Instructional Coaching: More Feelings than You’d Expect with Leah Ruesink, ep. 237

This episode is sponsored by IRIS Connect
I bet no one told you coaching would feel like this!
Coaching is an extremely emotional experience! Instructional coaches often grapple with imposter syndrome, isolation, and self-doubt.
Today I’m joined by Leah Ruesink, literacy coach and adjunct professor, for a candid conversation about instructional coaching: more feelings than you’d expect! We explore the emotions coaches face, from the struggles that make it difficult to transition into the role to the everyday challenges that come with supporting teachers!
During the podcast, Leah shares her journey from teacher to coach, what she wishes she’d known before starting, and insights from her article about negotiating roles as a coach. She discusses systemic issues that coaches face, the emotions involved in coaching, and practical recommendations for managing them!
One thing I want you to take away is you’re not alone! Having big emotions while coaching is totally normal! It doesn’t mean you are not cut out for the job! I’ve experienced so many of the emotions Leah talks about and still do even now!
Be sure to listen to the entire episode for all the details! Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation!
Systemic Issues Impacting Instructional Coaches
Leah discusses the challenges she faced as a new coach, including not having a blueprint for building relationships and struggling to navigate coaching conversations. She also highlights several larger, systemic issues that make coaching more difficult:
- Lack of understanding about the coaching role
- Insufficient or inadequate training
- Conflicting perceptions about the role and what a coach should do
- Different perceptions
- Time constraints
- Being pulled into non-coaching tasks
- Limited communication and coordination from school leadership
- Unclear definition or expectations for the role
Instructional Coaching: More Feelings than You’d Expect
In the episode, Leah highlights some of the big feelings instructional coaches grapple with on campus. She explains that a lot of these emotions arise from trying to navigate relationships with teachers and define the coaching role.
These feelings are completely normal, and we all face them at some point in our journey! Don’t be surprised if these feelings come up while you’re coaching at your school!
Here are the big emotions Leah mentions:
Confusion around your coaching role
Leah says this was a big one for her. There is often uncertainty about responsibilities and how to structure the day.
Isolation and loneliness
As a coach, you work in the same environment as teachers, but you are no longer part of a teaching team. That shift can make it hard to figure out where you fit in. Often, coaches feel caught in the middle between teachers and administrators, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness, especially if you are the only coach on campus.
Insecurity and self-doubt
Leah tells us that insecurity and self-doubt are common concerns she hears from colleagues and friends. Many coaches struggle with imposter syndrome, questioning whether they are providing meaningful support or meeting expectations.
Nervousness
When Leah was a new coach, she was nervous to start conversations and coaching cycles. She knew what a coaching cycle was and all the steps, but she didn’t know how to navigate conversations within them so that teachers would want to work with her. Lots of coaches experience nervousness at the beginning of the year and throughout it as well.
Sadness
Coaches often feel left out because they aren’t in the classroom anymore, and miss the joys of being a teacher. Instructional coaches can feel disconnected from students and miss the sense of impact they had when they taught.
How Coaches Can Navigate These Big Emotions
Now that we’ve identified these big emotions, what can coaches do to get through them? During our conversation, Leah offers several recommendations to navigate these issues and emotions.
Know you are not alone
Leah explains that we all go through these feelings. It’s normal to feel nervous and have doubts. You’re not alone! Other coaches have similar feelings!
Find a mentor coach
Leah was lucky because her coordinating coach was her mentor coach. She could call her to talk through any issues or situations that arose. Leah suggests finding a trusted, experienced coach you can call for guidance when you need help.
Document your experience
Leah tells us that she found using audio notes and journaling about her experiences very beneficial. She suggests writing down your experiences and emotions. It helps to get them out and provides closure to challenging situations!
Join a coaching community
Leah highlights the value of coaching communities as places to connect, share challenges, and learn from others going through similar experiences. If you’re looking to join a coaching community, check out my Facebook group, Instructional Coaching with Ms. B!
Seek out additional training
If your district doesn’t offer comprehensive coaching preparation, you can find additional training. Leah recommends looking for relationship-based training where you learn to ask effective questions, give feedback, and communicate within the coaching cycle.
Instructional Coaching: More Feelings than You’d Expect
Coaching comes with big feelings, and that’s totally normal! Whether you’re new to the role or a veteran coach, the emotional ups and downs are part of the job. You’re not alone – we’ve all been there!
I really enjoyed my conversation with Leah and appreciate how honest she was about all the challenges coaches face on campus. Her recommendations can help you navigate your feelings with more confidence!
Tune in now to hear Leah’s insights!
Topics and Questions Discussed in Episode 237 – Instructional Coaching: More Feelings than You’d Expect with Leah Ruesink
- Instructional coaching: more feelings than you’d expect
- What Leah wishes she knew before getting started as a literacy coach
- What prompted Leah to write an article about negotiating roles as a coach and her findings
- Systemic issues coaches face that make coaching teachers challenging
- Big feelings instructional coaches grapple with
- Recommendations to help new and veteran coaches navigate coaching and their emotions
This episode is sponsored by IRIS Connect. IRIS Connect helps you streamline teacher development with the world’s most advanced PD facilitation system.
Ready to listen?
This post contains links to products from one or more of our advertisers. This means I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post when you click on links to those products. Thank you for your support!
Learn more
- Episode 135 – Building Relationships in a Toxic Environment with Leah Ruesink
- Buzzing with Ms. B on Instagram
- Join My Facebook Group: Instructional Coaching with Ms. B
- Free Instructional Coaching Jump Start Mini Course
- Leah Ruesink on Instagram @theearlyliteracycoach
- Article: From Teacher to Literacy Coach: Negotiating Roles and Learning on the Job
Helpful Resources
- Instructional Coach Binder Megapack – Editable Forms, Calendars, Planning Tools
- Instructional Coaching Binder Megapack – Editable Forms, Documents & Tools on TpT
- Buzzing with Ms. B TpT Store
- Instructional Coaching Start Up Course Waitlist
- IRIS Connect
Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite listening app

Thank you for listening to Buzzing with Ms. B: the Coaching Podcast. Want more coaching ideas
Check me out at buzzingwithmsb.com and on Instagram @buzzingwithmsb.
If you love the show, share it with a coach who would love it too, or leave me a review on iTunes! It’s free and it helps others find this show, too. Happy coaching!
Podcast produced by Fernie Ceniceros





