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Sphere of Influence - Infusing Equity Within a System

Monday, June 13, 2022

Written By: Rachel Fregien - Education Consultant for Coaching Supports, Special Education Team, DPI

Systems change. Systemic change. You hear it a lot. DPI talks of it constantly. Is it a “buzz phrase”? What does it really mean? How do we INFUSE the elements of the change we want to see in systems that are much bigger than us? What is our sphere of control? What is our sphere of influence?

As a state level leader focused on coaching, the system within which I work is overwhelming. It is big. It is looming. To change this system, feels like all thrusters open wide trying to nudge a cruise ship into a U turn. What control do I have? What influence, even?

About a year ago, a diverse team of coaches convened around Wisconsin’s definition of coaching with the goal to more intentionally infuse language related to equity into the core competencies. It was important to make it clear that coaches have a unique role and are equipped to recognize, respond to and work to root out systemic inequities. And, to quote Elena Agulair, “Every coaching conversation is an equity conversation.” To that end, the Coaching Competency Practice Profile (CCPP) was updated. The competency of “Equity Mindset” was added, language was updated and equity was embedded throughout the remaining competencies. This update provided an opportunity to describe what it looks and feels like for coaches to have equity conversations every day.

But, the change doesn’t stop there. The CCPP can be used in several additional ways to influence a system.

We talk most about how it can inform the practices of coaches. For individuals who identify as a coach or are working to build their coaching capacity, the CCPP can guide self-reflection, support the development of professional practice goals (PPGs), develop learning plans, and track professional growth. This summer, the Educator Effectiveness tools and resources will be updated to align to the new CCPP language. Coaches can align professional practice goals to the coaching competencies and infuse equity into their daily practice. Coaches can intentionally align professional learning to equity training. And, coaches can receive evaluation feedback aligned to the updated, equity infused coaching competencies. This has big impact on a coaching system. Through the coaching competency practice profile, not only do coaches have a clear and consistent understanding of what it looks and feels like to “coach with an equity mindset”, administration and supervisors can learn alongside their coaches too!

Additionally, the CCPP can help in the recruitment, selection and hiring of new coaches. As teams consider selecting individuals to engage in the important work of coaching, this tool can serve as a guide in creating position descriptions, interview questions, coaching scenarios, and candidacy qualification “look-fors” in the hiring process. Check out some sample hiring resources here. These hiring resources are aligned to each of the coaching competencies. Many of the examples intentionally infuse equity thinking. This provides an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their equity mindset qualifications from the get-go. And, it communicates to candidates that this place values equitable educational practices. It's a win-win!

As mentioned earlier, systems are daunting and sometimes your sphere of control, or even sphere of influence can seem so miniscule. Getting a cruise ship to perform a U-Turn may really be an impossible task. But what about moving it just one degree from its original course? Like adding equity language into a coach position description or interview questions. As the ship moves forward the change will be imperceptible at first, but eventually, it will move farther and farther from its original path. Before you know it, your coaching personnel demonstrate an equity mindset in all their work. And, every coaching conversation is an equity conversation. That’s how we tap into our sphere of influence to change systems. The influence continues with the coaches. 

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