at what is coming at the next Principal Exchange conference, this episode welcomes educators at every level. You will walk away encouraged, equipped, and reminded that you are not doing this work by yourself. Andra and Sarah are building something special, and their energy is all about helping school leaders meet their biggest challenges with confidence and community.
🔗Check out all of the resources available on The Principal Exchange.
🔗Register for the TPE Virtual Winter Conference where Becca is the featured             keynote speaker! 
     Use code:  RESISTANCE for 10% off any ticket

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