The Decorah School District will have "Instructional Coaches" and "Learner Advocates" this school year

(Front row, Left to right): Randy Iverson, Shannon Quandahl and Andrew Ellingson. (Back row, left to right): Megan Dunlap, Sarah Magner, Kylie Butler and Shanna Putnam-Dibble

In January the Decorah Community School District learned that it had been awarded a $430,000 a year multi-year grant under a "Teacher Leadership and Compensation" program approved in 2013 by the Iowa legislature.

The grant funds will pay for a variety of programs--including the hiring of instructional coaches and learner advocates.  On Tuesday morning the people filling those positions this school year were introduced to the rest of the school district's employees.

The employees will provide in-depth mentoring and coaching to teachers who request such support.  Instructional Coach Kylie Butler stressed that the employees are NOT administrators and will NOT be doing teacher evaluations.  "We are here to help you," she told the teachers.

Megan Dunlap will be the Instructional Coach for early elementary, Sarah Magner and Andrew Ellingson will coach Decorah Middle School teachers and Kylie Butler will coach Decorah High School teachers.  Shannon Quandahl will be an Instructional Coach for technology.  Randy Iverson will be the MIddle School Learner Advocate, while Shanna Putnam-Dibble will be the Elementary Schools Learner Advocate.