A CES-NJ coach works with a school on an academic year contract basis and provides the school with ongoing assistance and support to enhance student achievement through deepening implementation of the CES Common Principles and continuously improving in accord with CES Benchmarks.

CES-NJ currently features 15 full and/or part time coaches (with extensive backgrounds as principals, master teachers and/or educational researchers) whose collective skills range broadly across disciplines, grade levels, domains, issues, etc. The CES staff has over 500 years of collective professional education experience!

The following are global areas on which a coach will focus:

• Working with teachers to enhance student work and student achievement
• Guiding school vision building in the context of the CES 10 Common Principles
• Supporting data based inquiry including use of the cycle of inquiry, data driven decision making, action research in the classroom and disaggregating achievement data to address equity issues
• Assisting the school in determining key school specific needs as it moves towards deeper implementation of the CES Principles
• Working with school leaders on building a vision, enhancing collaboration among staff and deepening staff involvement in CES practices and processes
• Facilitating development of a culture of collaboration in the school through means such as Collaborative Friends Groups
• Working with the school to build community connections and community involvement
• Supporting the school's participation in CES-NJ and CES national communities
• Guiding the school towards Associate and Full Membership status in CES-NJ

The specific focus of the coach's work is determined in collaboration with the school and as a product of school specific needs. CES coaches team with other CES colleagues on the CES staff in cases where the expertise of a specific coach matches a specific school need.