Special Education Instructional Coach: Sarah Sanchez
I am ecstatic today to have my partner teacher from Teachers College of San Joaquin (TCSJ) share her journey as a teacher! I have worked with Sarah for the past two years at TCSJ with our Master Program Course and have learned so much from her. She has a deep kindness and passion for special education that is always inspiring to me when we collaborate. Here is Sarah’s journey:
1. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I’ve always been a huge animal lover, so when I was very young I wanted to be a veterinarian. Once I got a little older, I knew I wanted to work with kids, so I planned to become either a child counselor or a social worker. Then, when I was in my undergrad, I got a job as a paraprofessional in a severely handicapped junior high classroom, in a program called “The MOVE Program''. This class was for students with multiple disabilities, and mostly supported students with significant orthopedic impairments. I hadn’t really known anything about special education and working with students with disabilities until then, but I realized almost immediately that this was what I loved.
2. Is there a moment that sticks out to you that you remember from school with a teacher you had growing up?
When I was in kindergarten, my grandma taught at the same school that I attended, though I was not in her class. I loved getting to go into her room before and after school and always loved hearing her school stories. I remember feeling so proud that I got to go to the same school my grandma taught at and now love that I get to share being a teacher with her.
3. How long have you been working in education and what did the journey look like to the job you have now in education as an Instructional Coach?
I just finished my 9th year teaching, but I’ve been working in education for about 13 years, since 2011. I was first a paraprofessional in extensive support needs (formerly moderate/severe or severely handicapped) classrooms for about 3 years, before I began a teacher intern program where I taught and took classes to earn my credentials at the same time. My first year, I taught at a non-public school for students with autism and then taught forTurlock Unified School district for 7 years preschool moderate/severe, elementary moderate/severe, and with adult transition students. During this time, I earned 3 education specialist teaching credentials, my masters of special education, and began teaching in the teacher credential program that I had previously attended as a student. This past year, I moved to a new city and began working as an instructional coach for the district’s extensive support needs program. I had not originally planned to leave the classroom yet, but when this opportunity arose, I decided that supporting extensive support needs teachers sounded like a new challenge I wanted to try. I have to say, I feel like I learned more this past year as an instructional coach than in any other year as a teacher. It forced me to grow and learn in ways that I wasn’t expecting, but am so grateful for.
4. What is your go-to tool you use in your job and why?
I might have to say using google docs to create agendas for each of the teachers I’m working with. I have ongoing agendas for each teacher/group I’m supporting that everyone the teacher/group has access to. If something comes up between meeting times that is not urgent, we can add it as an agenda item for the next meeting. I also take notes there so that I can reference back and have a section for follow up/action items and who is responsible for each item. This helps show the progression throughout the year, keeps me organized, and allows everyone to know what needs to be done. Honorable mention would also go to my laminator. Even as a coach, I am making a lot of materials for teachers/classrooms and I use my laminator all of the time.
5. Every educator has something they are passionate about changing, what do you hope to change throughout your career?
I have many! But right now, I really hope to change how special educators support our students with the most significant needs. Lately, I’ve been learning a lot about teaching strategies and best practices for students with multiple disabilities and students who are deaf-blind and have learned that there are research based strategies that I was not aware of until now. So I’m hoping to make these strategies more likely known and accessible for teachers to use.
6. You are going back to school to get your visually impaired credential, woohoo! Any advice for those thinking about getting another teaching credential and tips on how to handle the workload?
Yes, I am! I’m always advocating for teachers to continue their education to add another credential or get their master’s, so I would definitely encourage teachers to do this if it’s something they’re considering! It has been a mindset shift going back to school, but I just include my classes and homework time in my schedule for the week and build in extra time around any due dates for when unexpected emergencies pop up at work that need my immediate attention. I will say that having taught for a while now, that being a student again actually feels kind of relaxing. I just get to take in all of this great information and resources, which is awesome! I also feel like things I’m learning right now in my TVI (Teacher of Visually Impaired) program are helping me to even be a better teacher/instructional coach now, so that is encouraging as well.
7. What has been the most challenging aspect of being an Instructional Coach?
I initially found myself taking on way too much and wanting to just take care of everything for everyone. I’ve had to get a little better at supporting and really teaching teachers, rather than just fixing their problem short-term.
8. What advice would you give a teacher for their first year?
Ask a lot of questions and ask for help! It’s ok that you don’t know everything or have everything, that will come in time. Also, everything gets so much easier after the first year, so hang in there! Lastly, allow yourself to have as much of a work-life balance as possible. I know it’s easier said than done, but you want to be in this for the long-haul and having a good work-life balance will help avoid burnout.
9. A lot of people have been saying they hope things start to change in education since the Pandemic, what is one thing about the school system you hope changes?
I hope for more supports to be put into place for all teachers. I think the pandemic has really highlighted the importance of school and how challenging teaching often is. Teachers are asked to do so much and often given so little. I would like for the system to acknowledge the challenges teachers face and listen to/act upon what teachers in the classroom are saying they need.
10. Last but not least, where do you see yourself in ten years?
Great question! In ten years, I can see myself working as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and/or teaching in early intervention and continuing to teach new teachers in the credential program.
*Thank you so much Sarah for taking time to complete this interview!