NTC’s underlying premise is that sustained, instructionally focused, job-embedded coaching from trained expert mentors or coaches improves teacher practice and, ultimately, teacher retention and student outcomes.
Research — from more than 60 experimental studies — confirms that instructional coaching is a highly effective teacher development strategy. NTC’s evidence-based model catalyzes strong, trust-based relationships between coaches and educators to enhance teaching practice. Our coaches foster trusting, authentic connections and guide instructional conversations that prioritize the needs of systemically underserved students.
NTC’s coaching approach empowers educators to create classroom environments in which students (and teachers) thrive.
NTC-trained coaches provide intensive, job-embedded professional learning for teachers situated in the teaching and coaching cycle for application in real classroom contexts and day-to-day problems of practice.
Significant contact time with teachers is critical to creating the conditions for growth through repeated coaching cycles of observation, analysis, and feedback on teaching and learning standards to meet the needs of every student.
Coaches need to be credible, understand the school’s context, and have strong and trusting relationships with teachers to be able to engage in the hard work of professional learning to build skills, knowledge base, and practice.
The coaching cycle builds teacher skills and competencies to assess student work, plan lessons, and engage and learn from observation and feedback.
Build the classroom conditions where student experiences are challenging, standards-based and culturally responsive while strengthening belonging and academic success.
Use NTC’s Optimal Learning Environment framework’s 14 interrelated, research-based characteristics to define practices and conditions for a high-quality instructional culture tailored to the diverse learning needs of students.
NTC has been awarded multiple highly competitive federal grants to validate our coaching approach and demonstrate its effectiveness
Our relationship-based approach supports joyous, affirming, and science-backed contexts for teaching and learning.
Well-Supported
Coaches and mentors
Research-based professional learning and ongoing in-field coaching support for coaches grounded in adult learning theory
Active & Engaged
Leadership
A culture of collaboration, healthy school climate, and change management at the school and systems level helps create the conditions for optimal learning across the school community, addressing often hidden roadblocks
Positive & Productive
School climates
The teaching and learning environment reflects the understanding that physical, social, emotional, and academic development are deeply and inextricably intertwined and foundational for student and teacher success
Evidence-based
Teaching and learning
High-leverage, proven processes rooted in feedback, flexible conversation protocols, and contextualized, job-embedded supports allow educators to use evidence from actual school and classroom practice to inform and drive change
Strengths & Equity-Based
Mindsets and culture
A human capital approach based on learner/teacher strengths encourages the necessary mindsets for self-awareness, growth, inclusion, perseverance, and substantive learning in complex school communities
Accelerate the development of teacher effectiveness, build teacher leadership, increase student learning, and support equitable outcomes for every learner
In times like these when budgets are tight, NTC and their support for new teachers is one of the bright lights. It’s one of the things that’s working.
