Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Article submitted by: Kristin Lorino CESA 6 Consultant
As schools across Wisconsin strive to meet the growing mental health needs of students and staff, the role of educational coaches in supporting mental health system development is more critical than ever. I am fortunate to be a part of the CESA 6 Student Behavior & Wellness Team. One service we offer is systems-level continuous improvement coaching that is tightly aligned with the Wisconsin DPI’s Coaching Competency Practice Profile—particularly the competencies of equity mindset and change facilitation.
Allies in Mental Health Education (AMHE): Coaching for Systems Change
Since 2017, Allies in Mental Health Education (AMHE) coaches from CESA 6 have partnered with over 80 school and district teams across the state to guide the implementation and refinement of comprehensive school mental health systems. Grounded in The WI School Mental Health Framework, Roadmap for School Mental Health Improvement and the CDC’s Community Change Process, AMHE coaching helps schools:
- Build strong, collaborative leadership and support teams
- Engage in continuous improvement using PDSA cycles (Plan-Do-Study-Act)
- Prioritize people and relationships as essential drivers of change
- Center equity and voice in creating educational systems of mental wellness
- Create connections with other schools and districts through opportunities such as a community of practice or shared learning events
As part of this work, coaches use the SHAPE assessment system data to identify priority areas, support alignment with existing MLSS structures, and guide schools in action planning and reflection. We aim to support schools in understanding their data, building readiness, and moving from implementation to sustainability.
Coaching the Whole System: Beneath the Surface
Improving school mental health is not a programmatic quick fix—it’s a systems-level endeavor. Coaches working in this space must guide school teams through deep reflection, shared learning, and iterative improvement cycles. The iceberg analogy offers a helpful lens: visible needs and isolated supports above the surface are only part of the picture. True systems change involves addressing the water in which the iceberg exists. The goal of our coaching is to enable schools to build systems where wellness is woven into the fabric of daily practice.
Empowering Minds: Coaching with Community Impact
This work has also sparked a powerful partnership with the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County through Empowering Minds; one of their four key initiatives. In early 2022, United Way brought together local, state and national experts. Their collective input led to the launch of Empowering Minds, an initiative focused on prevention, equity and access to mental wellness services for high school students. What began as coaching support for two pilot schools has expanded to nine school teams this year—and is projected to reach 18 schools next year. Their ultimate goal is to “elevate the mental wellness of 21,000 high school students by 2030.”
In collaboration with CESA 6 coaches, schools have engaged in a wide range of activities to strengthen their mental health systems. The examples below represent just a few of the many strategies school teams have implemented as part of their continuous improvement efforts:
- Elevated student, staff, and family voice in mental health planning
- Created wellness spaces to promote self-regulation and connection
- Installed mental health visual supports throughout school buildings (e.g., wall wraps) to help reduce stigma and increase help seeking behaviors
- Provided professional development on Mental Health Literacy, Restorative Practices, Trauma-Responsive Practices, and other relevant topics
- Developed accessible school websites to support community-wide awareness of and access to mental health resources when and where they need them
- Implemented universal mental health screening practices
- Strengthened partnerships with community mental health providers to offer on-site services
Each of these outcomes reflects the strategic use of funding provided by United Way and a strong alignment with coaching for systemic impact.
The Evolving Role of Coaches in Mental Health Systems Work
As schools continue to reimagine how they support mental wellness, educational coaches are uniquely positioned to guide thoughtful, sustainable change. Experiences from models like AMHE illustrate how coaching can help school teams move from fragmented or reactive approaches to more cohesive and integrated systems of support. Through collaboration, facilitation, and systems thinking, coaches can help school communities build the conditions needed for mental health supports to take root and flourish.