Series: Interview - MCPS Loretta Woods and Charles Codling

Interview - MCPS Loretta Woods and Charles Codling

In the late 1990’s, Research for Better Teaching was brought in to assist Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in the revision of the teacher evaluation system. From that collaboration, a standards-based professional growth system for teachers and administrators has evolved. Today, MCPS runs a Skillful Teaching and Leading Team of of full-time staff and other in-district instructors (IDIs) who deliver RBT's Observing and Analyzing Teaching (ATSR equivalent) and Studying Skillful Teaching courses to administrators and teachers throughout the district. Many of these IDI/IDTs have been trained and supported by RBT's Sue McGregor.

Loretta Woods and Charles Codling have both served as instructors for the MCPS/RBT courses. In this interview with RBT's Jon Saphier and Sue McGregor, Loretta and Charles share insight into the impact of having a framework of common language to guide conversations with educators and leaders and reflect on the dynamics of supporting teachers and leaders.

Featured:

Sue McGregor, Educational Consultant, Research for Better Teaching (mcgregor@rbteach.com)

Loretta Woods, Principal Whetstone Elementary School, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD (Loretta_A_Woods@mcpsmd.org)

Charles Codling, Learning and Achievement Specialist, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD (Charles_D_Codling@mcpsmd.org)


Sue McGregor is a consultant with Research for Better Teaching who has worked in PK-12 education for over thirty years as a special education and general ed classroom teacher, curriculum designer, staff developer, instructional specialist, and administrator. She has taught both pre-service and graduate level courses at the college level and has presented at local, state, and national conventions. Her particular interests include customizing professional development experiences for schools around novice teacher development, student motivation, student engagement, teacher questioning practices and best practices for teaching adult learners.

Loretta Woods is the esteemed principal of Whetstone Elementary School. In her fifth year of the principalship, she has remarkably transformed the Whetstone and Montgomery Village communities. 

Charles Codling. As a Learning and Achievement Specialist at MCPS, Charles serves in central office to provide coaching and support to school-based instructional coaches.

Read more about Loretta and Charles below

In this series:

1. MCPS: Woods and Codling: Full Interview

Loretta Woods and Charles Codling have both served as instructors for the MCPS/RBT courses. In this interview with RBT's Jon Saphier and Sue McGregor, Loretta and Charles share insight into the impact of having a framework of common language to guide conversations with educators and leaders and reflect on how the work can continue to grow and impact the work moving forward.

2. Part 1 MCPS: Woods and Codling: Making a Difference For Kids

In this segment Loretta and Charles explain the impact of RBT on their own practice as a school leader and a professional developer in MCPS.

3. Part 2 MCPS: When You Know Better, You Do Better

Loretta and Charles describe how the training RBT provides to those who become In-District Instructors in Studying Skillful Teaching and Observing and Analyzing Teaching courses was rigorous, demanding, and beneficial to them…also different from other train-the-trainer models. 

4. Part 3 MCPS: Behavior Before Belief

Loretta and Charles take on the question - why does the RBT framework hold up over time?  Central to this is that the ideas and research remain relevant to impacting students.  The framework is about expanding repertoires to make better choices to meet the needs of the students in front of us. 

5. Part 4 MCPS: Actions and Words Matter

Jon elaborates on the plans for new sections in the eighth edition of The Skillful Teacher, including expanding on the topics of culture and culturally responsive teaching.  Loretta and Charles reflect on what actions need to accompany the work to move it forward, especially as it relates to what leaders need to do.  Enough of hand holding; it’s time for action.

6. Part 5 MCPS: Hope Through Capacity Building

Loretta and Charles reflect on what Jon cites as one of the hardest times in education, but that by building capacity, we build confidence, and ultimately hope.  It is disingenuous to think that there is a perfect solution, but the RBT framework emphasizes all the things we as educators have control over while still recognizing that the work is hard.  We need to embody the growth mindset to recognize the wins as well as the opportunities to grow.