Granger High instructional coach, superintendent highlight semester-long coaching gains and plan budget support

Summers Temple, an instructional coach at Granger High School, and the district superintendent discussed results from a semester-long instructional coaching program, highlighting stronger classroom community and increased student engagement through digital tools such as Padlet and “school AI.”

The superintendent said the district will include instructional coaching in upcoming budget proposals to provide continued support for teachers. "Even as superintendent, I have coaches. I still talk to Dr. Nye a couple times a week," the superintendent said, describing coaching as part of professional growth for administrators as well as teachers.

Temple described the program's focus and early outcomes. "We help teachers improve their practice. We are very collaborative, and we help them with whatever they need," she said. Temple said one visible strength was building classroom community so students "feel welcome" whenever they enter class.

Coaching introduced strategies intended to raise student talk and interaction. Temple listed group-structured activities such as gallery walks and jigsaw tasks, shorter paired questions to prompt conversation, and the use of digital platforms. "Sometimes when I put their answer up on the screen, then they're more willing to engage a little bit further," Temple said, citing Padlet as a tool that helped students share answers without speaking aloud.

The superintendent said the district has seen "a lot of growth" and intends to continue the work into next year. The superintendent also said Temple or other coaches will return in the fall for continued collaboration.

No formal board action or funding amount was decided during the hallway conversation; the superintendent said coaching support will appear in future budget proposals but did not specify dollar figures or funding sources.