ROLE OF COACHES
The role of a coach is one of academic assistance and
mentoring. As part of Coaching for College, you should meet with your student
at the sessions and coordinate with you co-coach weekly. Your most important
time at Coaching for College is the time spent with the student. As a coach,
your primary role is to establish an understanding of your students needs and
desires for your sessions and to utilize the methods and resources necessary to
best assist them in the learning process.
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What you can expect as a coach
In order to gain the greatest experience with Coaching for College, you can expect the following:
- Opportunity
to form a lasting relationship with a student and make a difference in that students
life and in the community.
- Opportunity
to meet new people and become part of the Coaching for College community.
- Tutorial
support in the form of curriculum resources, course syllabi, and background
research.
- Training and
ongoing support!
- Opportunity
to get involved with leadership of Coaching for College.
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COACHES EXPECTATIONS
In order to create a program where the environment of
learning thrives, teamwork is genuine for the effectiveness of the program. All
coaches and staff are required to commit to abiding by and upholding the
following expectations:
- A commitment of Saturday sessions. You will have a co-coach
to ensure that your student receives consistent mentoring every week. You
should be able to commit for the entire academic school year, from
mid-September to mid-June.
- Communication with your co-coach. Coverage is key it is up
to the two of you to decide who will attend which Saturday so no student is
left disappointed. Between the two of you, every session should be covered.
- Communication with your student. Between you and your
co-coach, your student should receive at least one phone call a week, checking
in with them, following up on assignments, classes, and progress, and generally
taking an interest in their lives and showing you care.
- Report problems or concerns of students. Contact Coaching
for College with any student-related issues, questions, and/or concerns.
- Build the relationship. Get to know your students
strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, interests, etc. Share your experience
and background with your student and initiate contact with your students
parent or guardian and teachers.
- Communication with Coaching for College. Contact Coaching
for College with any suggestions, comments, or issues of the program. If you
are no longer able to fulfill your duties as a mentor, let us know.
- Respect your students privacy. If a student, parent, or
teacher reveals personal information, regard it as confidential unless it is
dangerous to the student or someone else.
- Find out your students schedule. Talk to your student,
their parent or guardian and their teachers. Find out what classes are they
taking, what projects and tests are upcoming, and where do they need help.
- Be flexible and tolerant. You are a support system and
encourager for students.
- Complete a background check through Coaching for College.
- Have fun! View this as a very special relationship that will
impact both your life and your students life in many meaningful ways.
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COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CO-COACH
Communication between the two of you is key, even though you
are not there every week, your student should know that you are coordinating
enough that there is one plan that is being followed. You should coordinate
your attendance at weekly sessions with your co-coach. You should plan the
academic part of these sessions with your co-coach and report to your co-coach
on the results of the session. We recommend that you meet with your co-coach at
the beginning of the semester to discuss your thoughts about the coming year,
your student, academic plans, and preferred methods of communication. If you
are not getting along with your co-coach or he/she is unresponsive or not
available, please make every effort to focus on your relationship with the
student. If you think that it is going to damage the students success, please
contact Coaching for College to be reassigned.
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SATURDAY
SESSIONS
Sessions will be most successful if both coaches and student
arrive prepared and on time. Students should arrive with appropriate books and
materials. Coaches should arrive having put thought into how they will spend
the two hours with their student. You do not have to spend hours preparing,
however just make sure that you come to each session focused on your student
and with an idea of how to spend your time together in a meaningful way.
Following the session, make sure that you communicate with your co-coach. Go
over what happened in the session, what is going on with your student, and what
areas you need to cover in future sessions.
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ATTENDANCE FOR STUDENTS AND COACHES
In order for Coaching for College to be a successful
program, we need to have commitment from both the coaches and students. For
students, this means that each student is expected to attend each Saturday
session, to show up on time, and to notify his/her tutor in advance when they
cannot make a session. Three unexcused absences may lead to a students
dismissal from the program. We also need coaches to demonstrate commitment.
Coaches are responsible for arranging coverage at the Saturday session and on
outside trips. If both you and your co-coach are unable to attend, check with
other coaches you know or contact Coaching for College to make arrangements.
The student should attend regardless. If a student is unable to attend on
Saturday, he/she must call their coach and Coaching for College by Friday night
and. If your student did not previously contact you and is not present at the
school by 10:20 am, call the student. If your student is available, ask the
student if they will be attending. Encourage your student to attend and if they
will not be attending, explain it will be an unexcused absence. If you have
called the student and they are unavailable, call back another time. Make sure
to communicate with the student as soon as possible over the weekend to provide
immediate feedback about the unexcused absence.
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COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS
Coaches are always encouraged to call parents and share with
them the progress of their child or other concerns they may have. Coaches will
receive a roster that will include contact information for each of their
students.
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SUPPLIES AND COMPUTER LAB
Please communicate with the Director if you are in need of
supplies or copies of materials. Students have access to the computers at the
school. Computer usage will only be allowed under the supervision and
permission of the coach and staff.
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Developing Relationships with
Teachers
Coaching for College would like to encourage you to develop
a relationship with your students teachers. This allows you to better plan for
the student. You are encouraged to contact the teacher periodically during the
course of the school year, especially at the mid-point of the advisories.
Coordinate your communication with the teachers with your co-coach and before
you contact the teacher. Please contact the students parent or guardian to let
them know that you plan to contact the teacher. To contact the teachers call
the main number at the school. Plan to leave a message for the teacher (who
will then contact you during their free period). Alternatively, you can ask the
receptionist what time the teachers free period will be and plan to contact
the teacher at that time. Explain that you are the coach for the student. We
are here to assist you with this process and any problems you may have.
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Seeing your Student Outside of
Saturday Sessions
While it is important to develop a relationship with your
student and arranging activities outside of regular sessions may seems like a
good way to build your relationship, we ask that you receive permission from
your students parent and contact Coaching for College. We strongly encourage
communication outside of the Saturday sessions.
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REPORTING PROBLEMS
In the course of your interaction with the student, you may
find that the student or the students family has problems (legal, financial,
drug related, homelessness, etc.) that concern you and/or concern the student.
Please contact Coaching for College staff and we will assist in contacting the appropriate
party needed as we are not equipped to resolve these situations; they are best
left to professionals. Do not ignore the students concerns rather listen to
the student and let them know that you will pass along the information to the
appropriate people that can help resolve the students issue. Suspected child
abuse and neglect is the exception (see below). Please let the student know
that you will keep the situation as confidential as possible and let the
student know that you are still involved in their academic and life success
regardless of whatever problems they face.
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