In this episode of C3, hosts Courtney Groskin and Sandy Heiser welcome Joy De Los Santos, a special education coach with over 20 years of experience who now co-leads an instructional coaching team supporting nine districts.
Joy discusses her journey into coaching, practical strategies for overwhelmed teachers—including prioritizing high-impact supports and using visuals like visual schedules—and the importance of using data to guide decisions and build common ground among teams.
The conversation highlights what true inclusion looks like (access, engagement, and respectful peer interaction), leadership coaching to build capacity, and real coaching wins that helped teachers feel empowered and improved student outcomes.
In this episode:
- Courtney and Sandy share highlights from facilitating Day 5 of the Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar, celebrating the energy and dedication of their 35-person cohort.
- They discuss the transformative power of coaching conversations, including a moment where a 20-minute planning conversation left a participant feeling empowered and energized.
Featured Guest: Joy de los Santos
Joy brings over 20 years of experience in special education, working with students from early childhood through high school. She now co-leads an instructional coaching team across nine districts, supporting educators in building inclusive and supportive classrooms for students with disabilities.
Key Takeaways from Joy:
- Her journey into special education coaching grew from supporting teachers and students while reducing high turnover rates and increasing inclusive practices.
- When teachers feel overwhelmed by IEP requirements or diverse learner needs, Joy recommends strategies that support multiple students across contexts to maximize impact with sustainable effort.
- Collaboration and alignment are essential: she emphasizes using data as a neutral tool to guide team decisions and resolve differing perspectives.
- For Joy, a truly inclusive classroom means all students have access, engagement, and respect for differences, not just physical placement in the classroom.
- Memorable coaching impact: supporting a veteran special education teacher to feel confident and effective with a challenging student population—demonstrating the power of coaching for teachers at any career stage.
Rapid-Fire Tips from Joy:
- One strategy every coach should have: Visual supports, especially visual schedules, to support student independence and classroom management.
Advice for new teachers: Feeling unsure is normal. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and no one has all the answers—especially early in your career.
