Peer+Coaching+Feb+2009

====The program was developed here at the Puget Sound Center as part of a Department of Education grant. In 2004, Microsoft licensed the curriculum making it the first of their Partners in Learning leadership programs. Now, we have had the unique opportunity to train program facilitators in over 46 countries. Each has made Peer Coaching align with their country initiatives and have replicated the program repeatedly. We have seen how the program can easily be aligned with content and curriculum initiatives as well. We know that peer coaching builds capacity in schools by building teacher leaders who provide school-based professional development.====

====This Peer Coaching Program is designed to train teacher leaders to serve as peer coaches for colleagues. As coaches, these teachers will assist their peers in identifying ways to enhance their instruction and to offer their students engaging, technology-rich, learning activities. In doing so, peer coaches will help their colleagues to develop the necessary technology skills and instructional strategies needed to integrate technology into teaching and learning.====

====Currently, Puget Sound Center is helping schools build their own capacity to create and sustain a peer coaching program by hosting regional facilitator training workshops. If you, your school or your district is interested in developing a Peer Coaching Program, this is a cost effective way to go. The one week training is designed to train facilitators, who will in turn recruit and train coaches in their schools, districts, or regions. The Facilitator Training will provide you with knowledge of the 8 sessions of content, how to facilitate that content, and the foundational knowledge necessary to support the content. You receive access to the Web site and electronic copies of all the necessary materials to implement the Peer Coaching Program. There is no fee for further duplication since Microsoft provides the support and materials for free to facilitators who have attended facilitator training. Facilitators who attend, receive all materials needed to launch a coaching program. This way, a district is able to sustain their program beyond the initial facilitator training.====