Partnering for Change: Coaching Development at the Heart of SKPS’s Behavioral Health Academy

At e.t.c coaching consultants, we are proud to be supporting a bold and pioneering initiative led by Salem-Keizer Public Schools (SKPS): the Behavioral Health Coaching and Training Academy under the leadership of Chris Moore (Director of Mental Health and SEL). The Academy is the first of its kind in Oregon, an initiative that recognizes the potential of coaching, not just as a model for sports, but as a powerful methodology to strengthen behavioral health support in schools.

Our relationship with SKPS began in 2023 with a series of initial training workshops designed to introduce the principles and practices of sports coach development into their environment. These early sessions opened up new possibilities for how the role of the district’s Behavior Intervention Trainers Team could evolve—not only as responders to crisis, but as proactive facilitators of adult learning and school-based support.

This shared curiosity evolved into a full strategic partnership. Together, we explored what a Behavioral Health Coaching & Training Academy could look like and how a coaching development program might support and enhance the professional identity and practice of Behavior Intervention Trainers (BIT).

Working closely with SKPS leaders and the BIT Team, we co-created a Coaching Capability Matrix that articulated the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required across each facet of the BIT role. To inform this, we used a functional role analysis approach, spending time in schools and observing team members in action as they facilitated training with school staff. We considered where and how trainers could lean heavily on coaching and coaching skills to be more effective in their role.

Using sticky notes and flip charts, we worked side-by-side to deconstruct the training role, unpack its real demands, and reconstruct a shared understanding of what excellent training and coaching practice looks like in practice across the three critical trainer roles: facilitator of adult learning, school-based support, and crisis responder.

Coaching Capability Matrix

This matrix became the anchor for a structured Coaching Development Program that unfolded over the 2024–25 academic year. We delivered a blended learning experience, combining:

• Online courses that built foundational knowledge in reflective practice, professional development planning, and adult learning theory

• Interactive webinars to deepen application and create a shared learning community

• An in-person workshop focused on facilitating adult learning

• Ongoing mentoring, offered quarterly, to support each trainer in building a personalized professional development plan

What has made this program truly special is not only the innovation behind it, but the willingness of every participant to lean into learning, reflect honestly on their practice, and embrace new ways of working. Much of this is reflected in the short montage below, designed to celebrate the essence of our journey.

“This has really opened my eyes to what coaching can look like outside of sports and in my work-based environment. The PDP helped me take ownership of my growth and connect it back to what I want to be for the people I support.”— Program Participant

“The Academy gave us a shared language and a new lens. This team is no longer just Behavior Intervention Trainers—they are coaches, mentors, and learning facilitators.”— Program Lead, SKPS

This work has been a fabulous opportunity for e.t.c to extend the reach of coach development beyond the sporting world. It stands as a clear example of how coaching methodologies—when adapted with care and integrity—can bring real impact in new domains.

We’re grateful to SKPS for their courage, vision, and collaboration.

And we’re just getting started!

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#Coachingbeyondsports

#EducationInnovtation

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