This year, Running Brushy Middle School welcomed two instructional coaches to campus for the first time. Instructional coaches, while staples at Leander ISD elementary school campuses, are new to secondary schools. Instructional coaches serve to support teachers, promoting growth, innovation and enrichment. While most secondary schools have one instructional coach this year, Running Brushy Middle School has the unique experience of having two.
John Sandobal and Theresa Shutey, the two instructional coaches at Running Brushy MS, said they are fortunate to be able to work as a team, discussing between themselves, working together, and covering twice as much ground. Teachers come to Sandobal and Shutey with requests for things they need. The instructional coaches may track student engagement, model a lesson plan in the classroom themselves, or provide strategies and resources for a teacher aiming to accomplish a specific goal.
Shutey said their goal is to build relationships with the teachers on campus.
“It’s about promoting teacher growth and helping them to be more reflective in what they’re doing,” Shutey said.
Ultimately, Sandobal and Shutey agreed, their goal is to impact the students.
“We are here to support the teachers, and in supporting the teachers, in the long run, our students are supported,” Sandobal said. “I think that’s our biggest goal, to be able to make a difference and an impact on the students.”
