Kathleen Sheehy has spent 11 years at Hyde-Addison, serving as an instructional coach for the past four. Ms. Sheehy works with her school’s faculty to improve their teaching practice and help develop their curricula and lesson plans. She knows that when teachers are constantly working to get better, “it inspires their students to set their own goals and work hard to achieve them.” As an instructional coach, she sees her impact on students through her impact on their teachers. “Having a colleague whose job is to both support teachers and help them grow as professionals is so vital to making sure that every classroom has an exceptional teacher,” she says.

Ms. Sheehy enjoys working at Hyde-Addison, where she praises the “culture of constant learning and tireless dedication,” and where her colleagues are receptive to innovation and new ideas. Her warmth reassures teachers and students that they can rely on her to be an understanding ear. Ms. Sheehy was honored in 2008 as the OSSE D.C. Teacher of the Year, but explains that she is thrilled about the opportunity to be in a coaching role. Dana Nerenberg, Principal of Hyde-Addison, says, “Ms. Sheehy is an exemplar of all an instructional coach should be.” She has been rated Highly Effective in all four years of IMPACT evaluations.