Coaching the Whole Educator
Coaching the Whole Educator is a podcast for instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and school leaders who want to strengthen their educators’ effectiveness and resilience, especially the ones who need it most. Each week, you’ll hear quick tips, proven strategies, and coaching mindsets designed to keep you on top of your coaching game.This show is rooted in a human-centered approach, where we get things done through people’s humanity, not around it. Whether you’re new to instructional coaching or a seasoned instructional coach or leader looking for fresh perspective, you’ll learn how to focus on the mindsets and motiva...
#193: When High Expectations Meet Resistance: What Should Leaders Actually Do?
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver talks with Principal Kafele about what happens when high expectations meet resistance in schools and how leaders can respond without slipping into compliance-driven leadership.
Together, they explore how school leaders can create a true culture of high expectations, not by demanding instant transformation, but by helping educators experience steady, measurable growth. Principal Kafele shares why leaders must connect expectations to a larger purpose, build authentic relationships with staff, and understand what is beneath the pushback...
#192: The Resistance Solution in Action: An Instructional Leader's Perspective
Send us Fan Mail
What does The Resistance Solution actually look like in a real school?
In this episode, Chrystin Sheffield shares how the book transformed the way she leads.
She talks about how it helped her:
• Stop taking teacher resistance personally and start diagnosing what's really driving it
• Navigate difficult conversations with less frustration and more confidence
• Give walkthrough feedback that feels meaningful instead of repetitive
• Build trust more intentionally instead of simply hoping relationships develop
• Create acco...
#191: How to Collect Data on Teacher Well Being
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Becca sits down with Jessica Werner, founder of North Shore Learning, to unpack a hard truth in schools: many leaders believe they understand staff well-being, but are relying on assumptions instead of real data.
Together, they explore how well-being, retention, and leadership decisions are deeply connected and why anecdotal signals like “people seem happy” or “no one is in crisis” are not enough to guide action.
Jessica shares how collecting simple, meaningful data can help leaders identify what is actually impacting teacher satisfaction, workload, and long-term retentio...
#190.5: "The Resistance Solution": A CELEBRATION!
Send us Fan Mail
Okay y’all… this episode is basically what happens when two people who are deeply obsessed with leadership, resistance, ownership, and human behavior finally hit “record.” 😂
Becca sits down with leadership expert Casey Watts to celebrate the release of The Resistance Solution… but the conversation quickly turns into a deep, real-time exploration of what actually causes resistance in schools and why so many leadership strategies fall apart after the initial excitement fades.
What makes this episode different is that Becca doesn’t just explain the ideas from the book. She tells the s...
#190: The 5 Powerful Coaching Practices (and a surprising secret to success)
Send us Fan Mail
[FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down with Jason Adair from the Southern Regional Education Board to explore what actually makes instructional coaching effective in schools. Together, they unpack SREB’s new Powerful Coaching Practices framework and discuss why so many coaching initiatives fail to create lasting instructional change.
This conversation dives into instructional coaching strategies, teacher feedback, coaching cycles, relationship-based leadership, professional learning, an...
#189: Inside the Lived Experiences of Black Women Instructional Coaches
Send us Fan Mail
Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE.
Discover a conversation unlike any you’ve heard before as Dr. Courtney Tate joins Becca Silver to shine a spotlight on the real challenges and triumphs experienced by Black women in instructional coaching. This episode pulls back the curtain on the unseen emotional workload, the navigation of daily microaggressions, and the relentless pursuit of recognition faced by these dedicated professionals. Dr. Tate brings her research and personal journey front and center, revealing strategies for building support sys...
#188: The Coaching Mistake We Make When Teachers Are Exhausted
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver unpacks a coaching mistake many instructional coaches and school leaders make at the end of the school year: trying to solve exhausted teachers instead of helping them feel understood first.
When teachers are overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and running on fumes, even well-intentioned coaching strategies can accidentally create more frustration. Too often, leaders hear exhaustion and immediately jump into problem-solving, advice, or pushing for solutions. But exhausted educators usually do not need someone to fix them first. They need someone to slow down long...
#187: Why Change Feels Scary: Naming the Real Fears
Send us Fan Mail
Grab the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK for only $7 HERE.
