Spark Innovation is an educational consulting group that was founded by Diane Sweeney, author of Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K-8 Coaches and Principals (Corwin Press, 2010) and Learning Along The Way: Professional Development By and For Teachers (Stenhouse, 2003). In her newest book, Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K-8 Coaches and Principals, Diane Sweeney writes,
“For over a decade, I have been fortunate to work with teachers, coaches, principals, and district leaders from around the country. And through this work, I have watched coaching evolve from a cutting-edge innovation in the early 90’s to a common set of practices that exist in many of our schools today. Though many educators will gladly testify to the benefits of school-based coaching, questions still persist about its effectiveness. I regularly meet many coaches who fret about their impact. They worry that, though they are very busy, they aren’t quite sure how their daily effort is making a difference with students.
Student-Centered Coaching answers these questions by introducing a new way of looking at and delivering school-based coaching that puts the needs of students’ front-and center. By focusing coaching on specific goals for student learning, rather than on changing or fixing teachers, a coach can navigate directly towards a measurable impact and increased student achievement. Coaches are still busy, but now their efforts are targeted and aligned towards student learning.”
Spark Innovation offers a qualified team of K-12 consultants and provides the following services:
- We partner with school districts to implement a data-driven model of professional development known as Student-Centered Coaching.
- We offer conferences and institutes for coaches, principals, and district leaders.
- We work directly with principals to lead coaching and professional development.
- We coach teachers using a student-centered approach.
- We work with districts to develop and implement a standards-based literacy curriculum across grades K-12.
