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Coaching for Equity: Conversations That Change Practice
Your Guide to Creating Equitable Schools If we hope to interrupt educational inequities and create schools in which every child thrives, we must open our hearts to purposeful conversation and hone our skills to make those conversations effective. With characteristic honesty and wisdom, Elena Aguilar inspires us to commit to transforming our classrooms, lays bare the hidden obstacles to equity, and helps us see how to overcome these obstacles, one conversation at a time. Coaching for Equity is packed with the resources necessary to implement Transformational Coaching in any organization. In addition to an updated coaching framework and corresponding rubrics, a comprehensive set of coaching tools puts success in every coach’s hands. Extensive personal narratives demonstrate what coaching for equity looks like and help us see how we can make every conversation count towards building a more just and equitable world. Coaching for Equity covers critical topics in the larger conversation about racial equity, and helps readers develop the knowledge, dispositions and skills to be able to: Perfect for teachers, teacher leaders, coaches and administrators, Coaching for Equity offers extensive strategies for talking about race, power, and systems of oppression. In framing the rationale for transformational conversations, Coaching for Equity gives us the context we need to enter into this work. In laying out the strategies, tools and models for critical conversations, it gives us the way forward. Comprehensive, concrete, and deeply human, Coaching for Equity is the guide for those who choose to accept responsibility for interrupting inequities in schools. It is for all educators who know there is a better way.
416 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2020
284 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Elena Aguilar
12 books137 followersElena 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 5, 2020
I do believe Elena is apparently psychic or something (kidding!). But this book, released in August of 2020, could not have been more perfectly timed as we began this crazy school year. I learned a lot, I gasped, I cried, I laughed. She explains her methods so well and pulls you into the story.
And this will make sense when you read it. Can I please attend Jordan’s graduation in 2022?! ❤️
And this will make sense when you read it. Can I please attend Jordan’s graduation in 2022?! ❤️
January 14, 2021
While not directly related to my current work, this book will undoubtedly impact how I approach the work I produce AND how I discuss my work with friends outside of the education world. Highly impactful, incredibly grateful I had the chance to read it.
September 30, 2020
Best yet. Can’t wait to discuss with all my educator friends.
August 12, 2022
"Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice" by Elena Aguilar is a maddening book as some parts made me emotional with recognition and regret while others parts make assumptions and miss the mark.
That said, as an Educational Coach, Elena says to make 5 positive comments for every negative, so I will do the same.
1) Anyone who has received coaching or started teaching would want a coach like Elena, making you look inward and find answers for yourself.
2) I agree that teachers have implicit bias and the use of video with her clients helps everyone recognize that.
3) You can relate to her clients and root for them. They remind you that we are all still growing and learning.
4) Coaching for Equity is a great concept because we make sure that we do not let any kids slip through the cracks.
5) Her adult learners get defensive and sad, as new teachers do, but Elena uses that to her advantage. She also knows when emotions reach outside of her purview into a therapist's territory.
6) There are a ton of typos in this book, none that interfere with comprehension, but enough that it will distract frequent readers that are used to heavy editing. There are probably typos in this post, but I am not getting paid
7) As a teacher, I will now acknowledge how things are making me feel and that should help with how I react. Why do I flip out on kids and from where does the frustration originate?
8) Acknowledging identity shows you who you want to be as a teacher and why. Recognizing your identity will give you the skills to know who your students truly are.
9) My first mentor always led with questions and it shows me how good I had it. If you focus on you, the kids get on your nerves less and you feel equipped for anything.
10) When I was a younger, better teacher, I asked kids for feedback. Aguilar shows you how powerful this tool is and inspires you to do it again.
11) I now understand the importance of restorative practices and recognize their benefits to both students and teachers.
12) The book focuses so much of what is wrong that it doesn't tell you how to prevent problems proactively. For example, how to we decrease suspensions and keep a safe school? I agree that suspensions don't work, but what does? Aguilar explains this by telling you to read one of her other books, which is a quick way to assure that I will not read your other books. Also, her impression of SROs leading the school to prison pipeline fails to see how the presence of officers can increase trust in the police force.
That said, as an Educational Coach, Elena says to make 5 positive comments for every negative, so I will do the same.
