COACHING ROLE 9: CATALYST FOR CHANGE
Supporting Growth Over Time
Change is rarely linear – a reality Joellen Killion acknowledges often. In her work with schools, she’s seen that improvement stalls not because educators resist change, but because they lack the sustained support needed to carry it forward.
The Catalyst for Change role focuses on pacing, support, and persistence. Rather than pushing initiatives faster, this role asks what learning and resources are needed next to help change take hold.
In literacy work, this might mean slowing down to revisit purpose, offering coaching during early implementation, or creating space to reflect on what’s working and what’s not. Joellen emphasizes honoring the human side of change — recognizing that learning takes time and confidence grows through practice.
Change becomes sustainable when people feel supported rather than pressured.
Action Step:
Identify ONE current literacy change effort and ask: What learning support would help this move forward more effectively?
Supporting change thoughtfully will be a key theme of our shared learning experience at the Learning Forward Georgia Winter PL Conference on February 27, 2026 in Atlanta, GA. We’d like to invite you to join us and bring a colleague or two to engage in this important conversation.