Change isn’t something school leaders do on the side. It is the work. In this episode, former principal and author Richard Gerver joins Becca to dig into why adults in schools resist change even though change and learning go hand in hand. They talk about why veteran teachers often push back the most, how forcing change shuts down curiosity and buy in, and what it looks like to respect lived experience while still moving forward. You...
#186: [Resistance Chronicles] Ownership Mindset
Send us Fan Mail
Resistance Chronicles, Part 5: Ownership Mindset™
[FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit)
In the final episode of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver explores the Ownership Mindset and the form of resistance that often sounds like disengagement but is rooted in belief.
It can sound like:
“There’s nothing we can do.”
“That’s just how our kids are.”
“This is out of our control.”
These statements are not alw...
#185: Decision Making Magic: Using Intuition to Make Clearer, Faster Leadership Decisions
Send us Fan Mail
[FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit)
Are you an instructional coach or principal navigating endless data, tough decisions, and nonstop demands? In this can’t-miss episode, visionary school leader David Richards reveals why intuition is your greatest untapped superpower, and how mastering it can transform your leadership, simplify your daily choices, and reignite your passion for impact. Walk away with actionable strategies to trust yourself, tune into what really matters, and discover how to...
#184: [Resistance Chronicles] Growth Mindset
Send us Fan Mail
Resistance Chronicles, Part 4: Growth Mindset
[FREE] Catalyst Mindset Overview Graphic [Printable]
In this episode, Becca Silver explores how resistance shows up when the belief “I can improve” feels unsupported. Growth requires effort, feedback, and struggle. When those experiences feel risky or tied to judgment, educators naturally protect themselves.
This form of resistance is often quiet and easy to misread. It can sound like:
“I’m good where I am.”
“That’s just not my style.”
“I already know how t...
#183: A Debate: Is Setting Team Norms Effective?
Send us Fan Mail
Have you gotten your copy of the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK yet? Get it for only $7 HERE.
In this episode, Becca is joined by her friend and colleague Mia Pumo for an unscripted, honest debate about norms and whether they actually work.
Rather than offering a tidy answer, this conversation lives in the gray. Becca and Mia explore why norms are so commonly used in schools, why they often fail to change behavior, and under what conditions they can support trust, psychological safety, an...
#182: [Resistance Chronicles] Success Mindset
Send us Fan Mail
[FREE] Find Your Resistance Type Quiz: Find out the type of resistance you are navigating (previously called The Resistance Audit)
What if resistance isn’t defiance… but doubt?
In Part 3 of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver unpacks the Success Mindset and the powerful role of self-efficacy. When educators aren’t sure they can succeed, resistance shows up , not as rebellion, but as hesitation:
•“I’m not sure that will work.”
• “That’s not really my strength.”
• “I’ve tried that before.”
This episode reframes resi...
#181: Stop Calling It Collaboration When It’s Just Compliance: How Leaders Can Tell the Difference Between Real and Fake Collaboration
Send us Fan Mail
Be sure to grab your copy of the RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK is now available! It's only $7 HERE.
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver sits down with Kurtis Hewson, co founder of Jigsaw Learning, to break down what truly drives authentic collaboration in schools. Kurtis explains why many teams think they are “collaborating” when they are actually stuck in compliance based routines that drain energy and limit impact. He shares how real collaboration begins with co created clarity. Teams need a shared...
#180: [Resistance Chronicles] Belonging Mindset
Send us Fan Mail
Resistance Chronicles, Part 2: Belonging Mindset™
In this episode, I explore belonging as one of the most overlooked drivers of resistance in schools. Resistance does not always show up as pushback. It often appears as silence, surface-level agreement, avoidance, or polite compliance.
These behaviors frequently signal uncertainty about relational safety. When educators are not sure they will still be respected, supported, or valued if they disagree or struggle, they protect themselves by staying quiet.
This episode covers:
• What resistance looks and sounds like when belonging feels uncer...
#179: When Your Questions Have an Agenda: Unpacking the Subtle Ways Control Sneaks into Coaching
Send us Fan Mail
The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK is now available! Grab it for only $7 HERE.
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver talks with instructional leader and writer Lauren Kaufman about how authentic questioning and a true coaching mindset drive meaningful growth for educators. With twenty years of experience across teaching, coaching, and district leadership, Lauren explains why effective coaching begins with curiosity, psychological safety, and open dialogue rather than hidden agendas or fix-it strategies.
