The CSME team had the privilege of attending the 9th Annual Illinois Council of Instructional Coaching (ICIC) Conference in October of 2023. The ICIC is a group collective of Illinois coaches and administrators, from Pre-K to College, dedicated to building the art of coaching to benefit teachers and students of all ages. The Council’s mission is to support and advance a community of instructional coaches who value collaboration, best practices, professionalism, research, and networking in order to enhance teaching and learning.

A highlight of the conference was hearing Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s keynote speech, Cultivating Joy and Genius through Coaching. Dr. Muhammad’s Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy (2020) and Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning (2023) guide us through her framework of 5 pursuits that are essential and universal for all students, especially youth of color – Identity Development, Skill Development, Intellectual Development, Criticality, and Joy.

CSME coaches garnered resources, strategies, and inspiration for starting with student genius and cultivating joy in classrooms through safety, belonging, and peace. As Gholdy noted, “you are where you are supposed to be if sweet joy flows through your body.” If you would like to see the resources shared on behalf of Dr. Muhammad, follow this Google Drive link.