Coaching the Whole Educator

Becca Silver
  • 5.0 (23)
  • HOW TO
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Coaching the Whole Educator is a podcast for instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and school leaders who want to strengthen their educators’ effectiveness and resilience, especially the ones who need it most. Each week, you’ll hear quick tips, proven strategies, and coaching mindsets designed to keep you on top of your coaching game. This show is rooted in a human-centered approach, where we get things done through people’s humanity, not around it. Whether you’re new to instructional coaching or a seasoned instructional coach or leader looking for fresh perspective, you’ll learn how to focus on the mindsets and motivations driving unproductive behaviors. By getting to the root of resistance, you’ll discover how to build stronger relationships, lead with clarity, and create lasting impact in your school.

  1. #168: Best of 2025 Series: The Art of Interrupting—How to Jump In Without Shutting Others Down

    3D AGO

    #168: Best of 2025 Series: The Art of Interrupting—How to Jump In Without Shutting Others Down

    Send us a text We’ve been taught that good listeners don’t interrupt—but what if the right kind of interrupting is exactly what great leaders do? Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That should’ve gone better”? You said the words.  They said the words.  But something still missed the mark. Here’s the truth: It’s not what you said. It’s what you didn’t hear. In this episode, I sit down with listening expert Christine Miles, who challenges what you think it means to truly listen. Are you listening to reply—or listening to understand? We unpack: Why most people retain only 17–25% of what’s said (yep, you read that right)How to shift from half-hearing to fully leadingAnd the underrated art of interrupting to understand—not interrupting to tell Christine shares powerful tools you can use right away:  🔦 The Flashlight Technique  🧭 Compass Questions  🛤️ The Listening PathIf you want to lead better conversations, build stronger trust, and stop missing what matters—start here. 🎧 This episode is your next move https://bit.ly/3RBkWxr The Whole Educator is now booking —keynotes, PD, and our Human Centered Academy are all designed to turn resistance into real progress. Check out the options at https://bit.ly/WholeEdPrograms and let’s make next year the one where things finally shift. Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    22 min
  2. #167: Best of 2025 Series: Stop Curriculum Chaos: Getting Real Engagement

    DEC 14

    #167: Best of 2025 Series: Stop Curriculum Chaos: Getting Real Engagement

    Send us a text Rolling out a new curriculum?  Brace yourself—resistance, frustration, and missteps are inevitable… unless you do it right. Join Sean Lindsey and me as we break down what it really takes to get teachers, students, and families on board—without wasted effort or top-down mandates that fall flat. We’re talking about: The most common mistake leaders make when choosing a curriculum – Teachers and students aren’t just checkboxes in your curriculum rollout. Use a rubric based on their actual needs, not just the shiniest new program. How to turn teachers into champions (not skeptics) – Training, time, and real support matter. Mass rollouts of a new curriculum to teachers without these? Recipe for disaster.The secret to getting parents on your side before they push back – If parents don’t understand the “why,” they’ll resist the “what.” Learn how to engage them from the start.Why school leaders must do more than cheerlead – Leaders who don’t get the curriculum can’t lead it. We’ll talk about how to remove barriers and create real instructional shifts.Don’t gamble with your rollout. Learn how to make it stick.  Free Resources: [FREE] Catalyst Mindsets Quiz **HERE**!  [FREE DOWNLOAD] Levels of Resistance [FREE RESOURCE] Podcast Playlists (Episodes that focus on Resistance to Change) Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    22 min
  3. #166: Best of 2025 Series: Why Being “Naturally Gifted” Can Backfire as a Coach

    DEC 7

    #166: Best of 2025 Series: Why Being “Naturally Gifted” Can Backfire as a Coach

    Send us a text The Ladder of Conscious Competence Four stages: Conscious/Unconscious Competence & Incompetence.This can explain why there’s a lack of knowledge transfer at your schoolWhy having unconscious competence makes skills hard to teach. The Peter Principle in Education People are promoted beyond their skillset (shifting from teaching children to teaching adults).Success in one role doesn’t guarantee success in another.Effective leadership requires a balance of three key skill sets: technical, conceptual, and human Coaching Missteps to Avoid Avoid coaching people to mimic your personality or style (Focus on enhancing the coachee’s unique strengths.)Avoid sharing personal success stories excessively ("When I was a teacher, I...").Ignoring the critical need for developing adult-learning skills.🔗Take this quiz to help you understand which Catalyst Mindsets need support in those you coach or lead! Check out The Resistance Remedy! Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    28 min
  4. #165: Perfectionism's Impact on Resilience & Well-being