Lauren breaks down the difference between authentic qu...
#178: [Resistance Chronicles] Value Mindset
Send us Fan Mail
In this first episode of The Resistance Chronicles, Becca Silver challenges one of the most common leadership mistakes we make: treating resistance as a compliance problem instead of a diagnostic opportunity.
She reframes resistance as a signal, not defiance, but an unmet need.
Becca introduces five core Catalyst Mindsets that often sit underneath resistance: value, ownership, belonging, success, and growth
In this episode, she focuses specifically on the value mindset, unpacking what’s really happening when someone says, “This just feels like more work.”
Instead of pus...
#177: How to Read a Room and Adjust PD in Real Time
Send us Fan Mail
The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK was just released! Grab it for only $7 HERE.
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down with Lindsay Deacon, veteran instructional coach and author of The EduCoach Survival Guide. Lindsay brings more than a decade of experience supporting teachers, coaches, and leaders across districts, and she joins the show to unpack one of the most essential skills in coaching and professional learning: how to read a room and adjust in real time.
Together, Becca and L...
#176: When Consistency Backfires: The Leadership Tension No One Talks About
Send us Fan Mail
The RESISTANCE PLAYBOOK was just released! Grab it for only $7 HERE.
Here’s a leadership question that sounds simple…but isn’t:
How consistent is consistent enough?
And when does it start getting in the way?
Chris and I dig into one of leadership’s quieter paradoxes: the pull to be steady and responsive at the same time. We talk about why consistency matters: trust, clarity, accountability all depend on it. And we name the shadow side too: when consistenc...
#175: If One More Person Says “Self-Care,” I Might Scream: Why Educators Are Burning Out
Send us Fan Mail
In this powerful episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca Silver sits down with Dr. Naomi Hall, former educator, burnout expert, and co-founder of the Thrive Conference, to unpack why burnout is skyrocketing in schools and what leaders can actually do to support overwhelmed teachers.
Dr. Hall brings nearly two decades of experience as a teacher and administrator, along with her real-world journey through burnout and recovery. Together, Becca and Naomi break down the root causes of educator burnout, including lack of boundaries, toxic school cultures, and the system-wide habit of...
#174: Is a Little Resistance Actually Healthy?
Send us Fan Mail
🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨
Let’s start with a question we don’t ask often enough:
What if resistance isn’t the problem?
Chris and I push on a pretty common assumption in education; that resistance is something to manage, fix, or eliminate. I offer a reframe that’s shaped a lot of my own leadership: resistance is often a signal.
Engagement.
Unmet needs.
Something important trying to get our attention.
...
#173: Short on Time? Skip the Observation, Not the Pre-Conference
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down again with veteran instructional coaching expert Steve Barkley to unpack one of the most overlooked but powerful parts of the coaching cycle: the pre-conference. Together, they break down why pre-conferences are essential for effective instructional coaching, teacher growth, and human-centered school leadership.
Steve explains how pre-conferences create trust, increase teacher agency, and ensure coaching conversations feel relevant and meaningful. Instead of using coaching time for “I gotcha” observations, Steve shows how a strong pre-conference transforms the work into “I got you,”...
#172: Can Too Much Empathy Hinder Decisive Leadership?
Send us Fan Mail
🚨Don’t forget to register for the VATLL Power of Coaching Conference, February 3–4, 2026! 🚨
Here’s a question I keep bumping into as a leader and a coach:
When does empathy help, and when does it quietly stall us out?
In the first episode of our three-part series on coaching and leadership, Chris and I dig into one of leadership’s most uncomfortable tensions. I’ll say it plainly: empathy matters. A lot. And… sometimes leaders have to make decisions with incomplete buy-in, imperfect timing...
#171: How AI Can Spark (Not Replace) Your Leadership
Send us Fan Mail
This episode dives straight into the conversation every educator and leader needs right now: How AI is reshaping coaching, leadership, and the way we build an Innovator’s Mindset in schools.
Becca sits down with George Couros, world-recognized educator and author of The Innovator’s Mindset, to unpack how AI can support real human-centered leadership instead of replacing it. Together, they explore how AI can fuel curiosity, deepen critical thinking, and expand teacher and student agency when used with intention.