1) Anyone who has received coaching or started teaching would want a coach like Elena, making you look inward and find answers for yourself.
2) I agree that teachers have implicit bias and the use of video with her clients helps everyone recognize that.
3) You can relate to her clients and root for them. They remind you that we are all still growing and learning.
4) Coaching for Equity is a great concept because we make sure that we do not let any kids slip through the cracks.
5) Her adult learners get defensive and sad, as new teachers do, but Elena uses that to her advantage. She also knows when emotions reach outside of her purview into a therapist's territory.
6) There are a ton of typos in this book, none that interfere with comprehension, but enough that it will distract frequent readers that are used to heavy editing. There are probably typos in this post, but I am not getting paid
7) As a teacher, I will now acknowledge how things are making me feel and that should help with how I react. Why do I flip out on kids and from where does the frustration originate?
8) Acknowledging identity shows you who you want to be as a teacher and why. Recognizing your identity will give you the skills to know who your students truly are.
9) My first mentor always led with questions and it shows me how good I had it. If you focus on you, the kids get on your nerves less and you feel equipped for anything.
10) When I was a younger, better teacher, I asked kids for feedback. Aguilar shows you how powerful this tool is and inspires you to do it again.
11) I now understand the importance of restorative practices and recognize their benefits to both students and teachers.
12) The book focuses so much of what is wrong that it doesn't tell you how to prevent problems proactively. For example, how to we decrease suspensions and keep a safe school? I agree that suspensions don't work, but what does? Aguilar explains this by telling you to read one of her other books, which is a quick way to assure that I will not read your other books. Also, her impression of SROs leading the school to prison pipeline fails to see how the presence of officers can increase trust in the police force.
May 5, 2025
I’m not sure any one human has had more impact on me as a professional than Elena Aguilar. I met her when I was a young instructional coach, when I was lucky enough to learn from her in a series of workshops. Since then, her work has been a cornerstone for me, a true north reminder of not just how to do this work, but why doing it matters. This book is just another foundational piece of that, and I’m so grateful for it.
Working at Bright Morning is my dream job.
Working at Bright Morning is my dream job.
January 8, 2023
Incredible book to help one on the journey of self reflection to be a more equitable human.
November 18, 2021
Fantastic. If you hold any type of leadership position, and want to inspire change in your system, this book is for you.
January 22, 2021
It might be a lot to suggest people outside of education read this book, but I really do think everyone who reads, who has relationships with people, who cares about healing and transforming our world SHOULD read this book. Elena Aguilar is coaching all along the way. She demonstrates compassion for the reader as she pushes us and stretches out our edges in every direction. I just finished minutes ago, and already have determined I will read it again soon. I may have to get a clean copy because this one is highlighted, dog-eared and written on throughout with margins and margins of reflections, confessions, and questions.
May 24, 2023
"Coaching for Equity" is a great resource for anyone who works with adult learners because the encounters Aguilar are realistic. Because the skill of reflection is often not taught to teachers, adult learners may become defensive or sad when asked to reflect on their current practice. In this profession, it quite easy to take things personally because teachers invest so much time and heart into their students, and no one wants to admit they could inadvertently be causing mental harm to their students.
I found myself slightly annoyed at her hints of superiority sprinkled throughout the book. While Auguilar did express moments of vulnerability in which she opened up about her underlying "imposter syndrome," she also was very presumptuous and quite judgmental about a few of her "clients." (Another peeve of mine is that she referred to the teachers as her clients. She is hired as a consultant so she does not necessarily work in the school system, but "client" just seems so cold. How do you truly form a relationship with someone if you don't fully regard them as your peer?)
Before she even meets Khai, she assumed he was "uncoachable"--she assumes he is a racist who is not willing to learn. She later admits that during their two year coaching relationship, they became close, but it is not evident that she ever let go of her first impressions. Khai learns to look inward and understands his own biases and admits that his pedagogical thinking comes from the expectations that were placed on him as a child of immigrants. Despite learning this information, I do not think Aguilar ever truly eases up on him. Like most teachers, Khai assumes that what worked for him as a child will work for his students, and when evidence says otherwise, he is willing to change. However, when Aguilar meets with Khai's principal, she finds out that Khai is following the principal's directions to post student data. Instead of Aguilar understanding how Khai's upbringing has influenced his view of authority, she faults Khai for doing what he is told without questioning. Instead of judging Khai, she should look deeper into the in-service and teacher training programs and how they train for cultural competence. How can you fault someone who does not know what they do not know? How are in-service programs and teacher preparation programs equipping teachers with this knowledge?
