Virtual instructional coaching will be reconsidered during the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees meeting set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first floor board room of the administration building, 802 N. Sam Houston Ave.
Edifying Teachers is a teacher-founded company dedicated to creating supportive spaces for educators through one-on-one virtual coaching provided by a diverse, highly-qualified, and nationally recognized teacher network, supplemental agenda material said.
Discussion of the virtual instructional coaching item caused some confusion among Ector County ISD board members at the January meeting, resulting in the item being pulled until February.
Cost, the fact that the coaches would not be coming to campuses in person, the hour a week time spent with teachers virtually and being able to get out of the contract were concerns expressed by trustees.
The money would come from federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. Supplemental agenda material for that January meeting indicated it would be $400,000 each year for two years, but the district allocated $400,000 for two years for virtual coaching.
The spring pilot would total $30,000.
Edifying Teachers will integrate the use of ECISD’s Curriculum and Instruction frameworks, as well as the coaching resources that our district uses to provide an aligned coaching experience.
Teachers will have at least two virtual coaching sessions a month and one in-person touch point a month with their coach.
Spring 2023 will be a pilot of up to 20 teachers. ECISD will select teachers who are not currently receiving instructional coaching so coaching efforts are not duplicated, the material said.
Partnering with Edifying Teachers would allow ECISD to tap into coaches across the state when there is a shortage of teachers and coaches locally.
Campuses needing targeted support will be given priority. Talent Development staff will work directly with the Leadership Department and campus principals to select teachers from their campus who require additional support, the material detailed.
An update will be provided to inform the board of the outcome of the spring pilot.
The board will also get its quarterly update on the district’s strategic plan, The Future is Now.
Topics for today are Systematize Blending Learning and data interoperability.
Under special presentations, the Executive Director of District Operations Brandon Reyes will receive the Texas Association of School Business Officers RISE Award. The award spotlights those who are on the rise in the school business community.
Introduction of Texas Music Educators Association All-State Musicians and the announcement of All-State Athletes from Fall Semester are also on tap.
Additionally, 2023-2024 contract renewals for administrators pay grade 6-11 will be discussed in executive session and the board will come out and vote afterward.
