District/School Resources PK-16 Program Support
Office for Career/Vocational Technical Education

Role of High Schools That Work Coach/Site Coordinator

The primary purpose of a coach is to assist the school in undertaking the process for change. A coach helps to clarify the purposes of High Schools That Work (HSTW), its goals and key practices, establishes lines of communication, and helps to build a vision for shared leadership and decision making. The coach assists in identifying the school's strengths, best practices and "big challenges" to raise student performance. The coach helps the school to organize site teams, and to develop site action improvement plans. This includes facilitating conversations with academic and vocational teachers as well as the school's administrators.

The coach/site coordinator should work closely with the principal and/or superintendent and the school's site implementation team. The coach will also work with the High Schools That Work state coordinators to assist other sites in implementing High Schools That Work. The coach/site coordinator is selected by the high school's administration. In some cases, the coach is a mid-level administrator or guidance counselor. In other schools, the role is shared by an academic and a vocational-technical teacher. It is important that the individual(s) selected have the time, resources and flexibility to get the work done.

Responsibilities of the High Schools That Work Coach/Site Coordinator

• Devote 10-20% of his or her time during the school year to the coach role.
• Assist in implementing HSTW by serving as a resource, attending meetings, and consulting with the staff and the school's principal.
• Work with the school's site implementation team to coordinate the whole-school restructuring initiative.
• Help recruit team members including business representatives
• Help to prepare the school's Three-Year Action Plan and required progress reports.
• Coordinate the school's HSTW Technical Assistance Visit(s) and biannual assessment.
• Participate in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's network meetings. There are two to four meetings each year.
• Maintain regular communication about the school's progress with the HSTW state coordinators.
• Disseminate information about HSTW and the site's progress in implementing its key practices to school staff, parents and other interested parties.

What Qualities does the Coach/Site Coordinator Need?

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Access to the school's administration
• Commitment to improving the school
• Respect of academic and vocational teachers
• Effective organizational and team-building skills
• Ability to motivate and support the change process