Overall, Aguilar's coaching tips are helpful and I will use them. I cannot judge Aguilar too harshly, because in role as an Instructional Specialist, I have been guilty of judgement as well. However, as humans, no one is perfect and the first step to growth is acknowledging our willingness to ask for help and feedback. As a coach, I have to be transparent and always be willing to hear back from me peers (not "clients") how I can coach them better so our students can grow. Our students are at the heart of this work, and if the teacher and coach are willing to keep the students as their main focus, the coaching cycle will be an opportunity for growth for the coach, teacher, AND the students!
I found myself slightly annoyed at her hints of superiority sprinkled throughout the book. While Auguilar did express moments of vulnerability in which she opened up about her underlying "imposter syndrome," she also was very presumptuous and quite judgmental about a few of her "clients." (Another peeve of mine is that she referred to the teachers as her clients. She is hired as a consultant so she does not necessarily work in the school system, but "client" just seems so cold. How do you truly form a relationship with someone if you don't fully regard them as your peer?)
Before she even meets Khai, she assumed he was "uncoachable"--she assumes he is a racist who is not willing to learn. She later admits that during their two year coaching relationship, they became close, but it is not evident that she ever let go of her first impressions. Khai learns to look inward and understands his own biases and admits that his pedagogical thinking comes from the expectations that were placed on him as a child of immigrants. Despite learning this information, I do not think Aguilar ever truly eases up on him. Like most teachers, Khai assumes that what worked for him as a child will work for his students, and when evidence says otherwise, he is willing to change. However, when Aguilar meets with Khai's principal, she finds out that Khai is following the principal's directions to post student data. Instead of Aguilar understanding how Khai's upbringing has influenced his view of authority, she faults Khai for doing what he is told without questioning. Instead of judging Khai, she should look deeper into the in-service and teacher training programs and how they train for cultural competence. How can you fault someone who does not know what they do not know? How are in-service programs and teacher preparation programs equipping teachers with this knowledge?
Overall, Aguilar's coaching tips are helpful and I will use them. I cannot judge Aguilar too harshly, because in role as an Instructional Specialist, I have been guilty of judgement as well. However, as humans, no one is perfect and the first step to growth is acknowledging our willingness to ask for help and feedback. As a coach, I have to be transparent and always be willing to hear back from me peers (not "clients") how I can coach them better so our students can grow. Our students are at the heart of this work, and if the teacher and coach are willing to keep the students as their main focus, the coaching cycle will be an opportunity for growth for the coach, teacher, AND the students!
March 27, 2021
An amazing, powerful, inspiring, urgent, timely book. I love all her books, and this one is crucial and useful.
LATEST READ: REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK: WOW: wanted to brush up on the content of this amazing coaching resource, so I got the audio book. I nearly returned it the same day--the reader is awkward and stilted, to the point that at times I thought the narration was done via computer animation. I truly hope no one gets turned off Elena Aguilar's life changing work because of the narrator's delivery.
The content of the text is powerful, important, and incredibly timely, and/but it's so full of resources I'd recommend the actual text as a first option. However, Aguilar's website (Brightmorning.com) offers a wealth of free supports if you don't have a hard copy. I'm a huge fan of all her books and her whole approach.
LATEST READ: REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK: WOW: wanted to brush up on the content of this amazing coaching resource, so I got the audio book. I nearly returned it the same day--the reader is awkward and stilted, to the point that at times I thought the narration was done via computer animation. I truly hope no one gets turned off Elena Aguilar's life changing work because of the narrator's delivery.
The content of the text is powerful, important, and incredibly timely, and/but it's so full of resources I'd recommend the actual text as a first option. However, Aguilar's website (Brightmorning.com) offers a wealth of free supports if you don't have a hard copy. I'm a huge fan of all her books and her whole approach.
