Freedman Consulting Service
Equipping leaders and educators to drive and implement transformative change.
Coaching and Consulting
BHELS provides integrated support to schools and districts, helping educators and leaders develop systems that will strengthen teaching and learning and improve student achievement. Our consultants work with superintendents, district leaders, central office staff, principals, department chairs, directors of curriculum and instruction, teachers and classroom support staff. Continual improvement is at the core of our approach.
As our partner schools surface challenges and obstacles, we work with them to identify and develop strategies, resources and tools that will enable them to attain their goals. The duration of the coaching, learning objectives and level of intervention will vary based on the individual needs of the instructor or leader being coached within the specific context and culture of where they work. Our coaches act as "thought partners," helping educators reflect and act on a wide variety of issues.
Our diverse team of experienced coaches work with newly appointed leaders, helping to guide their transition to their new roles. Coaches provide unique instructional support based on content areas, years of teaching experience or the targeted student population. Our coaches are also experts at assisting more experienced leaders to strengthen their effectiveness.
Our coaches help adults explore challenges and consider alternatives, while giving the tools and confidence they need to take smart risks and adapt their practice.
The role of the leadership coach is to support school leaders in the thoughtful implementation of new initiatives, as well as being available to help principals respond to urgent issues. Through collaborative problem solving, planning, reflection and guidance, coaches help to increase the capacity of school leaders. For those individuals who are participating in BHELS leadership programs, our coaches help professionals apply the research-based frameworks that they learned in the classroom to the real world challenges they face in their schools.
Instruction coaches work with school and classroom leaders to set an agenda for improving instruction and raising student achievement. This may include efforts to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of their instructional program and school culture, craft a comprehensive strategic plan that prioritizes school initiatives, articulate instructional expectations, align professional development offerings, structure teacher collaboration, and provide continuous monitoring and evaluation.
Through orchestrating Instructional Rounds, facilitating think tanks for peers to share practice, facilitating team meetings or providing individual guidance, BHELS consultants develop educators' abilities to support each other in order to sustain gains in instruction and improvements in the learning climate for all.
- Root cause analysis of obstacles blocking school progress
- Support for how to strengthen the effectiveness of a leadership team
- Development of new tools and processes to for more productive meetings and planning sessions with the faculty
- Preparation of timelines, calendars and agendas in areas such as professional development or the introduction of a new program initiatives
- Deepening capacity for observing and analyzing instruction
- Collaborative development of the progress indicators that will signal effective implementation of a new instructional effort
- Managing conflict effectively
- Increasing the leader's capacity to provide feedback to teachers
About the Freedman Consulting Service
A critical shortage of providers and the absence of a community of support and sharing means that individuals and families often find it difficult to access mental health resources. The Richard I. and Joan L. Freedman Center for Child and Family Development was established at William James College to help connect individuals with appropriate information, providers, resources, and one another, in service of their mental health and wellness needs.
When William James College launched the Center for Behavioral Health, Equity and Leadership in Schools (BHELS), the Freedman Consulting Service evolved from the Freedman's commitment. Our expert consultants provide customized, immersive programming for administrators and educators—including coaching and mentoring, team workshops, and immersive learning sessions—focused on behavioral health and school climate, diversity, equity, and inclusion, curriculum and pedagogy, and leadership development.
Did you know?
The New Moms Program formerly offered by the Freedman Center is now offered by the William James College Youth and Family Psychotherapy Service.
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