Stop Misdiagnosing Resistance: The 5 Catalyst Mindsets Every Instructional Coach Needs

"Help me work with resistant teachers." It’s a major request for instructional coaches, but Becca Silver, founder of The Whole Educator, says it's often a misdiagnosis. 

In this episode, Silver joins Daniel Rock and Jason Adair to explain why resistance isn't a personality trait—it's a human response to unmet needs. Discover how to move your staff past simple compliance and toward true ownership using the Catalyst Mindset framework. 

Key Takeaways

• Reframe the Resistance: Why we should stop labeling teachers as resistant and start supporting teachers experiencing resistance. 
• The 5 Catalyst Mindsets: A deep dive into the five unmet needs (Value, Belonging, Success, Growth and Ownership) that are actually at the root of pushback. 
• Fidelity vs. Integrity: Why the language we use to describe initiatives can either build trust or signal a lack of it. 
• The Levels of Engagement: How to move staff along the continuum from sabotage and defiance to agency and ownership. 
• The Culture of Niceness Blocker: Why valuing harmony over authenticity is actually a silent progress blocker for your school. 

Resources Mentioned

• The Resistance Solution: Why Educators Resist and What They Need Instead by Becca Silver. 
• The Whole Educator: thewholeeducator.com. 

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce. 

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