Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ded)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Erin Lehmann
Abstract
As instructional coaching roles have evolved, many school districts continue to rely on teacher-based evaluation tools, creating a gap in the effective support and development of instructional coaches. In the Franklin Ridge Community School District (FRCSD), a pseudonym, both instructional coaches and their supervisors reported that the existing evaluation tool was misaligned with role expectations. This study examined how instructional coaches and their evaluators collectively co-refined the New Evaluation Tool (NET) to provide more role-specific and meaningful feedback. Guided by qualitative action research, this study engaged 12 participants through document analysis, qualitative surveys, and focus groups. Using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis, data were coded and synthesized to identify patterns in perceptions of the NET’s strengths, shortcomings, and recommendations for further improvement. Participants reported that the NET offered improved clarity and alignment with their instructional coaching work compared to the prior tool. They emphasized the importance of both formal and informal feedback, anchored in the evaluation tool, as essential for professional growth. The collaborative refinement process also increased participants’ sense of co-ownership and the tool’s overall credibility. The findings suggest that evaluation tools for instructional coaches should be grounded in current instructional coaching practices and developed through collaborative processes. This study contributes to the field by offering a model that other districts may adapt to enhance the evaluation and development of their instructional coaching staff. Future research should examine the instructional coach evaluation tool in different settings.
Subject Categories
Educational Leadership
Keywords
Evaluation Feedback Instructional Coach
Number of Pages
110
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Folsom, Charles, "INSTRUCTIONAL COACH EVALUATION: CO-REFINING AN EVALUATION TOOL FOR IMPROVED FEEDBACK" (2025). Dissertations and Theses. 374.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/374