ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the case study of a Nina. Nina’s beliefs about justice-oriented coaching turn the “make lives better” mentality on its head. Justice-oriented literacy coaches who are aware operate from what some call a double-loop reflection. Literacy coaches’ awareness of the systemic inequities vary: Some literacy coaches have lived the very injustices that contribute to inequity. As a justice-oriented coach, Nina saw the conversations about introducing literature circles as levers for sparking other changes. While coaching was traditionally framed as a one-on-one practice, Nina felt that too often justice-oriented teachers felt isolated and unable to spark changes without camaraderie with like-minded people. One of the many things Nina appreciates about the principals on the two campuses in which she works is the fact that they trust teachers and youth. With that comes the empowerment of teachers to make decisions about curriculum and instruction in their classrooms, even with the many programs that are already in place in their schools.
