Equity Coaching: Transformative Conversations to Improve Practice

Jess Nelson: I used this book while working on my advanced degree in English as a Second Language. I found myself getting lost in the reading and couldn’t pull myself away. This book does a great job of focusing on equity and diversity in our schools.

United States on Aug 22, 2023

Jillian Coneys: Excellent read! Really helped to shape my practice as an instructional coach.

United States on Aug 16, 2023

Anthony Conty: "Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice" by Elena Aguilar is a maddening book as some parts made me emotional with recognition and regret while others parts make assumptions and miss the mark.

That said, as an Educational Coach, Elena says to make 5 positive comments for every negative, so I will do the same.

1) Anyone who has received coaching or started teaching would want a coach like Elena, making you look inward and find answers for yourself.

2) I agree that teachers have implicit bias and the use of video with her clients helps everyone recognize that.

3) You can relate to her clients and root for them. They remind you that we are all still growing and learning.

4) Coaching for Equity is a great concept because we make sure that we do not let any kids slip through the cracks.

5) Her adult learners get defensive and sad, as new teachers do, but Elena uses that to her advantage. She also knows when emotions reach outside of her purview into a therapist's territory.

6) There are a ton of typos in this book, none that interfere with comprehension, but enough that it will distract frequent readers that are used to...

United States on Aug 12, 2022

Christine A: I really appreciate Elena Aguilar's storytelling and writing style. I read this book at the right time for the work we were doing. It was practical and easily applicable to my work. Highly recommend this book!

Canada on May 05, 2021

Rebecca: Coaching for Equity is a powerful must-read for anyone (not only coaches, not only educators) who wants to live, work, and interact in ways that promote equity and better understand the impacts of inequity, racism, bias, and white supremacy culture. Reading the book feels like Elena is with you, coaching you, providing the right combination of nudging and support as you uncover challenging truths and questions and plan for growth and change in your own practice and the systems within which you operate. The information about how to have (healing, not difficult!) conversations and respond to racist statements and actions is unbelievably helpful. Elena is a beautiful writer, storyteller, and researcher. Her books are readable and inspiring. For me, this one is also life-changing.

I have been recommending this book to everyone! My copy is highlighted in more than one color, marked up with notes in the margins, and has post-it note flags sticking out of the sides and top. I have read parts of it more than once, and know that I will return to it to refer to and to read again. Everyone I have talked to that has read it has found it profoundly moving and helpful.

Please --...

United States on Mar 04, 2021

Alison McCallum: Elena's storytelling makes this a pleasure to read, even with her tough reflection questions and thoughtful prompts. She writes with such compassion, conviction, and purpose, and inspires the reader to take action in every conversation. It should be mandatory reading for all educators, and all human beings. She provides a road map for how to do better.

Canada on Dec 10, 2020

Mike: A book that sparks emotions means it has a powerful impact. Working now to implement the ideas put forward in this game changing book.

Canada on Oct 05, 2020

Susan Chapman: Elena Aguilar has given instructional coaches and the education world an incredible gift in her newest book. Exercises help readers begin the journey of examining our own mindsets toward race and how these mindsets can make white privilege and racism invisible. Aguilar cautions that learning about to recognize racism is a lifelong learning journey. She explains that wherever we are in our equity learning journey, we can and must work deliberately to strengthen our eyesight for patterns of inequity and our toolkit for disrupting these patterns. Aguilar argues that it is critical for coaches to do this hard and uncomfortable internal work if they are to be effective in coaching for equity. She states bluntly that those of us who have grown up with white privilege have much learning to do and tells us: “Remember: It’s not your fault that things are the way they are, but it is your responsibility to do something about them” (p. 21).

According to Aguilar, coaching is an effective vehicle for building equitable schools because teaching in ways that disrupt patterns of inequity requires learning, and coaching is a structure that supports teacher learning. She states that...

United States on Sep 08, 2020