Coaching the coach: How a principal and Gradient coach team up for success

Ted Brown approaches each school year with the same team-oriented mindset he brought to his seasons as a football coach.

For Brown, being the principal at Ingalls Junior/Senior High School in Kansas isn't simply an administrative role with leadership duties. It's a natural extension of his coaching background. This influence shapes how he enthusiastically guides his staff and students toward shared victories, both big and small.

This philosophy of mentorship and collaborative growth extends to his vital partnership with Sarah White, a Leader Coach at Gradient Learning who provides personalized support to Ingalls. Over the past few years, the two have developed a powerful teammate rapport that has helped transform Brown's school.

He describes White as "instrumental" to both his personal growth and the school’s achievements.

"She can offer a perspective I don't see because I'm too close to the situation," Brown said. "Even just bouncing ideas off her has been invaluable because she's been in the classroom and she knows that reality. She knows to rein me in when I need it, but also understands how I work and helps us get what we need done in a way that doesn't feel like work. It’s fun work."

White’s deep understanding of classroom realities from her years as a teacher, coupled with her ability to deftly guide Brown, makes their collaboration successful. He expresses how White has truly become "a part of our school family," highlighting her willingness to meet with teachers individually if needed and quickly providing resources.

"There was one time it was 4 p.m. on a Friday and I was like, ‘Sorry, but I really need this resource for Monday,’ and bam, she got it for me," Brown said. "She’s just a very hard-working and compassionate person, and I really respect and appreciate her."

This coaching relationship with White mirrors the support Brown provides his own staff, creating a continuous loop of mentorship that elevates the entire school and its community.

Leading with compassion

"Ted is a school leader who leads with heart," White said. "He places student learners at the center, builds genuine relationships with them, and values the voices of families and others. He also champions the growth of all the teachers in his building and understands that education isn’t just about what’s taught in classrooms. It’s about the connections that shape the whole student."

The impact of Gradient Learning’s partnership on Ingalls is clear, with big improvements in how students are performing in math and English. In 2019, a concerning 32% of students in their school were struggling at the lowest level in math on state tests. Now, that number has improved to 10%. Similarly, in English, the percentage of students at the lowest level has gone from 31% in 2019 to 14%. These numbers illustrate to Brown how effective Gradient Learning's teaching strategies and whole-student learning approaches have been.

"We've cut our kids performing at the lowest level by half."

"We've cut our kids performing at the lowest level by half," Brown said. "That’s one of every educator’s top goals. You want to get the kids who are really struggling back on track, and you want to help them progress. We’ve done that, and the biggest change we’ve made has been the Gradient partnership."

But while data is important, Brown emphasizes that "the human impact and stories I see taking place every day are what truly matter." The school isn't solely focused on test scores.

Understanding purpose

With White’s guidance, Brown and his educators are committed to helping students develop whole student outcomes such as purpose, resilience, agency, curiosity, and self-direction.

With his football background always influencing his leadership style, Brown sees his role as coaching his teachers and building an authentic team environment. He strongly believes in strengthening the crucial relationships between students and teachers that help set them up for success in and out of the classroom.

This commitment to cultivating a positive school culture extends to every aspect of the Ingalls experience, including the moment students arrive in the morning.

"I greet the kids every day when they come in," Brown said. "I hold the door open for them and I make sure I hear each of them say, ‘Good morning.’ We want kids who want to be here and feel welcomed, and who are going to help contribute to making our school a better place."

Brown also values the need to connect learning to real-world applications, helping students understand the "purpose behind things." He believes that academic success is deeply intertwined with the development of these essential life skills.

Each time White works with Ingalls, she sees evidence that Brown’s educators are responding well to his team-first environment and delivering on the promise of a whole student education.

"I’ve witnessed firsthand the unwavering passion of its teachers to ensure every student succeeds academically," White said. "Their dedication to delivering high-quality instruction has driven continuous growth in student outcomes. Beyond academics, they remain deeply committed to equipping students with the lifelong skills and habits they need to thrive well beyond high school."