As a beginner, I felt I had very little credibility. I lacked confidence going into this experience because I asked myself, “Who am I to be the coach?” However, even though I was more uncertain at first, as time went on I became more comfortable with the collegiate coaching model. My advice to someone else about to begin their first coaching experience is to approach the coaching relationship as if we were two peer teachers, undertaking an inquiry-driven process to refine your teaching practices. Within the collegiate coaching model, the coach does not transmit all the knowledge, but facilitates the teacher's growth. Overall, I learned so much from Sasha's coaching experience. I gained the experience of working with another educator and solving problems together. By being a coach, I also learned more about myself as a “teacher of teachers.” I found myself more nervous than I expected, even though I have been friends with Sasha since long before this coaching experience. Most importantly, this experience has shown me that no matter where I am in my teaching career, I will continue to grow as a teacher.
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