Is Your School Ready to Hire a Literacy Coach?
In Navigating the Hiring Season: Defining Roles for Literacy Success, I discussed the differences between a literacy coach and a reading specialist. Today, I want to tackle a different, more foundational question: Is your school truly ready to hire a literacy coach?.
Throughout my career, I've applied for coaching positions in many districts. In countless interviews, the hiring team shared their big goal: they wanted all their students to read and write proficiently. After they shared their vision, I would ask questions to better understand their current literacy reality.
As I listened, I'd silently pinpoint existing systems and materials that I knew would prevent me from making the necessary changes. I'd then ask follow-up questions to gauge their openness to change: "Are you open to choosing a more evidence-aligned curriculum?" or "Could we switch to a different screener?" The answer was often "no," with common reasons tied to budget, staff training time, and existing licensing agreements.
It often felt like I was expected to make a huge impact while working within the same outdated systems. Knowing my hands were tied before I even started, experience taught me to kindly remove myself from the application pool. It was heartbreaking to know that whoever did take the job wouldn't be able to help them reach their goals, either.
Regardless of the field, you can't effectively help others if you lack the knowledge, the tools, and a strong team. A car mechanic can't fix an engine they don't understand. A surgeon can't operate without the right instruments. And even the highest-skilled quarterback can't win without a team that knows the playbook. Education is no different.
A coach’s true purpose is to be a thought partner and a change agent. This requires a school to be ready to change—not just to hire a new person to fit into the existing system. The coach is on the sideline, guiding the team to make better plays. But if the players are using the wrong equipment and don't understand the rules of the game, even the best coaching won't lead to a win.
Why Change is Necessary
Thanks to the work of many, like Emily Hanford’s podcast Sold a Story, we now understand why two-thirds of students nationwide struggle with reading and writing. The problem is two-fold:
Outdated Teacher Preparation: Most teacher preparation programs still don't teach the scientifically-backed methods for teaching reading and writing (often called the "science of reading" and the "science of writing").
Ineffective Tools: Many instructional tools, like assessments and curriculums, are not fully aligned with these proven methods.
For a coach to be successful, a school must be willing to let go of what isn't working and embrace new ways of thinking and teaching.
3 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
What’s your team’s mindset?
Organization psychologist Adam Grant says it perfectly in his book, Think Again, “A hallmark of wisdom is knowing when it's time to abandon some of your most treasured tools.” Is your team willing to unlearn what they thought they knew, question existing practices, and let go of what’s familiar?
Actionable Step: Give your team a quick survey to find out. Even if not every staff member is on board, it's crucial to know if the administrative team is prepared to lead through this important and challenging process.
Are your instructional tools evidence-based?
As a coach, consultant, and graduate level adjunct professor, I've seen firsthand how a coach's impact can be limited by outdated or ineffective tools. You can’t build a house with a broken hammer.
Actionable Step: If you're unsure if your systems and tools are evidence-based, consider getting a literacy audit before you hire a literacy coach. This will help you determine your school’s strengths and needs and better prepare you for success with your coach.
Are your instructional practices evidence-based?
Do your teachers and other instructional staff have knowledge of the science of reading and Structured Literacy? Like a car mechanic must know how an engine works to fix a car, teachers must know how the brain learns to read to grow readers. A coach can’t implement change with educators who lack this foundational knowledge.
Actionable Step: Give your staff a survey to gauge their knowledge of the science of reading (you can find one with an answer key at the top of our “Free Tools” page). Then, either ensure the literacy coach you hire can design and lead professional development to build teachers’ understanding, or that you have the funding and time for staff to enroll in courses to gain this knowledge.
