Coaching the Whole Educator

Becca Silver
  • 5.0 (24)
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  • 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. #191: How to Collect Data on Teacher Well Being

    10h ago

    #191: How to Collect Data on Teacher Well Being

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Becca sits down with Jessica Werner, founder of North Shore Learning, to unpack a hard truth in schools: many leaders believe they understand staff well-being, but are relying on assumptions instead of real data. Together, they explore how well-being, retention, and leadership decisions are deeply connected and why anecdotal signals like “people seem happy” or “no one is in crisis” are not enough to guide action. Jessica shares how collecting simple, meaningful data can help leaders identify what is actually impacting teacher satisfaction, workload, and long-term retention. The conversation highlights how proactive support, rather than reactive responses, can reduce burnout and turnover while strengthening school culture. They also discuss how schools with stronger retention intentionally pair every new initiative with a support plan, recognizing that added expectations without support erode well-being over time. In this episode: • Why leaders often misread staff well-being without data  • The difference between anecdotal impressions and actionable insights  • Simple ways to start gathering meaningful well-being data immediately  • How attendance patterns, workload, and informal check-ins reveal hidden trends  • Why every initiative should include a parallel plan for teacher support  • The financial and cultural cost of reactive turnover versus proactive retention  • How acknowledging teachers’ full lives outside of school shapes morale and sustainability The core message: well-being is not a single program or strategy. It is a set of conditions that can be measured, supported, and strengthened when leaders shift from assumptions to data-informed action. Learn more about Jessica & Northshore Learning at northshorelearning.org, the place where school support meets real classroom impact. Grab your copy of The Resistance Solution   📖 HERE! [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance:  🗓️ Register HERE Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    24 min
  2. #190.5: "The Resistance Solution": A CELEBRATION!

    5d ago

    #190.5: "The Resistance Solution": A CELEBRATION!

    Send us Fan Mail Okay y’all… this episode is basically what happens when two people who are deeply obsessed with leadership, resistance, ownership, and human behavior finally hit “record.” 😂 Becca sits down with leadership expert Casey Watts to celebrate the release of The Resistance Solution… but the conversation quickly turns into a deep, real-time exploration of what actually causes resistance in schools and why so many leadership strategies fall apart after the initial excitement fades. What makes this episode different is that Becca doesn’t just explain the ideas from the book. She tells the story of how the work evolved over years of coaching, research, frustration, trial and error, and eventually discovering the five Catalyst Mindsets™. The episode also dives deeply into ownership mindset, why buy-in is not the end goal, and the missing piece most schools overlook: agency. There’s also a powerful conversation about language and why phrases like “resistant teachers” quietly shape the way leaders interact with people. Becca and Casey unpack why resistance is not a personality trait, but a temporary human experience tied to unmet needs. If you’ve ever thought: “Why are people still pulling back even after we communicated the vision clearly?” or “Why do some accountability strategies completely flop?” …this episode is going to hit home. 📘 The Resistance Solution gives instructional coaches and school leaders practical tools, diagnostic frameworks, coaching processes, and human-centered strategies for navigating resistance without relying on pressure, compliance, or generic one-size-fits-all solutions. Grab your copy of The Resistance Solution   📖 HERE! [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance:  🗓️ Register HERE Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    27 min
  3. #190: The 5 Powerful Coaching Practices (and a surprising secret to success)

    May 24

    #190: The 5 Powerful Coaching Practices (and a surprising secret to success)

    Send us Fan Mail [FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down with Jason Adair from the Southern Regional Education Board to explore what actually makes instructional coaching effective in schools. Together, they unpack SREB’s new Powerful Coaching Practices framework and discuss why so many coaching initiatives fail to create lasting instructional change. This conversation dives into instructional coaching strategies, teacher feedback, coaching cycles, relationship-based leadership, professional learning, and implementation challenges in K-12 schools. Becca and Jason discuss the importance of trust, goal-setting, observation and feedback, instructional leadership, and why coaching must move beyond compliance-based approaches to create real teacher growth and student learning outcomes. They also tackle common coaching mistakes, including “facili-manipulation,” surface-level feedback, unclear goals, and the breakdown of coaching due to lack of time, competing priorities, and weak systems. The episode offers practical insight for instructional coaches, principals, district leaders, and anyone focused on improving teacher development and school improvement efforts. Key topics include:  Instructional coaching best practices  Building trust with teachers  Coaching cycles and feedback loops  Teacher goal-setting and ownership  Observation and actionable feedback  School leadership and implementation  Professional learning communities (PLCs)  Coaching for meaningful instructional change  Avoiding compliance-driven coaching  Time management for instructional coaches and principals If you’re a school leader, instructional coach, or educator trying to improve follow-through, teacher engagement, and instructional practice, this episode offers practical frameworks and real-world coaching insights you can immediately apply in schools.  Links from the episode: SREB Summer Conference (Coaching Community)  Powerful Coaching Practices Powerful instructional Practices [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance: Register HERE   Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    31 min
  4. #189: Inside the Lived Experiences of Black Women Instructional Coaches

