“The amount of time I’ve spent in classrooms this past year coaching staff has markedly increased and we have the results to prove it. Even in the midst of a global health crisis, we saw statistically significant increases in student achievement across our entire school.”

CHALLENGE: Harsh Consequences of a “Reactive” Leadership Style

During the pandemic, Tamara Speidel, Principal at Buffalo Trail Elementary in Aurora, CO, found more challenges than any school leader could easily tackle. While many professionals went into “survival mode,” Tamara ALSO needed to address issues that faced her school even before the world health crisis. Her reactive method of solving issues like low student achievement and very little time coaching in classrooms felt like an even deeper hole than before. In addition, having very few boundaries at both school and home prior to the pandemic meant even less work-life balance – an unfortunate consequence that began to affect her ability to juggle the roles as principal, wife and mom.

SOLUTION: Accountability and Nuanced Strategies

The Breakthrough Coach Personal Coaching Program^TM offered Tamara specific systems for success according to her unique needs and goals. Tamara’s coach was able to propose new ways of thinking and managing issues and offer her the encouragement needed to shift any old patterns. This methodology not only connected Tamara’s goals to a definable action plan, but also offered the expertise and support of a seasoned coach who could cater the TBC system to fit her exact challenges.

Weekly scheduled calls helped Tamara feel a sense of accountability to follow through on various strategies, building new habits to serve as a strong school leader. “My coach always asks me thoughtful questions and offers me new perspectives that really stretch my thinking. I love learning from a Breakthrough Coach Master who has been there, done that, and is completely on for my success.”

OUTCOME: From Desperation to Transformation

Tamara’s time working with a personal coach transformed her outlook from desperate “survival mode,” to grounded and connected to her vision. Tamara commented, “I can say with absolute conviction that having a TBC Coach saved me. I would have drowned without coaching.” Tamara was able to spend more time in classrooms coaching her own staff, resulting in positive outcomes across the board. Even amid a global health crisis, Buffalo Trail Elementary saw statistically significant increases in student achievement across the entire school.

CONCLUSION

Tamara found a truly beneficial return on her investment with The Breakthrough Coach. By learning effective boundary management, she found new ways to focus on work while at work, and home while at home. Her new, more stable approach to leadership is as proactive as possible – a skill set that translates from school leadership to her role as wife and mother as well. Equally as important, Tamara can model this leadership style for her staff, so the next generation of educators can see the potential and possibility for both a life AND a career at the same time.