Diane Sweeney

Founder of Student-Centered Coaching

About Diane Sweeney

Diane Sweeney is the founder of Student-Centered Coaching, a framework for instructional coaching that focuses on increasing student and teacher learning. As the author of several books including the new edition of Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves (2026), Diane holds a longstanding interest in how adult learning translates to learning in the classroom. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Denver and a Master’s Degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After teaching and coaching in the Denver Public Schools, she served in the nonprofit sector to support instructional coaching in high needs schools. Since then she has become a respected voice in the field of coaching and professional development.

Keynote Address

Developing Student-Centered Systems for Coaching and Collaboration

Schools are complex systems. This complexity may lead us to lose sight of what matters most…student learning. Taking a student-centered approach means we remember to focus our instructional coaching, professional learning, and data teams on student learning to improve instructional practice. In this keynote session, participants will walk away with:

  • Clarity around how being student-centered leads to deeper levels of trust among teachers
  • Ideas for keeping the balance between focusing on student learning and instructional practice
  • Protocols for using student evidence across all aspects of our work

Breakout Session

Moves for Launching a New Year of Coaching

Engaging teachers in coaching is an ongoing process that requires planning and intentionality. In this session, we will uncover steps for launching coaching in the new school year. In this session, participants will walk away with:

  • Practices to ensure that the principal and coach are unified in their vision for coaching
  • Ideas for communicating the value and process of coaching to teachers
  • Strategies for creating a schedule that includes a variety of structures for coaching (cycles, mini cycles, informal support, etc.)
  • A variety of ways to build excitement and clarity around the value of coaching