The Ripple Effect
How Coaching Transforms School Culture
At Graydin, we’re continually inspired by schools that embrace coaching not as a one-off intervention, but as a way of being. In these communities, a single conversation can spark a wave of positive change, and this is what shifts school culture, strengths relationships and empowers every individual to thrive.
Schools that invest in coaching experience more than just improve communication.
They see:
Stronger student engagement
Greater staff collaboration
Deeper trust across the entire school community
Even positive impacts beyond school walls
It’s this ripple effect that demonstrates the transformative power of coaching communication.
The Immediate Effect of Coaching on School Culture
In 2012, Wellington College successfully implemented Graydin’s approach to coaching. Upon seeing this success, Dan Rosen, the Head of Secondary at St George’s School in Düsseldorf, worked with us to introduce the approach in 2016. Within months, he saw a meaningful shift in daily interactions.
“Coaching has had an enormous impact on our school,” says Dan. “It has helped us develop a more positive, solution-focused culture while allowing for autonomy.”
At the heart of this shift? Empowerment.
When individuals feel seen, heard and supported, they’re more likely to engage their prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational thinking. They don’t react from a place of stress or survival.
This directly aligns with our Start With Heart model, blending emotional insight (“Heart”) with cognitive clarity (“Head”), and leading to decisions rooted in awareness, empathy and purpose.
Today at St. George’s:
Most staff are trained coaches
Students take ownership of their learning
Parents are equipped with coaching skills to provide at-home support
“We hear stories like St. George’s all the time,” says our co-founder McKenzie Cerri. “It starts with one decision,one conversation,and before long, the whole culture begins to shift.”
Coaching communication isn’t just another professional development tool. It’s a way to unlock the brain’s neuroplasticity, cultivate a growth mindset and create lasting change across every layer of school life.
Coaching is more than a skill. It’s a way of building meaningful relationships and fostering growth at every level.
Ready to bring coaching into your school? Visit www.graydincoaching.com to explore how we can support your school’s ripple effect.
McKenzie and Quinn
Editors of Coaching in Education
If you’d like to read more about coaching in schools, see the resources below: