Better Together: The Partnership Approach to Change

When teachers grow, their students flourish. This session explores how embracing partnerships can make a meaningful difference in schools.

For nearly 30 years, Jim Knight and the team at the Instructional Coaching Group have investigated the dynamics of change in education. Their research has focused on the principles, communication practices, and strategies that effectively drive transformation in schools.

In this session, you’ll gain insights into Jim Knight’s "Partnership Principles" and the significant impact they have compared to traditional methods. You’ll learn about the essential concepts from their research on change and effective communication, and why these principles are 4.5 times more effective for implementing lasting change.

This presentation is designed for educators, school leaders, and anyone interested in promoting positive change within the school environment. It offers an opportunity to understand how respecting and empowering teachers can enhance student learning and overall school success.

Jim Knight

Jim Knight, Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG), is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. Jim earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards.

The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools. Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development, and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description
 of instructional coaching. Jim’s book Focus on Teaching (2014) was the first extended description of how video should be used for professional learning. Recently, writing with Ann Hoffman, Michelle Harris, and Sharon Thomas, Jim introduced the idea of instructional playbooks with their book on that topic.

Jim has written several books in addition to those described above, including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021). Knight has also authored articles on instructional coaching and professional learning in publications such as Educational Leadership, The Journal of Staff Development, Principal Leadership, The School Administrator, and Kappan. Jim is also a columnist for Educational Leadership.

Through ICG, Knight conducts coaching workshops, hosts the Facebook Live Program, “Coaching Conversations,” and provides consulting for coaching programs around the world.