Opportunities for Teachers
As a Master Teacher, with 30 years of experience in and out of the classroom, I have enjoyed working with both new, inexperienced teachers, as well as seasoned professionals. As an administrator, I lived by the mantra that a school was only as strong as the weakest teacher I rehired. Therefore, I understood that bringing out the best in each teacher was the most important and essential role I played. I truly cherished this aspect of school leadership, and prioritized observations with honest feedback, maintaining balanced accountability, and consistently running practical workshops for new teachers. They were meaningful, and fun.
I believe that because of the deep respect that teachers have for my approach, I have continued to work intimately with many of my former teaching colleagues. In coaching and mentoring them, I have aimed to push them to maximize their strengths for their students, and to remind them to have pride and joy in this professional life.
Process of Support
For Individuals
Provided for both new and experienced faculty
One-on-one meeting to establish rapport and goals of coaching relationship
Create a list of opportunities, goals, and/or challenges to prioritize
Check in or touch point meetings over the course of the school year- frequency determined by need
Final meeting to determine if goals or opportunities met. Strategies for looking forward.
For Groups
Provided for new, experienced, departmental, grade level, or full faculty
Lead Workshops or facilitate discussions at your school for a group of teachers in a band of years of experience
Practical Support and Guiding Questions
Experienced Teachers
How will this year be your best yet? How can you be inspired this year? How can Professional Development steer you in a new and exciting direction? What can you do to make the school a better place? How can you use your years of experience to best support those new to this profession? How can you increase your impact outside of the classroom? How can you grow as a teacher in realistic ways? How can you make sure you are still experiencing joy in this vocation?
New Teachers
Tricks of the Trade. Classroom management. Grading and grade recording. Lesson Planning. Communication- to students, parents, and colleagues. Writing student comments. The role of advisor. Athletic coaching. How do you manage challenging parents or students? How do you maintain balance in the teaching lifestyle? Other pertinent topics.
Rates of services available upon request
Testimonials From Teachers
“His insight and mentoring empowered me to practice using my voice for the greater good. I know he understood the importance and impact this had on my life and my work at school. I was grateful to know and learn from him.”
“When I was just getting started as a teacher, Bruce Wilhelm helped show me how to connect with and reach students - via humor, engaging lessons, fun writing prompts and projects, and honest, direct, and motivating feedback and encouragement. Moreover, he modeled excellent communication with parents — especially the hard conversations — by stressing what each child most needed to do, and how the adults in his/her life could be most helpful.”
“He’s the finest educational leader I know. Although I’ve worked for a number of administrators in my 25 years in education, the one who still guides me on an almost daily basis is Bruce Wilhelm. The example he set for me and my colleagues in his tenure as our middle school principal was dramatic enough to still be affecting the lives of those in his care—teachers, students, parents—years later...he always keeps the principle—that strong, positive relationships between people are the foundation of most positive human experiences—at the forefront of his decision-making practices.”