Learning Coaches work together with classroom teachers, multi-disciplinary team members, students and parents to remove barriers and create opportunities to enhance student learning and create learning experiences that are accessible, effective and engaging for all students. All schools in ECSD have a teacher with some dedicated learning coach time as part of their role within the school. As leaders on a school learning team, learning coaches develop capacity and strengthen collaborative practices in supporting the diverse learning needs of students.
A Learning Coach:
Supports programming for diversity in a school – is a master teacher in differentiation and personalization of learning and practices the Principles of Inclusive Education
- Works within a continuum of supports model. This means that they work with a whole class, and/ or with targeted intervention in either small groups or individually with students as needed
- Can teach a class, so that additional time can be provided for a classroom teacher and EA and/or MDT to collaborate and/ or communicate with parents
- Supports and collaborates with teachers as they develop strength-based individual program plans for students
- Supports teachers in developing understanding of assistive technology and augmentative and alternate communication tools.
- Collaborates with the MDT and Inclusive Consultant to coordinate specialized services within a school • Supports the documentation process for meeting Alberta Education special educational coding criteria
- Meets with parents to support the home school partnership in learning
- Builds capacity with the teacher • models best practices together with the teacher, based on new research and instructional materials and strategies
- Enables Professional learning that is built into the school day
- provides site based Professional Learning for teachers and EAs
- familiar with Inclusive Education SharePoint resources to support all learners
- Participates in regular callbacks for their ongoing professional learning
- Supports transitions between grades and schools – i.e. Pre-K to Kindergarten, Elementary to JH, JH to HS, Community school to Inclusive Education Programs
- Is a leader in developing and using a collaborative response model to meet the diverse learning needs of students
- Is a leader in the development of a trauma-informed approach in supporting mental health within the school community
