Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching

by Elena Aguilar

A hands-on guide for transformational coaches working in school environments In The Art of Coaching 2.0: How to Thrive as a Transformational Coach , renowned author and coach Elena Aguilar delivers a compelling and inspirational message about how to coach in the face of daunting challenges. In the book, you’ll learn how to listen expansively in a coaching conversation, how to plan conversations effectively, how to coach across lines of racial difference, how to coach resistant teachers, and more. You’ll learn how best to impact your clients’ “3 B’s”: beliefs, behaviors, and ways of being and explore illuminating case studies that highlight and illustrate the concepts discussed in the book. You’ll also An indispensable “how-to” guide for transformational coaches working in school environments, The Art of Coaching 2.0: How to Thrive as a Transformational Coach is the hands-on and practical roadmap to results that professionals in this area have been waiting for.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Leadership, Professional Development, Teaching

544 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Elena has trained thousands of educators across the United States and abroad in transformational coaching. She is the author of four highly acclaimed books: The Art of Coaching, (2013) and The Art of Coaching Teams, (2016) Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018) and the Onward Workbook (2018), and the forthcoming Coaching for Equity (August 2020). She is a regular contributor to Edutopia and ASCD’s Educational Leadership, and she was a blogger for EdWeek Teacher for many years.

Elena Aguilar is an author and the President of Bright Morning Consulting. Her expertise derives from twenty five years as a classroom teacher, instructional coach and leadership coach working in diverse school environments. In her role as a consultant, she has partnered with leaders in public and private organizations across the United States and abroad. Elena is also the co-founder of Kenya Big Picture Learning, and she’s on the advisory board of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. Elena holds a BA in history and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MA in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her teaching credential from California State University, Hayward, and she also holds an administrative services credential.

Elena lives in Oakland, California, with her husband, son, and two cats. When she’s not coaching or writing she enjoys traveling abroad, photographing birds, hiking, drinking coffee and reading fiction.

Reviews

[Heather Terrill Stotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long-time follower of Elena Aguilar’s work, I really appreciate how this book speaks to the heart of coaching as well as the practice. I was an instructional coach myself and now have the privilege of growing our coaching team in Adams-Friendship. We are all reading this book together and while we have not yet started our discussions, I already see it as a grounding piece for the very important work we are doing in AFASD. Aguilar blends reflection with practical tools in a way that feels both inspiring and steadying, and I know I will return to it often.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is next level. The coaching strategies are unparalleled, but more than that, the commitment to embracing and nurturing who we are as humans speaks to a larger process of empowerment that would be absolutely systems-changing. Elena, thank you for writing this book. It is now a core piece of my coaching toolbox and I am beyond excited to use the strategies within to build toward a true culture of equity.

[Theta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best coaching books I have ready in a long time. It gave so many opportunities for reflection and made it easy to implement ideas easily. I have lots of room to grow as a cos h but feeling like I can do this work!

[Lucynelsonloveslife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the most comprehensive coaching and personal development book I have read inside or outside of the education realm. Elena’s holistic approach to coaching is the most effective I have used and continually brings the coach into personal reflection and awareness. I will read this again and again.

[AJUnRunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much as I love Aguilar’s work, I do not see it as a text one needs to add to their collection. Oftentimes, I felt I was rereading an earlier work. And then, near the end of the book, Aguilar noted much of an entire chapter was excerpted from Coaching for Equity. I felt scammed by the hype of a new work by Aguilar — little was new…I might even say ‘nearly nothing’ was new. Arise would have been a stronger text had it focused solely and deeply on its two central ideas.

[Lynn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best instructional coaching book I have read in the past 10 years. Aguilar provides structured coaching frameworks and multiple real life examples - all infused with the wise voice of encouragement. I most appreciate the clear tools (including the question stems) I’ve already been able to put to use in my coaching practice. My coaching mindset has been expanded to hold space for greater understanding of how our beliefs and ways of being impact how we show up as coaches and teachers.
Thank you Elena for your wisdom and your work!

[Matt]

A compendium of just about everything the author has written about up to this point. The coaches that I read this book with found collecting and organizing the tools Aguilar shares to be a productive way of engaging with this book. One of my colleagues also noted that Aguilar is one of few coaches/authors to name the underlying issues that cause inequities, in particular systemic racism.

After reading this book and Coaching for Equity, I plan to review my notes to create some type of action plan and CRM to support my own coaching.

[Linda Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arise has left me..risen. It arrived at exactly the time it was needed most. I've been an individual and team coach for several years. This year provided me an opportunity to coach teams of colleagues who enter the coaching space from a variety of perspectives. Utilizing the strategies and lenses from Arise allowed me to take on this new work with new eyes. I know know where my next steps will take me. That was a gift, both for me and those I coached. Onward..and arise!

[Chelsea Bowker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very much on the fence about going back to the classroom because the work seemed insurmountable and so much change needs to happen with beliefs and emotions, and this book helped me make sense of coaching so much better. There are so many tools and ideas included. I will reference it often. It has given me a direction to go, and it helped me to determine my own road blockers toward moving the work at my school. I cannot speak highly enough of this book for those in a coaching role.

[Turquoise Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapters 2-5, and Chapter 10 were the most applicable to me and resonated to not only pushing my own practice but thinking of others I support.
The lengthy transcripted conversations to simply get to the meaning of the chapter were laborious for me. This book felt like reading a half dissertation, mixed with random field notes, and diary entries. There were some good references to other key authors and researchers and some good questions at the end of each chapter.

[Jennifer Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Arise, I feel more grounded and confident in my coaching skills. The transformative tools and strategies are accessible to all levels of coaches, just starting or extremely experienced. Elena effectively supports the whole person and doesn’t shy away from acknowledging emotions and truly works from a place of integrity.

[Michelle Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elena Aguilar has not only made me a better coach, she has coached me through her books, podcast and professional development offerings to be a better person. Arise is everything I hoped it would be and more. This. Book. Is. For. Everyone!

[Stacy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a foundational guide for those coaching teachers. The examples and techniques are very useful.

[Gabriela Baguley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for graduate school! Great insights on how to become a transformative reader.

[Holly (bibliophiles_bookstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you do any sort of coaching, get your hands on this one! So many practical ways to lead, resources at your fingertips, and advice that is amazing!