iCOACH: The Peer Coaching Program That Makes PD Actually Stick

Here's the uncomfortable truth about professional development: most of it doesn't work. Not because the content is bad, but because there's no follow-up. Research tells us that without structured support after training, only about 10% of what teachers learn in PD gets implemented in their classrooms. Ten percent. That means 90% of your district's PD investment disappears the moment teachers walk back to their classrooms.

I created iCOACH because I got tired of watching that happen. After delivering SIOP® training for years and seeing the same pattern - teachers loved the strategies, felt inspired, and then went back to teaching the way they always had - I knew the missing piece wasn't better training. It was better support after the training ended.

iCOACH is a structured peer coaching program I developed over 15 years of working with schools across the country. It's the bridge between what teachers learn in PD and what they actually do in their classrooms. And it changes everything.

iCOACH is a structured peer coaching program where teachers observe each other teach, provide descriptive feedback, and support one another in implementing new strategies. It's not evaluative - no one is being graded or judged. It's empowering - teachers help each other get better because they genuinely want to, and they have a structured way to do it.

The word 'coach' is intentional. A coach doesn't play the game for you. A coach watches you play, notices what you're doing well, points out where you can improve, and helps you practice. That's exactly what iCOACH does - it pairs teachers as coaches for each other, with a clear protocol for observation, feedback, and reflection.

iCOACH follows a simple but powerful cycle:

Pre-observation conversation. The coaching pair meets briefly to discuss what the observed teacher wants feedback on. This keeps the observation focused and purposeful - not a free-for-all where the observer writes down everything they see.

Classroom observation. One teacher observes the other teach a lesson, using a structured observation tool to capture specific, descriptive data - not opinions, not evaluations, just what happened.

Post-observation conversation. The pair discusses the observation. The observer shares descriptive feedback. The observed teacher reflects on what worked and what they want to adjust. Together, they identify next steps.

Then they switch roles and do it again. Both teachers grow. Both teachers feel supported. And over time, implementation of new strategies goes from 10% to 90%.

The research is clear: when peer coaching is added to professional development, implementation rates jump from roughly 10% to approximately 90%. That's not a marginal improvement - it's a transformation. The reason is simple: teachers don't just learn a strategy and hope for the best. They practice it, get observed, receive feedback, adjust, and practice again. That cycle of practice and feedback is what turns knowledge into habit.

iCOACH also builds something that no single PD session can: a professional learning community. When teachers regularly observe each other and talk about teaching, the culture of a school shifts. Teaching stops being an isolated act behind a closed door and becomes a shared, collaborative practice.

iCOACH was designed to pair with any professional development - not just SIOP® training. Whether your school is implementing a new reading curriculum, a math initiative, a classroom management program, or the SIOP® model, iCOACH provides the follow-up structure that makes the investment pay off.

Q: What is iCOACH?

iCOACH is a structured peer coaching program developed by Dr. John Kongsvik that pairs teachers as non-evaluative coaches for each other. Through structured observation, descriptive feedback, and reflection, iCOACH increases PD implementation from approximately 10% to 90%.

Q: How does peer coaching increase PD implementation?

Research shows PD alone leads to about 10% implementation. Adding structured peer coaching with observation, feedback, and reflection cycles pushes implementation to approximately 90% by giving teachers ongoing support as they practice new strategies.

Q: Is iCOACH evaluative?

No. iCOACH is empowering, not evaluative. Teachers coach each other to grow - no grades, no judgments, no reports to administration. It's built on trust and mutual support.

Q: Can iCOACH be used with any PD program?

Yes. iCOACH was designed to support the implementation of any professional development program, including SIOP® training, curriculum initiatives, and more.