Episode Title:

Coaching with Heart: Dr. Colissa Irving on Leadership, Learning, and Letting Go

This week on The No Name Paper Podcast, hosts Meghan Wells and Candace Miller sit down with the insightful and inspiring Dr. Colissa Irving, consultant for the Hamilton County ESC in Ohio. With over 24 years in education, Dr. Irving shares her journey from high school English teacher to instructional coach, offering heartfelt lessons on leadership, empowerment, and the art of coaching.

From building trust and relationships with reluctant teachers to addressing gaps in will, skill, and knowledge, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to create lasting impact in schools. Dr. Irving also talks about her advocacy work, upcoming presentations, and her passion for equity and teacher voice.

Grab your coffee, settle in, and get ready to rethink what it means to be coached and coach others with empathy.

• Why relationships are the foundation of effective coaching

• How to identify and close “will, skill, and knowledge” gaps

• Strategies for working with resistant teachers

• The difference between influence and impact in leadership

• Building teacher capacity through feedback and reflection

• How marginalization in schools impacts both students and teachers

• The importance of voice, vulnerability, and advocacy in education

• 00:01: Dr. Irving’s journey from classroom teacher to consultant

• 00:12: The evolution of instructional coaching since the mid-2000s

• 00:22: Coaching strategies for empowerment and trust

• 00:28: Confronting marginalization and advocating for equity

• 00:35: Rapid-fire game — coffee or tea, PD presenter or participant, Netflix or gym?

Dr. Colissa Irving is a consultant with the Hamilton County ESC, dedicated to supporting teachers, leaders, and districts in building equitable, student-centered classrooms. Her work focuses on professional learning, the science of reading, and leadership development. She regularly presents on coaching, empowerment, and the imposter phenomenon in education.

Follow @nonamepaperpodcast for updates, classroom inspiration, and upcoming guest spotlights!

📝 Episode Description:💡 Key Takeaways:🗓️ Highlights:👩🏽‍🏫 About Dr. Alyssa Irving:🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream your shows.