The Role of Instructional Support Specialists in Manteca Unified
An Interview with Mellissa Schmitz
MUSD Instructional Specialists Gather for a Training Opportunity
This story is the third in a series highlighting Manteca Unified’s Plan for Instruction structured by Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, known as MTSS. This series explores Tier 1 of the MTSS, which is the District’s baseline of inclusive instruction. Tier 1 supports ensure that all students are able to meet essential academic and behavioral standards.
Instructional Support Specialists play a critical role in student success. Just as students look to their teacher for help, educators also need someone to lean on for support. With a class full of students to attend to, teachers occasionally need assistance in keeping up with evolving instructional practices. Occasionally, it helps to have an expert step in to advise to ensure MUSD teachers are continuously up to date on current educational methods and techniques. And this is exactly where Instructional Support Specialists come in. To highlight the role of Instructional Support Specialists and their purpose in MUSD, the Community Outreach team spoke with Mellissa Schmitz, an Instructional Support Specialist from Lathrop Elementary School, who helped further develop the role within Manteca Unified over the past two years. Check out the Q & A with Ms. Schmitz below! Question: Why did you want to become an Instructional Support Specialist? While exploring which direction I wanted to take my career in education, I participated in several professional development opportunities. One of those opportunities was to take a series of classes on coaching teachers, which sparked my interest in the idea of instructional coaching and providing additional support to better our practice together. When the opportunity arose to help MUSD pioneer the current version of this role, I knew it was an opportunity I had to take!
Mellissa Schmitz
Question: What does a typical work week look like for an Instructional Support Specialist? In any given week, I am assisting teachers in developing lessons for Tier 1 instruction, supporting students in small groups, and working with teachers in a variety of grade levels to strengthen their Professional Learning Community (PLC) time. Additionally, I am observing and coaching teachers as they provide Tier 1 instruction and collaborating with the administration and the instructional leadership team on important decisions around instructional practices at our school. I also provide workshops and professional development opportunities after school.
Question: How do Instructional Support Specialists help prepare teachers for changes in instructional methods or materials? The first step is establishing a shared understanding of the “why.” Why are we learning about this? Why do we need to learn this? Why do we need to change what we’ve always done? Once we have a shared vision of this, we can start preparing. Preparing is similar to what you would do with students. You determine the ultimate outcome you are looking for and then backwards plan form there. As an Instructional Specialist, you have to understand how to chunk out complex ideas into smaller consumable pieces that allow teachers to understand new material in a logical way that builds on itself. Question: How do Instructional Support Specialists provide ongoing support for educators and administrators? The first step is determining need. I do this by making sure that I regularly make time to meet with teachers and principals and ask what their needs are. Based on what they need, how I provide support varies. In some cases, that support might be the gathering of ideas and resources. In other cases, it might be me giving a demo lesson in a classroom. I may observe a classroom lesson and listen as teacher reflects on that lesson through thoughtful questions. For principals, I may help and collaborate with developing site professional development based on teacher and student need.
Question: Why is it important for teachers to receive specialized support? Just like every student is unique and needs differentiation, so do our educators. Each educator comes to this field with their own set of life and career experiences. We need to build on the strengths that each teacher comes with and understand how to develop their knowledge base in areas they have less experience with. Question: What does an innovative and engaging classroom look like to you? I feel like an engaging and innovative classroom put students at the center of everything that is done. In this environment, students are collaborating with one another and working together to develop their learning, with teachers acting as a facilitator in that learning as opposed to the traditional “I speak,” “you learn” format that many of us experienced in school growing up. In an engaging classroom, teachers provide not only Tier 1 Instruction and targeted small group work based on student need, but also a safe space in which students are allowed to incorporate their interests and strengths into the learning process. Students should feel empowered to take risks because they are working together and there is an understanding that with failure comes learning. All of this combined creates a classroom where students can thrive and feel joy in learning!