Like Having a Coach On Demand: What THE Journal Says About AI Coach

In a recent article for THE Journal, Joe Ackerman, fifth-grade teacher at Mead Elementary in Colorado’s St. Vrain Valley School District, shares how he’s using AI Coach by Edthena to drive flexible, self-directed professional growth. Titled “From Feedback to Flexibility: 5 AI Tools Teachers Should Try,” the piece offers a teacher’s perspective on how AI can complement and extend instructional coaching.

Here are a few takeaways from Joe’s experience:

1. Timely reflection enables instructional improvement. Joe describes using AI Coach to reflect immediately after a math lesson. The tool prompted him to revisit how he structured student talk and guided inquiry. “Instead of waiting for the next scheduled coaching session,” he writes, “I could act on insights right away. It was like having a coach on demand.” The immediacy of feedback enabled real-time instructional shifts, without adding to anyone else’s calendar.

2. Structured prompts deepen analysis. AI Coach supports teachers in reviewing lesson videos and engaging in guided reflection through open-ended, targeted prompts. Questions like “What patterns do you notice in student engagement?” or “What might you do differently next time?” help shift reflection from surface-level takeaways to actionable insight grounded in evidence.

3. Flexible coaching supports teacher autonomy. Joe emphasizes how AI Coach supports autonomy. Teachers engage with the platform when it fits their schedules, revisit prior reflections, and build a personal archive of growth over time. The experience complements in-person coaching while allowing for more reflection between cycles.

4. Scalable support strengthens professional growth. Whether a teacher is new or deeply experienced, AI Coach adapts to their needs. Joe notes that tools like this aren’t about replacing feedback; they’re about enhancing it. AI Coach offers a consistent structure for reflection and learning, even when coaching capacity is limited.

Joe’s article offers a powerful firsthand view of how the AI Coach platform is helping teachers like him reflect more often, more deeply, and more flexibly. His experience demonstrates how AI-enabled tools can empower educators without replacing the human elements of coaching.

Read the full article in THE Journal here.

Click here to explore how AI Coach can support your district’s professional growth goals.