Coaching

The NEST coaching component provides individualized, ongoing virtual coaching to early childhood educators who support preschool-age children with and without disabilities. Coaching is paired with in-person workshops and monthly professional learning community (PLC) meetings to help educators apply inclusive, developmentally supportive practices in real-world settings.

We are seeking 20 early childhood educators who:

• Work in a Panhandle or Brazos Valley TRS 3- or 4-Star program
• Serve preschool-age children
• Support at least one child with autism or a developmental disability/delay
• Also serves typically developing peers

We aim to include educators from a variety of program types and locations, including rural, urban, center-based, faith-based, and home-based settings. Ten educators will be selected from the Brazos Valley and ten from the Panhandle.

Educators who join the coaching component commit to:

• Attending three in-person Saturday workshops (February, June, October)
• Participating in twice-monthly virtual video coaching
• Joining a one-hour PLC meeting each month

We understand that life happens — the NEST team will work with participants when extenuating circumstances arise.

Each workshop focuses on a key area of inclusive early learning to support children with and without disabilities:

• February: Disability overview, universal strategies to support inclusion & child communication
• June: Supporting positive behavior & responding to challenging behavior
• October: Supporting peer interaction & play

All content is designed for preschool educators and emphasizes practical, relationship-centered strategies. TECPDS credits will be provided for each workshop.

Coaching is provided through asynchronous video-based feedback twice per month from approximately February/March 2026 through December 2026.

Educators submit short classroom videos and receive:

• Personalized strategies
• Reflection prompts
• Strength-based feedback
• Implementation support

Coaching is designed to be flexible and collaborative. 

To support participation, NEST will provide:

• A laptop computer
• An OWL video camera
• GoReact video platform

• Zoom video recording software

• Technical assistance, including additional resources for educators with limited Wi-Fi access

Participants will keep their laptop at the end of the project as a thank-you.

PLC group meetings with fellow educators occur once per month for one hour and provide opportunities for:

• Peer-to-peer mentorship
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Sharing successes and challenges
• Building a supportive educator community

Meeting times will be scheduled in consultation with participants, and both in-person and hybrid options may be available.

 Yes — educators who participate in:

• Workshops
• Coaching
• PLC meetings

will receive a $500 honorarium at the end and will keep their laptop. 

We recognize that educators have busy schedules, so the coaching model is designed to be flexible and manageable while still providing meaningful support.

Participants can expect the following approximate time commitments:

Three in-person Saturday workshops 

• One full-day workshop in February 2026
• One full-day workshop in June 2026
• One full-day workshop in October 2026

Twice-monthly asynchronous virtual video coaching 

• Submit brief classroom video clips and reflections
• Review coach feedback and plan next steps
• Estimated 2–3 hours total per month

Monthly PLC (Professional Learning Community) meeting 

• One 1-hour meeting each month

Completing brief surveys/questionnaires 

• Complete short surveys related to Project NEST strategies and training/coaching 
• Provide short interviews about your experiences with Project NEST 
• Estimated 2-3 hours total across the full project

Overall estimated time commitment

• Most months: 3–5 hours total for coaching & PLC activities
• Workshop months: one Saturday + regular coaching & PLC activities

We know unexpected situations can come up. The NEST team will work with educators when conflicts arise to support continued participation in a way that is realistic and sustainable.

We recognize that early childhood work is demanding and unpredictable. The NEST team will:

• Work with educators when conflicts arise
• Support continued participation whenever possible
• Approach scheduling with flexibility and understanding

Participation is collaborative — not punitive!

Educators who think they may be a good fit can email: project-nest@tamu.edu. We will follow up to confirm your participation and plan next steps, or to let you know if we have additional questions.

If you would like to talk more to a member of the Project NEST team, please email us to schedule a call! 

When we reach coaching capacity, we will add people to a wait list.