Coaching Conversations with Jim Knight
Jim Knight is the founder of The Instructional Coaching Group, a professional development provider dedicated to offering PD for coaches, teachers, and leaders based on a partnership approach that creates better learning environments for all students. As a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning Jim has spent 25 years studying professional learning and instructional coaching. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards. The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools. Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development, and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description of instructional coaching. Jim has written several books in addition to those described above, including the bestsellers Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Focus on Teaching (2014), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021). He has also authored articles featured in Educational Leadership, The Journal of Staff Development, Principal Leadership, The School Administrator, and Kappan.
Coaching Conversations with Jim Knight
Christian van Nieuwerburgh
This week we have a special episode with Jim Knight and Christian van Nieuwerburgh about their 20-day trek along Nepal's Annapurna Circuit. They share stories from the trail—the stunning landscapes, the physical and mental challenges, and the moments when they weren't sure they could keep going. Along the way, they reflect on what the experience taught them about growth, gratitude, and what it means to say "yes" to something hard. They also talk about teamwork, the parallels between coaching and guiding, and how travel can shift the way we see the world. The episode wraps up with thoughts on embracing discomfort, staying connected to others, and carrying lessons of resilience, service, and hope into daily life.
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