You’ll hear George break down:
Why innovation is not...#170: The Leadership Support Gap
Send us Fan Mail
Looking for inspiration and real talk you can actually use as a school leader? This episode brings you a powerful conversation between Becca and the vibrant duo behind The Principal Exchange, Andra and Sarah. Together, they explore the real challenges principals face every day. The isolation. The constant demands. The search for support that truly understands the weight of school leadership.
You will hear the story of how Andra and Sarah built their platform from the ground up and how their resources and virtual events are creating an authentic community for...
#169: Best of 2025 Series: I Stopped Trying to Convince Teachers...That’s When Everything Changed
Send us Fan Mail
What if the resistance you’re seeing isn’t defiance—it’s a clue?
In this episode, Dr. Donna Spangler shares the coaching breakthrough that changed everything: She stopped trying to convince teachers, and they started showing up with purpose, ownership, and even excitement.
After going through The Resistance Remedy course, Donna realized she wasn’t dealing with a skill gap—she was missing the belief gap. Once she started listening for mindset signals like value, belonging, and ownership, her entire coaching approach shifted. Teachers moved from polite compl...
#168: Best of 2025 Series: The Art of Interrupting—How to Jump In Without Shutting Others Down
Send us Fan Mail
We’ve been taught that good listeners don’t interrupt—but what if the right kind of interrupting is exactly what great leaders do?
Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That should’ve gone better”?
You said the words.
They said the words.
But something still missed the mark.
Here’s the truth: It’s not what you said. It’s what you didn’t hear.
In this episode, I sit down with listening expert Christine Miles, who challenges...
#167: Best of 2025 Series: Stop Curriculum Chaos: Getting Real Engagement
Send us Fan Mail
Rolling out a new curriculum?
Brace yourself—resistance, frustration, and missteps are inevitable… unless you do it right. Join Sean Lindsey and me as we break down what it really takes to get teachers, students, and families on board—without wasted effort or top-down mandates that fall flat.
We’re talking about:
The most common mistake leaders make when choosing a curriculum – Teachers and students aren’t just checkboxes in your curriculum rollout. Use a rubric based on their actual needs, not just the shiniest new program. How...#166: Best of 2025 Series: Why Being “Naturally Gifted” Can Backfire as a Coach
Send us Fan Mail
The Ladder of Conscious Competence
Four stages: Conscious/Unconscious Competence & Incompetence.This can explain why there’s a lack of knowledge transfer at your schoolWhy having unconscious competence makes skills hard to teach.
The Peter Principle in Education
Coaching Missteps to Avoid
#165: Perfectionism's Impact on Resilience & Well-being
Send us Fan Mail
Tune in for an engaging conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Kate Lund as she joins host Becca Silver to explore perfectionism and resilience. This episode dives into how perfectionism can show up in the lives of coaches, leaders, and teachers, and why it often gets in the way of satisfaction and well-being.
Dr. Lund explains the difference between perfectionism and healthy striving, sharing how the constant urge to get everything right can actually make growth and adaptability more difficult. Listeners will discover practical tools, including the relaxation response technique to calm...
#163: Coaching Through Student Learning Production Behaviors
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, Becca sits down with Steve Barkley, a pioneer in instructional coaching whose influence has shaped how educators think about growth, feedback, and collaboration. Together, they unpack what it really takes to create lasting change in classrooms; not through evaluation, but through curiosity and conversation.
Steve shares his journey from being observed every day as a student teacher to becoming one of the most respected voices in peer coaching. Along the way, he reveals a mindset shift that changed everything: great coaching isn’t about watching teachers. It’s abou...
#162: Why Building Trust Might Not Be Working
Send us Fan Mail
What separates schools that grow from those that stall? One word: trust.
In this episode, Becca unpacks research showing that strong trust can double a school’s chance of improving student learning. She breaks down the four types of trust: integrity, intent, capabilities, and results and shares how leaders can pinpoint where trust is missing and rebuild it with purpose.
Listen in for practical, research-backed strategies to strengthen relationships, improve coaching impact, and lead with confidence.
Check out The Resistance Remedy!
[Podcast Spo...
