The IC Toolkit

About Amy MusanteJessica WiseJim KnightMichelle Harris

Dr. Jim Knight Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. Jim earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching innovation and service awards. The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools. Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description of instructional coaching. Jims book Focus on Teaching (2014) was the first extended description of how video should be used for professional learning. Recently writing with Ann Hoffman Michelle Harris and Sharon Thomas Jim introduced the idea of instructional playbooks with their book on that topic. Jim has written several books in addition to those described above including Unmistakable Impact (2011) High-Impact Instruction (2013) Better Conversations (2015) The Impact Cycle (2018) and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021). Knight has also authored articles on instructional coaching and professional learning in publications such as Educational Leadership The Journal of Staff Development Principal Leadership The School Administrator and Kappan. Jim is also a columnist for Educational Leadership and. Through ICG Knight conducts coaching workshops hosts the Facebook Live Program Coaching Conversations and provides consulting for coaching programs around the world. Dr. Jessica Wise is a Virtual Consultant with the Instructional Coaching Group. Beginning her career in education in 2007 Jessica has held various roles including a classroom teacher school-based instructional coach and intervention/gifted teacher district literacy specialist and then leadership & staff development instructional coach. Jessica received her doctoral degree in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia where her focus was facilitation of adult learning. When not working Jessica enjoys hiking movie night with her family and reading. She lives in Georgia with her family. Michelle Harris has been in education since 1993 starting as a special education para then a teacher coach and administrator.  She is the co-author of Instructional Playbook: The Missing Link for Translating Research Into Practice and Evaluating Instructional Coaching: People Programs and Partnership.  Michelle is is a seasoned staff developer and has presented and keynoted in the US Canada Africa Asia and Europe.  She lives in Portland OR with her husband two sons a corgi and two cats.  Amy Musante is a Consultant with the Instructional Coaching Group. She began her journey in education in 1998 and has served in many roles to support students and diverse school communities. Her experience as a Language Arts teacher Secondary Schools Intervention Specialist and District Director of Coaching Programming (UPK-12) has provided her with experience that informs her work continuously. She received her MA from Teachers College Columbia University and has done considerable work partnering with the University post-graduation. In her free time Amy loves spending time in nature traveling with her family and cheering on Buffalo sports teams.