More than three dozen learning facilitators throughout Lindsay Unified School District will receive individualized professional development through BetterLesson in support of its transformation into a truly personalized learning school district. The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program.
Thirty-nine educators from K-12 classrooms will be matched with a BetterLesson coach, a former master teacher with an average of 12 years of classroom experience and a proven track record of student achievement. Coaches are selected expressly for him or her based on a calculation that considers years of experience, subject area of expertise, grade level and personality. Each pair will meet one-on-one via video conference every other week to focus on a variety of goals that overall accrue to support each educator so that their classroom environment improves learner outcomes.
“BetterLesson has gone the extra mile in developing our partnership,” said Lindsay USD Director of Personalized Learning Brian Griffin. “They have been very responsive in the initial stages of our relationship and we look forward to seeing the potential growth of our learning facilitators and the support BetterLesson can provide in our district’s learner-centered model.”
Personalized coaching is designed to meet the unique needs of every learning facilitator (Lindsay USD uses the term learning facilitator in lieu of teacher to more accurately describe the instructional approach). Coaches will work with a diverse swath of learning facilitators with a variety of experience, from first year teachers to those with nearly three decades of classroom experience, covering all subject areas in grades from K-12, including dual immersion special education.
The coaching is part of the district’s implementation of innovative professional learning structures, such as micro-credentials, where learning facilitators applying new practices in their learning environments to better serve students. They will learn how to integrate educational technology into their lessons as well as to leverage the professional development structures that already exist at Lindsay USD. Ultimately coaching will have a positive impact of educators’ practice, retention, confidence and effectiveness.
BetterLesson’s methodology has helped teachers across the United States to shift their practices toward personalized and experiential instructional models, address the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, and foster growth among teachers wherever they are in their careers. Its diverse set of customers includes statewide systems, such as the Tennessee Department of Education, large multi-campus urban districts like Manassas City School District, and small rural districts such as the elementary school in Groton, New York. All share an urgency to help their teachers make a dramatic shift towards putting students at the center of their learning.
This is the first phase of a multi-year partnership with Lindsay Unified. More learning facilitators will have an opportunity to receive BetterLesson coaching next school year.
