Ep 35: Great Teachers Have Coaches Too

In this episode of The Education Table, Dr. Katie Novak centers the powerful role instructional coaches play in helping schools shift from teacher-centered to learner-centered practice. She is clear from the start: coaching is not about fixing teachers. It is about partnering with skilled professionals who are committed to continual growth, refinement, and impact.Drawing on research, real-world examples, and her own experiences, Dr. Novak explores what makes instructional coaching effective and why meaningful instructional shifts require more than good intentions. She emphasizes coaching as a collaborative, non-judgmental process grounded in trust, clarity, and shared goals. Coaches are positioned as partners, co-designers, and champions for change, not evaluators or compliance monitors.Throughout the episode, Dr. Novak highlights how Universal Design for Learning provides a strong foundation for coaching conversations that lead to lasting change. By focusing on intentional goal-setting, reflective practice, and supportive accountability, instructional coaches can help educators make shifts that stick—without shame, pressure, or top-down mandates.This episode is a clear affirmation of instructional coaches and a practical guide for using coaching as a lever for sustainable, learner-centered transformation.Episode TranscriptEpisode Webpage