Filed by Ben Allen in Education, Feature, Local News.
September 29, 2011

In towns across Oklahoma, athletic coaches often work as teachers during the day. Now, as part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, a different kind of coach will sit in on classes. These coaches will look for how a teacher handles special education students. They’ll then work with the instructor to develop a plan built for their own classroom.

“We’re going to go in, we’re going to see what’s going on, what’s happening, what works, what doesn’t work, and work with what resources you already have, and then add to those resources to assist you,” said Amy Daugherty, an associate state director at the Oklahoma Department of Education.

Linda Hampton, President of the Oklahoma Education Association, said the money is a win for the state.

“Anytime you coach teachers, you’re mentoring them. You’re putting the best practices forward, and you’re helping them to be the best that they can be.”

The federal government will send more than a million dollars to Oklahoma this year to fund the initiative. It needs Congressional authorization to continue beyond 2012.

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