    NOV 30

    #165: Perfectionism's Impact on Resilience & Well-being

    Send us a text Tune in for an engaging conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Kate Lund as she joins host Becca Silver to explore perfectionism and resilience. This episode dives into how perfectionism can show up in the lives of coaches, leaders, and teachers, and why it often gets in the way of satisfaction and well-being. Dr. Lund explains the difference between perfectionism and healthy striving, sharing how the constant urge to get everything right can actually make growth and adaptability more difficult. Listeners will discover practical tools, including the relaxation response technique to calm the mind and the daily wins exercise to help shift focus to what is going well. Dr. Lund also offers a valuable tip for leaders: help your team begin the day by recognizing successes, not just areas for improvement. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or anyone looking for ways to handle life’s challenges, this episode is filled with useful advice and real-life examples.  Check out The Principals Exchange Virtual Conference [January 28-29, 2026]!  🔗 Click HERE to learn more and register. Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    21 min

  5. NOV 16

    #163: Coaching Through Student Learning Production Behaviors

    Send us a text [Podcast Sponsor]  Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. In this episode, Becca sits down with Steve Barkley, a pioneer in instructional coaching whose influence has shaped how educators think about growth, feedback, and collaboration. Together, they unpack what it really takes to create lasting change in classrooms; not through evaluation, but through curiosity and conversation. Steve shares his journey from being observed every day as a student teacher to becoming one of the most respected voices in peer coaching. Along the way, he reveals a mindset shift that changed everything: great coaching isn’t about watching teachers. It’s about watching students. You’ll hear how focusing on student actions opens new doors for learning, reflection, and impact. Becca and Steve explore how to:  → Plan lessons and coaching sessions with student behaviors in mind  → Use observation and questioning to drive meaningful reflection  → Support teachers with empathy, not judgment  → Build thriving professional learning communities that keep everyone growing Packed with real-world insights and practical takeaways, this episode is a powerful reminder that when we focus on students first, everything else follows. Check out The Principals Exchange Virtual Conference [January 28-29, 2026]!  🔗 Click HERE to learn more and register. Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    29 min
  6. #162: Why Building Trust Might Not Be Working

    NOV 2

    #162: Why Building Trust Might Not Be Working

    Send us a text [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. What separates schools that grow from those that stall? One word: trust. In this episode, Becca unpacks research showing that strong trust can double a school’s chance of improving student learning. She breaks down the four types of trust:  integrity, intent, capabilities, and results and shares how leaders can pinpoint where trust is missing and rebuild it with purpose. Listen in for practical, research-backed strategies to strengthen relationships, improve coaching impact, and lead with confidence. Check out The Resistance Remedy! Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    7 min
  7. #161: Beyond Policies & Promises: How Real Leaders Create Conditions for Equity

    NOV 2

    #161: Beyond Policies & Promises: How Real Leaders Create Conditions for Equity

    Send us a text [Podcast Sponsor]  Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. In this powerful episode, Becca sits down with Dr. Ann Ishimaru and Dr. Decoteau Irby, authors of Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change, to unpack what it really means to lead for equity in today’s schools. Together, they trace the evolution of equity leadership through four distinct phases: morning (where new roles and policies first take root), midday (when equity becomes embedded in systems), evening (as communities and intentional connections deepen), and night (when resistance and federal mandates challenge the work). The conversation gets real about what it takes to sustain momentum through each phase, using data with purpose, centering student and parent voices, and investing in professional learning that drives genuine change. Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies like applying targeted universalism, navigating relationships with challenging stakeholders, and creating school environments where adults learn and grow just as much as students do. Check out The Principals Exchange Virtual Conference [January 28-29, 2026]!  🔗 Click HERE to learn more and register. Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    23 min
  8. #160: How a One-Hour Intervention Shifted Outcomes for Years

    OCT 26

    #160: How a One-Hour Intervention Shifted Outcomes for Years

    Send us a text [Podcast Sponsor] Kind Cotton: Soft, sustainable apparel, where every purchase provides a book to a child. Ever wonder how the smallest moments can spark the biggest shifts in learning and leadership?  In this episode of Research Rundown, Becca reveals the science behind a simple one hour intervention that slashed achievement gaps and boosted happiness for years, all by strengthening students’ sense of belonging. Discover how tiny, everyday moments can ripple out to create lasting change, and learn the three essential ingredients every leader needs to build trust, safety, and connection. Don’t miss the secrets to turning resistance into momentum and making everyone feel like they truly belong. Tune in now and unlock the power of belonging! 🔗Take this quiz to help you understand which Catalyst Mindsets need support in those you coach or lead! Check out The Resistance Remedy! Let's Stay Connected! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Contact Us

    6 min
See All (173)

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Coaching the Whole Educator is a podcast for instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and school leaders who want to strengthen their educators’ effectiveness and resilience, especially the ones who need it most. Each week, you’ll hear quick tips, proven strategies, and coaching mindsets designed to keep you on top of your coaching game. This show is rooted in a human-centered approach, where we get things done through people’s humanity, not around it. Whether you’re new to instructional coaching or a seasoned instructional coach or leader looking for fresh perspective, you’ll learn how to focus on the mindsets and motivations driving unproductive behaviors. By getting to the root of resistance, you’ll discover how to build stronger relationships, lead with clarity, and create lasting impact in your school.

Information

  • Creator
    Becca Silver
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    173
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Coaching the Whole Educator
  • Show Website
    Coaching the Whole Educator

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