November 23, 2022
Elena Aguilar is an incredible educational coach and author. I've read her book Onward as a suggestion from my Associate Superintendent. But, I read this title "Coaching for Equity" as a follow up on the Mentor 101 course I took in September through OSPI. They asked us to read this book on our own time. My biggest takeaway in coaching faculty to be more inclusive and recognize their bias and racism is that first you must start with relationship. Get to know your faculty member. Use questioning strategies and active listening as staff members to truly make change need to come to a realization that they need to change. It is a time consuming process but in the end it will improve instruction and make more equitable schools for all our students.
November 25, 2020
It is no secret that I have loved every book Elena Aguilar has written. She is my professional guru and I love her work! I appreciate that she took her coaching expertise and applied an equity lens to the entire process in this beautiful, amazing, professional resource. I loved this book so much that I dedicated an entire blog series to it (which starts with my reflections on the introduction). I couldn't resist writing out my reflections to the questions that Aguilar proposes at the end of each chapter. I highly encourage this book to all educators everywhere, but especially in America, and especially in November of 2020.
June 16, 2021
I had the privilege of reading this with two other coaches, so we spent a week on each chapter. This book is so important in terms of bringing about more equitable and aware educators. Im blown away by Aguilar’s unrelenting tenacity in facing complex issues head on. Her bravery inspires me to do better. I am so very lucky to have found this book at the beginning of my career as an instructional coach. Fully transparent, Aguilar shares her own growth; good, bad, and ugly, as well as her tools.The appendix alone is worth the price. This book will make you think and grow in unexpected ways. Well worth the time.
September 14, 2025
This is a book with a mission: reduce inequality in schools in order to build a better society. All along the way (a journey took me almost half a year), I had my doubts whether I wanted to be a part of this, and what it would say about me if I didn’t.
Understand, I feel I like the author and the other book of hers that I’ve read (The Art of Coaching Teams) was immensely helpful. This one, much less so, because my path since then has brought me far away from hers (I coach employees of a very large corporation 1:1).
Still, there are lots of very useful phrases, tips, and protocols here that I want to use.
Understand, I feel I like the author and the other book of hers that I’ve read (The Art of Coaching Teams) was immensely helpful. This one, much less so, because my path since then has brought me far away from hers (I coach employees of a very large corporation 1:1).
Still, there are lots of very useful phrases, tips, and protocols here that I want to use.
January 14, 2021
This is an essential addition to any coach's toolbox! Aguilar does an incredible job unpacking and naming the coaching moves she uses in all kinds of situations, and shows that coaching for equity is what she's been writing about and teaching all along in her previous books. It's the tools she's written about already, honed and used with incredible purpose and intention. Reading and processing this book has enabled me to reflect so much more effectively and specifically on my practice, and identify immediate shifts I can make in my day-to-day work.
February 15, 2021
While this book was designed for those working with & coaching teachers, I believe everyone should read it. Aguilar confronts examples of bias & racism in education through relatable case studies and descriptions. I am not a teacher or a coach, but I learned so much about myself reading this book. We can all be more compassionate and emotionally intelligent by embracing the pillars of transformational coaching. More than that we can communicate the importance of equity to our youngest learners.
July 15, 2021
If you read only one book professionally this year as a teacher I'd advocate that this is it.
Through extended story-telling based on her coaching Elena takes you through the mine-fielded Elephant in the Room that is racial injustice in schools.
She is unafraid of calling a spade a spade but shows how with compassion and guidance, awareness can be created followed by skilful practice under coaching.
She is talking from the USA perspective, but what she is saying is relevant to any place with diverse populations where a portion of that population is treated inequitably.
Through extended story-telling based on her coaching Elena takes you through the mine-fielded Elephant in the Room that is racial injustice in schools.
She is unafraid of calling a spade a spade but shows how with compassion and guidance, awareness can be created followed by skilful practice under coaching.
She is talking from the USA perspective, but what she is saying is relevant to any place with diverse populations where a portion of that population is treated inequitably.
November 3, 2021
Really fantastic balance of anecdotes, research, and framework for coaching for equity. I admire Elena Aguilar a lot after the last few months of diving into her texts and have been able to make immediate applications in my role as a coach. This book caused me to sit with a lot of assumptions I had about some teachers and the best way to engage them moving forward. I deeply appreciate how she centers everyone’s humanity while not looking away from or avoiding the hard conversations about how we perpetuate white supremacy in our profession.
