Shining a Light on Our Instructional Coaches

On National Instructional Coaches Day, we recognized the invaluable contributions of our Instructional Coaches who play a crucial role in supporting both teachers and students across the district. 

Here’s what a few of our instructional coaches had to say about their jobs: 

Katie Stephens

For Katie, no two days are alike, and that’s one of her favorite parts of the job. “I get to see the school from multiple perspectives, and my work impacts both teachers and students,” she shared. Katie values the diversity within our schools and enjoys the energy she experiences at Richfield Middle School. “Middle schoolers are hilarious,” Katie said, adding that being part of a district that holds high standards and school pride makes the work even more rewarding. Now in her sixth year with RPS, Katie is grateful to work with all RMS and RHS staff, as well as her counterpart at RHS, Kate Olejnicak.

Kate Olejnicak

Kate loves seeing the amazing learning happening across her building each day. “There’s no routine, and every day is different, but the best days are when I get to see teachers in action. They are inspiring,” she shared. Kate’s role gives her the opportunity to witness the hard work and dedication of teachers, and she appreciates being able to learn alongside them while supporting the incredible learning that is happening across the school.

Sarah Hutton

Sarah loves working with teachers on projects that make a big impact on their students. “Teachers are some of the most dedicated professionals in our communities, so partnering with them is immensely fulfilling,” she shared. Having previously taught Spanish Language Arts in 6th and 7th grade at RPS for seven years, Sarah spent four years in Minneapolis as a coordinator and coach before returning to RPS this year. “I especially love working with first-year teachers,” she added. Sarah is thrilled to be back and gives a special shout-out to the staff in RPS, saying, “The people here make the difference!” When asked to tell us a fun fact about herself, she said: “Shh, don’t tell, but I usually enjoy subbing because I miss being a classroom teacher very much!” 

Thank you to all our Instructional Coaches for your dedication and the difference you make every day!