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Coach

 

Coaching with Big Idea Project

The Big Idea Project is a co-curricular program for High School Students that uses experience and curriculum to facilitate:

  • Student transformation
  • Social-emotional growth
  • Workforce readiness
  • Leadership development

We utilize the expertise of coaches as one of the many ‘tools’ in the student’s learning process.

Apply To Coach Now!

 

How the Capstone Project Worked

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A Big Idea

Teams of 3-4 identified a social problem they cared about and came up with a way to help solve it

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Business Coach

Together with a business coach, teams created a plan for taking action

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Action

Students had the semester to work their plan and make their Big Idea come to life

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Presentation

At the end of the semester, teams created a storytelling video and presented their results

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Real World Relevance

Students created a real world portfolio to use with future employers and schools. Winning teams received college scholarships.

 
Students with Mentor

The role of a coach

A coach works with one team (or 3-4 students) over the course of one semester (3.5 months).

  • Be an advisor and coach. You do not drive the relationship and must not do the work for students. Instead, help them learn to think and see differently.
  • Be a resource. If students need connections to people or organizations and they’ve proven to you to be trustworthy to follow through, then connect them.
  • Teach them what’s expected in professional settings. Give them a taste of work outside of high school. Give them tips and maybe even offer ‘tough love’ when they need a push.
 
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What makes a good coach?

  • Experience leading teams—working with youth helps but is not required
  • Positivity, encouragement and perspective in the good and hard times
  • A commitment to regular communication with students and to making all in-person meetings
 
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Coaching benefits you too!

Our community of coaches is a highly engaged group of seasoned leaders who care about providing real world learning to students.

As a coach you will:

  • Build relationships with other coaches at BIP events
  • See firsthand what issues students face in our schools
  • Refine your coaching and leadership skills
  • Learn about the needs of our emerging workforce
 
 

Coach FAQs

How long does each coaching gig last?

Coaches work with students for one semester (about 3.5 months). When you sign up to coach, you commit to attending six in-class sessions at the school (one hour each), attending your team’s presentation event at the end of the project, communicating weekly with your team using BIP’s online project platform, and participating in the coach orientation and training (online sessions available).

What is the role of a BIP coach?

Big Idea Project coaches provide perspective, advice and connections to teams. Often, the best help a coach can give is real-world advice and perspective that comes from well-crafted questions.

When you sign up to coach, you commit to attending six in-class sessions at the school (one hour each), attending your team’s presentation event at the end of the project, communicating weekly with your team using BIP’s online project platform, and participating in the coach orientation and training (online sessions available).

What will I teach as a coach?

Above all, it’s about teaching empathy. Big Idea Project coaches practice Generous Leadership® and know it is the key to building future leaders of impact. As a coach you have an opportunity to guide students in an experience that not only helps them grow in skill but helps lead to a paradigm shift characterized by empathy.