Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice

The Challenge It Addresses

Despite decades of reform, educational inequities persist. Students of color, multilingual learners, and those from low-income backgrounds continue to experience disparities in achievement, discipline, and access to rigorous instruction. Traditional professional development rarely addresses the root causes of these inequities — the unconscious biases, systemic barriers, and difficult conversations that educators avoid. Coaching for Equity provides the tools and frameworks to finally have these conversations and change practice at the classroom, school, and system level.

About Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice

Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice is a comprehensive guide written by Elena Aguilar, a seasoned educator and coach. Published by Jossey-Bass in 2020 (First Edition), this book equips teachers, leaders, and coaches with the skills to engage in transformative conversations about race, identity, and equity. It combines practical coaching strategies with deep reflection on personal and systemic biases, offering a clear pathway to creating more just and inclusive schools.

The book is grounded in Aguilar’s experience as a coach and her belief that equity work requires both inner work and outer action. It provides concrete protocols, conversation starters, and frameworks for building trust, navigating resistance, and sustaining change over time.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is designed for anyone committed to dismantling inequity in education. It is essential reading for:

• K-12 teachers seeking to create more equitable classrooms
• Instructional coaches and teacher leaders looking to embed equity into their coaching practice
• School administrators and principals aiming to lead equity initiatives
• District leaders and policymakers responsible for systemic change
• Teacher educators and professional development facilitators
• Education students and researchers studying equity and social justice
• Any educator who recognizes that conversations about race are necessary but often avoided

Elena Aguilar writes for both novice and experienced practitioners, making the book accessible without oversimplifying the complexity of equity work.

Key Takeaways

Through Coaching for Equity, you will gain the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the historical and systemic roots of educational inequity
2. Develop a personal equity lens and examine your own biases
3. Build trust and psychological safety for difficult conversations
4. Use a coaching model to facilitate conversations about race and identity
5. Navigate resistance and defensiveness from colleagues
6. Design and implement equity-focused professional learning
7. Create sustainable systems for ongoing equity work in schools

Each chapter includes reflection prompts, case studies, and actionable strategies that you can apply immediately.

Why Choose This Edition

Many books address equity in education, but few offer a practical, conversation-based coaching framework. Coaching for Equity stands out because it centers the how — not just the why. While other resources may focus on theory or policy, Aguilar provides specific language, protocols, and coaching moves that educators can use tomorrow.

Compared to similar titles like Courageous Conversations About Race or Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, this book integrates coaching as the primary vehicle for change. It acknowledges that knowledge alone does not shift practice; sustained, skilled coaching is required. Aguilar’s framework is grounded in years of real-world experience and has been tested in hundreds of schools.

Author & Publisher Credentials

Elena Aguilar is the founder of Bright Morning Consulting, an organization that provides coaching and professional development to educators worldwide. She is the author of multiple best-selling books on coaching, including The Art of Coaching and The Art of Coaching Teams. Her work is rooted in over 20 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and leader in urban schools. Aguilar holds a Master’s degree in Education and is a recognized thought leader in the field of coaching for equity.

Jossey-Bass, an imprint of Wiley, is a leading publisher of resources for educators and professionals. Known for its high-quality, research-based content, Jossey-Bass ensures that this book meets rigorous editorial standards and is backed by the authority of a trusted academic publisher.

Our Verdict

Yes. If you are serious about creating equitable schools, this book is an indispensable resource. It provides the practical tools and deep reflection needed to move from awareness to action. The First Edition (2020) is current and relevant, addressing the urgent conversations about race that educators face today. Readers consistently praise its clarity, compassion, and immediate applicability.

Investing in Coaching for Equity means investing in your own growth as an educator and in the success of every student you serve. The coaching protocols alone are worth the price of the book, as they can be used repeatedly in professional learning communities and coaching cycles.

Get Your Copy Today

Your students deserve an education that is equitable, just, and affirming. This First Edition from Jossey-Bass gives you the conversation framework to make that vision a reality. Whether you are a classroom teacher, a coach, or a school leader, this book will change how you think about and practice equity.

Order your copy of Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice now and begin the conversations that lead to lasting change. Limited stock available — secure your copy today.