By Shonda Hobbs
For many years, I believed that strong instruction was enough to drive student success. But over time, what I began to learn, through experience, reflection, and listening closely to my students, is that instruction alone is not enough. It must also be accompanied by student agency—that is what changes everything.
When I reflect back nearly nineteen years to the start of my teaching career, I remember being consumed with one question: Did I do the instruction right? I studied lesson design, classroom routines, and management strategies. I listened carefully to the advice of veteran teachers and to the worries of novice teachers alike. My goal was simple: to plan well, explain clearly, and deliver instruction so effectively that student success would naturally follow.
And for a while, that seemed to work. At least, on the surface.
Shonda Hobbs is an instructional coach, educational consultant, speaker, and author with more than 18 years of experience in education. She helps educators strengthen instruction, build meaningful relationships, and create lasting impact through coaching, leadership development, and professional learning. She is the founder of ShiftED™, a community dedicated to supporting instructional coaches and teacher leaders.
