States of Being: Leadership Coaching for Equitable Schools Paperback – May 9, 2020

Fourteen years ago, as a new leader preparing to launch a school, I was blessed to have Dr. Linda Belans as a coach. Being introduced to States of Being as a new leader was truly transformational in every way. Since working with Linda over a decade ago, I have held many roles that have required that I revisit and leverage her transformational words and frameworks to guide my leadership practices. Today, I am so very grateful for States of Being. What an incredible book! As I read each word, it felt like I was engaged in a personal conversation with the brilliant Dr. Linda Belans. I felt like I had front row access to her coaching, her intuitive nature, and the deepest reflections of her heart. As a leadership coach, constantly seeking to evolve and grow, this book was RIGHT on TIME! I encourage and invite you to get this book. There are many things that make this book remarkable: the beautiful coaching vignettes, description of each component of her tested and researched coaching model, provocations to center belonging and equity, reminders of the value of breathing, and inclusion of poetry. I plan to utilize the recommended questions in my own practice as a coach! The challenges ahead for leaders in schools requires a refreshed mindset and lens—-this book is a powerful resource to have by your side!

Got this for my leadership team to read together. It’s made for great discussion so far.

The States of Being framework has been life altering in my own personal and professional life and in the way that I think about coaching others. Almost nothing matters more right now than creating more equitable schools. Dr. Belans maneuvers skillfully between details of her coaching model (including questions to ask that can be immediately applied) and storytelling real life examples to illuminate each particular detail; so, in addition to imparting practical information, the book is also very engaging and reads, to me, like a delicious novel.What's clearer to me now, to answer a question often asked by Belans in the book and in her coaching, is that coaching to assets and strengths can drive change and develop others faster and more impactfully (and less painfully) than coaching to deficits, that equity should be a focus in all that we do as coaches and leaders, and that how we show up to a coaching session is just as important as what we do and say. To quote from the book, "What's clearer to me is that we are called on to create schools where kindness and academic rigor can and must coexist. Where we have to care as much, if not more, about our students' and teachers' aspirations as we do about test scores."

Distilled from decades of teaching and coaching experience, this book contains a treasure trove of guidance for school leaders and coaches who want to deepen their practice and re-direct it to address issues of equity and justice. The clarity of its prose, the practicality of its advice, and the elegance of its organization make this slim but weighty volume not only a handbook but also an inspiring outline for revising the search for meaning in schools and beyond.

This is a great read for anyone coaching and supporting school leaders and teachers. Belans offers a simple and elegant framework for coaches to use to bring the best out of others. It acknowledges the importance of how we show up as coaches. The book includes useful examples of the model in action that resonated with me, and should resonate with anyone else who has worked with school leaders.

I just purchased this book and as I have been reading through, it has brought back such great memories of my own personal growth as a teacher and leader. The coaching and the States Of Being framework has been the most powerful coaching work I have ever experienced. It not only allowed me to support teachers, students, and parents but it helps me see the humanity in everyone I encounter.

This book will transform your mindsets and skills around coaching and will help you become a better version of yourself. Deeply grateful for Dr. Linda Belans for sharing her wisdom with the world, allowing us to build more equitable schools and a more equitable world. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

I coach nonprofit leaders. This book has been a useful refresher coarse. It provides both helpful guidance and great questions to use when coaching. I've added several to my repertoire.