Building Community
The Power of Presence: Transforming Educators’ Lives through Coaching
Carey Borkoski, Ph.D., Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Loyola University Maryland
Topics
When educators design and create new schools, and live next gen learning themselves, they take the lead in growing next gen learning across the nation. Other educators don’t simply follow and adopt; next gen learning depends on personal and community agency—the will to own the change, fueled by the desire to learn from and with others. Networks and policy play important roles in enabling grassroots approaches to change.
Coaching represents an opportunity for educators and schools to strengthen and reimagine learning, culture, and systems.
In our fast-paced world, the art of listening has become a rare and invaluable skill. Coaching, at its core, is built upon a fundamental ability to be present and attentive. Through active listening, curiosity, and attention, coaches aim to co-create a space for individuals to explore experiences, beliefs, emotions, and other topics that emerge. This deep level of attention allows individuals to feel truly heard and seen which in turn creates opportunities for profound personal growth and self-discovery. Coaching represents an opportunity for educators and schools to strengthen and reimagine learning, culture, and systems. Coaching can play a role in our school communities, through teacher-student classroom interactions, family-school relationships, professional learning settings and efforts to transform learning.
Powerful Questions
The power of asking questions cannot be overstated in the realm of coaching. Thoughtful, open-ended inquiries serve as catalysts for introspection and clarity. These inquiries help us intentionally reflect upon, notice, and name our assumptions, uncover hidden beliefs, and spark new perspectives. By asking more questions instead of providing ready-made answers, coaches invite those they support to tap into their own inner wisdom and identify ideas, priorities, and solutions that resonate with their unique circumstances and values.
A Moment to Pause
Perhaps one of the most underappreciated coaching skills is the strategic use of silence—the power of the pause. In a world that often equates constant activity with productivity, embracing moments of reflection and quiet can be transformative. These intentional pauses allow for deeper processing of thoughts and emotions, often leading to breakthrough insights. The pause creates opportunities to pay attention to individual moments, each having the potential to be a building block in the journey of transformation. When these moments are recognized, appreciated, and validated, they collectively lead to momentum, progress, and lasting change. It's easy to lose sight of the first step or single moment when focused solely on the end goal, but a well-timed pause can shift this perspective dramatically. Implementing this practice invites individuals to explore and reflect, giving them permission to slow down and find space for more intentional and consistent contemplation.
The Potential for Transformation
The impact of these coaching principles extends far beyond individual sessions. As we incorporate deep listening, thoughtful questioning, and reflective pauses into our roles as leaders, teachers, and community members, we create ripple effects of positive change which has the potential to shift the culture of systems, both large and small. Imagine a world where people truly feel heard and understood, where curiosity drives our processes and growth, and where there's time and space to explore both current realities and future possibilities. By embodying these coaching principles in our interactions, we not only enhance our own effectiveness but also contribute to creating more empathetic, thoughtful, and intentional communities.
Photo at top courtesy of CityBridge Education.
Carey Borkoski, Ph.D., Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Loyola University Maryland
Dr. Carey Borkoski teaches, mentors, and coaches education leadership students, early career faculty, and other emerging and current leaders. Her research explores belonging, the critical importance of a sense of belonging to learning and growing, and the ways that educators and leaders can contribute to spaces to invite belonging. Dr. Borkoski has written a book on navigating discomfort and has a forthcoming book exploring belonging based on several years of data. Carey is an ICF-certified coach and when she is not teaching, coaching, or doing research, she is spending time outside running or with her family. Follow Carey on LinkedIn and listen to her podcast Tell Me This.
