ABSTRACT
At the central point of coaching is student learning which is why one of the primary roles that literacy coaches maintain is that of instructional specialist. Instruction consumes a great deal of time and work within the schedule of a literacy coach. All of the other roles—change agent, relationship builder, data analyst, curriculum expert, resource manager, and professional developer—serve to consolidate the capability of literacy coaches to act as instructional specialists and make real, sustainable improvements to teacher practice. Instructional specialists are knowledgeable about the pedagogy of literacy instruction and have a repertoire of "best practice" strategies to address the diverse needs of students across a range of grade levels and learning environments. In addition to national and state standards, the literacy coach must base the work of coaching on a clear link to the school's program and awareness of teacher competence in delivering that program to students.