#161: Beyond Policies & Promises: How Real Leaders Create Conditions for Equity
Send us Fan Mail
In this powerful episode, Becca sits down with Dr. Ann Ishimaru and Dr. Decoteau Irby, authors of Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change, to unpack what it really means to lead for equity in today’s schools.
Together, they trace the evolution of equity leadership through four distinct phases: morning (where new roles and policies first take root), midday (when equity becomes embedded in systems), evening (as communities and intentional connections deepen), and night (when resistance and federal mandates challenge the work).
The conversation ge...
#160: How a One-Hour Intervention Shifted Outcomes for Years
Send us Fan Mail
[Podcast Sponsor]
Ever wonder how the smallest moments can spark the biggest shifts in learning and leadership? In this episode of Research Rundown, Becca reveals the science behind a simple one hour intervention that slashed achievement gaps and boosted happiness for years, all by strengthening students’ sense of belonging. Discover how tiny, everyday moments can ripple out to create lasting change, and learn the three essential ingredients every leader needs to build trust, safety, and connection. Don’t miss the secrets to turning resistance into momentum and making everyone feel...
#159: Why Teachers Don’t Want to Use Data and What to Do About It
Send us Fan Mail
How can schools and teams make data feel human and actually useful? In this episode, Becca talks with data culture expert Jessica Lane about approaches that move beyond dashboards and charts to create meaningful impact.
Jessica shares practical ways to start small, focus on “tiny data,” and connect every action to real student outcomes. Through stories and actionable strategies, listeners will learn how to build trust, support teacher growth, and use data as a tool for continuous improvement rather than a source of stress.
Whether your school is beginning its...
#158: Why Ownership Requires Agency (And How to Build It)
Send us Fan Mail
Discover how teacher agency really works.
In this episode, Becca explores the research on teacher agency, showing it’s not simply a personal trait, but shaped by school leadership, collaboration, and trust. You’ll hear why true teacher ownership can’t be forced, and how creating the right conditions helps teachers grow, lead, and stay engaged.
📥 Download this FREE resource to help you spot and support both internal and external teacher agency.
📚 Curious about the research behind ecological agency? Read more here!
Listen in to see how small sh...
#164: Why Your Teacher Support Needs a Tiered System
Send us Fan Mail
Get ready for a smarter approach to professional learning!
In this episode, Becca challenges coaches and school leaders to stop treating professional development like a one-size-fits-all event. Instead, she shares how to design support that truly matches the needs of your educators.
Think of it through the MTSS lens:
✨ Tier 1: Learning that brings everyone together around a shared goal.
🎯 Tier 2: Targeted sessions for small groups who need focused support.
💬 Tier 3: Personalized coaching that addresses individual needs and sparks real growth.
Every PD experience, from staff meeti...
#157: How Gen Z is Misunderstood in the Workplace
Send us Fan Mail
Get ready to see leadership and the next generation from a whole new angle. In this insightful episode, Becca sits down with author and leadership expert Tim Elmore to talk about what Gen Z is bringing to the workplace. Tim shares stories that challenge assumptions, clears up common misconceptions, and shows how Gen Z can help leaders grow sharper in their skills. You’ll hear why shortcuts sometimes represent a new kind of work ethic, how regular check-ins can strengthen team culture, and why curiosity often creates better results than frustration. Whether yo...
#156: Give Feedback So They Can Hear It
Send us Fan Mail
Why does the same feedback spark growth in one teacher but shut down another? In this episode, Becca Silver unpacks the research on the “four ways of knowing” and how it shapes the way educators receive feedback. You’ll learn how to recognize these differences, adjust your coaching approach, and move past resistance with compassion and clarity. This conversation will help you shift feedback from frustration to connection, so real growth can take root.
🔗Discover the research behind how teachers truly hear feedback in Tell...
#155: This Teacher Leader Ditched the Fix-It Mindset and Escaped the Complaint Trap
Send us Fan Mail
What happens when a teacher leader decides to stop fixing everything and start empowering others? In this episode, I sit down with Todd Goodman, a teacher and leader who has sparked a grassroots movement of change in his school community. Todd shares how shifting away from the exhausting “fix-it mindset” freed him to build trust, empower his peers, and create real transformation for students.
You’ll hear how frameworks like FFIRE Your Complaints™ and reflective listening didn’t just help Todd navigate frustration, they raised student outcomes and strengthened the cultur...