    May 17

    #189: Inside the Lived Experiences of Black Women Instructional Coaches

    Send us Fan Mail Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE.  Discover a conversation unlike any you’ve heard before as Dr. Courtney Tate joins Becca Silver to shine a spotlight on the real challenges and triumphs experienced by Black women in instructional coaching. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unseen emotional workload, the navigation of daily microaggressions, and the relentless pursuit of recognition faced by these dedicated professionals. Dr. Tate brings her research and personal journey front and center, revealing strategies for building support systems, dismantling stereotypes, and ensuring visibility and respect within educational spaces. You will walk away with fresh insight, vivid stories, and clear guidance, straight from the source, on how schools can foster true inclusion and leadership for Black women coaches. Check out Courtney's work here:  Website: https://alignedcoachingandconsulting.comLeading From the Middle PodcastInstagram: the_alignedcoach or ctatewritesBook signed from my website Order on Amazon[FREE RESOURCE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) [FREE WEBINAR] Breaking Through Resistance: Register HERE Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    26 min
  5. #188: The Coaching Mistake We Make When Teachers Are Exhausted

    May 10

    #188: The Coaching Mistake We Make When Teachers Are Exhausted

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver unpacks a coaching mistake many instructional coaches and school leaders make at the end of the school year: trying to solve exhausted teachers instead of helping them feel understood first. When teachers are overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and running on fumes, even well-intentioned coaching strategies can accidentally create more frustration. Too often, leaders hear exhaustion and immediately jump into problem-solving, advice, or pushing for solutions. But exhausted educators usually do not need someone to fix them first. They need someone to slow down long enough to truly hear them. In this short episode, Becca shares a practical communication strategy called Looping for Understanding, a research-backed approach that helps educators feel seen, heard, and less emotionally alone during high-stress moments. She explains how this simple shift can reduce defensiveness, strengthen trust, and create more productive coaching conversations during one of the hardest stretches of the school year. If your teachers are tired, emotionally maxed out, or struggling to stay engaged right now, this episode will give you one concrete strategy you can use immediately. Perfect for instructional coaches, principals, assistant principals, and school leaders supporting exhausted educators at the end of the year.  Breaking Through Resistance webinar: Reserve your seat HERE. Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    5 min
  6. #187: Why Change Feels Scary: Naming the Real Fears

    May 3

    #187: Why Change Feels Scary: Naming the Real Fears

    Send us Fan Mail Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE.  Change isn’t something school leaders do on the side. It is the work. In this episode, former principal and author Richard Gerver joins Becca to dig into why adults in schools resist change even though change and learning go hand in hand. They talk about why veteran teachers often push back the most, how forcing change shuts down curiosity and buy in, and what it looks like to respect lived experience while still moving forward. You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on resistance and one simple, practical step you can use tomorrow to lead healthier, more human centered change in your school. Stay in touch with Richard through his website! [FREE RESOURCE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    29 min
  7. #186: [Resistance Chronicles] Ownership Mindset

    Apr 26

    #186: [Resistance Chronicles] Ownership Mindset

    Send us Fan Mail Resistance Chronicles, Part 5: Ownership Mindset™ [FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) In the final episode of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver explores the Ownership Mindset and the form of resistance that often sounds like disengagement but is rooted in belief. It can sound like:  “There’s nothing we can do.”  “That’s just how our kids are.”  “This is out of our control.” These statements are not always negativity. They often reflect a belief about influence. When educators do not believe their actions will make a difference, ownership erodes and resistance shows up as minimal effort, surface compliance, waiting, or cynicism. In this episode, Becca explains how ownership is not about controlling everything. It is about believing there is still something within one’s sphere of influence. She outlines how leaders can shift conversations from blame to agency by identifying controllable variables, testing small changes, and making impact visible over time. Because ownership is not a personality trait. It is shaped by the environment leaders create. When initiative is ignored, overruled, or disconnected from results, ownership shrinks. When influence is acknowledged and reinforced, ownership grows. In this episode: • What resistance sounds like when the Ownership Mindset™ is unsupported • Why externalizing control leads to disengagement and stalled progress • How to help teams locate their sphere of influence within real constraints • Practical ways to build agency through small wins and visible impact • Leadership moves that reinforce initiative, effort, and responsibility [FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) [FREE] Catalyst Mindset Overview Graphic [Printable] Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    7 min
  8. #185: Decision Making Magic: Using Intuition to Make Clearer, Faster Leadership Decisions

    Apr 19

    #185: Decision Making Magic: Using Intuition to Make Clearer, Faster Leadership Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail [FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit) Are you an instructional coach or principal navigating endless data, tough decisions, and nonstop demands? In this can’t-miss episode, visionary school leader David Richards reveals why intuition is your greatest untapped superpower, and how mastering it can transform your leadership, simplify your daily choices, and reignite your passion for impact. Walk away with actionable strategies to trust yourself, tune into what really matters, and discover how to blend data with gut instincts for smarter, faster, more fulfilling decisions. Listen now to unlock a hidden edge that will make your work (and life) easier and better than ever! Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE.  Let's Stay Connected! Website  |  Instagram |  Twitter |  Linkedin |  Facebook |  Contact Us

    26 min
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5
out of 5
24 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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    197
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Coaching the Whole Educator
  • Show Website
    Coaching the Whole Educator

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