Instructional Coaching

Coaches

Instructional coaching is an evidenced-based partnership between a coach and teacher focused on designing instruction targeted towards specific student learning outcomes. The focus is always on what is best for students and their learning.

Mokena SD 159 utilizes the "Student Centered Coaching Model" by Diane Sweeney.

Student centered coaching introduces a new way of delivering instructional coaching that puts the needs of students front and center by focusing on goals for student learning rather than on fixing teachers, an instructional coach can directly impact instructional practice and student achievement.

Student centered coaching differs from teacher centered coaching by keeping student work at the center of the entire coaching cycle. During student centered coaching, teachers and coaches analyze student work to gauge student progress towards one or more specific learning targets.

Instructional coaches do this by partnering with teachers to set learning goals, co-plan lessons, co-teach in the classroom, and review student learning data.

7 practices

Meet Our Coaches!

Mrs. Lisa Fiene

Lisa

Lisa is the Instructional Coach at MES for Kindergarten and 3rd grade and at MIS for 4th and 5th ELA, Science and Social Studies.  This is her 8th year in Mokena, 21st year overall in education.  She has 12 years classroom experience and 3 years as a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach. Lisa is currently in her 7th year as an Instructional Coach in Mokena.

Mrs. Jessica Mucenski

Jessica

Jessica is the instructional coach for Mokena Junior High. She has been at MJH since 2012 teaching on the 8th grade team, coaching various sports, and serving as the head of the Science department. This year she will be transitioning out of the classroom and into the role of instructional coach — she is looking forward to working with the students and her colleagues across all grades levels and content areas. 

Mrs. Sharon Youngblood

Sharon Youngblood

Sharon is the instructional coach at Mokena Elementary School where she works  with 1st and 2nd grade teachers and Mokena Intermediate School with 4th and 5th grade teachers of Math/Science/Social Studies.  This is her 10th year in Mokena School District and 26th year in education.  Prior to becoming an instructional coach she taught 2nd grade for 20 years.  This is her 7th year as an instructional coach.