July 13, 2022
This was my school’s summer reading for teachers. I don’t generally find books about coaching helpful or compelling and so expected to simply skim this one, but this was AMAZING. Aguilar’s dedication to transformation for equity is inspiring and her examples give clarity to the process. As a Reggio teacher, I greatly appreciate how her coaching model is more of a philosophy than a system. It’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s adaptive, flexible, and creative. This is what is needed for transformation and liberation. I appreciated this book enormously.
July 26, 2022
Elena Aguilar has done a marvelous job with this book! I would love to see something similar in a workbook form for teachers to use as a guide to help them through coaching themselves to be more equity centered.
I am not an equity coach (though I would love to be) and so there were a lot of tools in here that I thought were great but don't fully apply to what I do. That said, when I have to have an observation, I would love to provide some of her items as tools for my administrator to use as a means to give me feedback on my classroom.
I am not an equity coach (though I would love to be) and so there were a lot of tools in here that I thought were great but don't fully apply to what I do. That said, when I have to have an observation, I would love to provide some of her items as tools for my administrator to use as a means to give me feedback on my classroom.
January 23, 2025
I've read other writings by Elena Aguilar. This book shines as her best of her work, I think because it connects so closely with her purpose of coaching in the first place. It almost has a memoir feel to it, such as when she reflects openly and honestly about her own struggles with bias and racism as she supports educators in similar situations.
A lot of articles and resources describe the ideal in our strivings toward student equity. Aguilar offers a realistic and yet doable approach to this work.
A lot of articles and resources describe the ideal in our strivings toward student equity. Aguilar offers a realistic and yet doable approach to this work.
October 20, 2023
I think this is helpful to my coaching practice overall. I think a skilled coach can perform the tasks Aguilar encourages can manage to come across as caring, helpful, but honest; an unskilled coach, like I am, could come across as dismissive and condescending. It is important work, however. I appreciated the amount of psycho-education lessons Aguilar includes in the book; I feel much more equipped to do this work in not only my professional life, but my personal one as well.
February 12, 2021
Like all of her previous works, Elena Aguilar provides expert guidance through examples of her transformative coaching. The stories of her clients in this book will not leave me for a very long time. Every chapter I finished has an immediate impact on my coaching. I recommend to any coach or principal.
November 8, 2021
This book is a MUST read for instructional coaches. Aguilar covers some very deep topics and does not shy away from what needs to be said. If you are looking for ways to handle some difficult conversations, I highly recommend you pick this up before attempting to instill equity issues in your conversations.
May 23, 2022
I had picked this up when it first came out, but was busy, so I ended up putting it down because I had expected it to be more applicable to systems coaching as opposed to individual coaching. I'm glad I picked it up again, because though it's written more to elevate individualized coaching strategies, a lot of the messages can be applied in other ways.
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May 29, 2022This is a great book to help you take a look at how you're interacting with your students, their families, and colleagues as well as how you're teaching techniques can be influenced by your biases. Please make sure to check this book out to help you be a better, socially, and culturally aware teacher that's trying to provide social justice and equity into teaching and the classroom.
June 19, 2022
Lots of great content- could be read from my different perspectives-filled with lots of valuable tools. The only annoyance I had with the book is that I felt like the author was trying to sell their other books. Makes me feel resistance to this, as it was over done- have a page that lists your other books and blurb about content. Thanks
November 13, 2022
This is such a valuable guide bringing together all of Elena Aguilar’s considerable wisdom about Transformational Coaching and applying it directly to the charge of creating more just and equitable classrooms. Essential reading for anyone that works in schools, and particularly anyone that looks to coach and lead in schools.
February 26, 2023
The author's anger and personal subjectivity got in the way of the potential learning opportunities of her methods. I couldn't even finish. Her thoughts on exploring emotions are good so I will share that my emotions alternated between feeling like I could positively impact equality in education and feeling like I was the cause of inequality.
May 31, 2023
An amazing book that all educators interested in creating equitable outcomes and mindsets in schools should read. It’s humble in the way that Aguilar admits her own faults, wonderings, and doubts and areas for growth. It centers the learning experience without sacrificing anything less that full support for marginalized students and communities. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews