KU Center for Research on Learning

KU Center for Research on Learning





Speaker Bio - Jim Knight


Jim Knight is a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than a decade studying instructional coaching, writing two books on the topic: Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction, published by Corwin Press & NSDC, and Coaching Classroom Management, written with Randy Sprick, Wendy Reinke, and Tricia McKale and published by Pacific Northwest Press. Jim’s articles on instructional coaching have been included in publications such as The Journal of Staff Development, Principal Leadership, The School Administrator, and Teachers Teaching Teachers. Jim directs several research projects, including Pathways to Success, a comprehensive, district-wide school reform project in the Topeka, Kan., school district. Jim also leads the coaching institutes and annual instructional coaching conference offered by the University of Kansas. Jim is frequently asked to guide professional learning for instructional coaches and has presented and consulted in more than 40 states, most Canadian provinces, and in Japan. He also has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards.




Description


Jim Knight was the 2009 Instructional Coaching Conference keynote speaker. In his presentation, “Moving Closer To Unmistakable Impact,” he discussed the Kansas Coaching Project (KCP) goals of identifying how to have an unmistakable impact on the quality of childrens’ lives in schools. The efforts of coaches, researchers, software developers, professional developers and all staff at KCP are focused on achieving this goal. Since last year’s coaching conference, much has been accomplished. A suite of instructional coaching manuals is now available for free online, a new virtual community of coaches has been established and now boast more than 500 members, characteristics of effective coaches have been identified from an extensive qualitative study of coaches in Florida, new observation tools have been created for administrators, and new iPhone software has been developed for teacher observation and it will soon be available on iTunes.