WHO WE ARE

We are educators and leaders, just like you.

As a division of the Cooke School, we share the belief that all children deserve an education that leads to an independent future — one in which they can be included as integral members of the community. Since 1995, Cooke Institute (CI) has expanded this vision by sharing our knowledge and expertise with others through on-going coaching, consulting, and professional development activities.

We are a leading resource in the field of literacy, special education, inclusion, and interventions, proudly supporting school leaders and teachers in a variety of schools across New York City, including those in some of the most diverse and underserved communities. We work side-by-side with educators to elevate the educational experiences for all students, especially those with unique learning needs.

Together, we’ll make sure every student’s learning needs are met.

Dedicated leaders to meet students' needs

Our coaches and consultants are leaders in education with a passion for bringing out the best in teachers and students. We’ve honed our craft in some of the most diverse schools across New York City. Now we bring our experience to you. Together, we’ll make sure every student’s learning needs are met.

Incorporating the unique needs of students into learning

We celebrate each student’s learning strengths and unique differences; supporting educators to develop the skills needed to be responsive to the educational and social-emotional needs of everyone in their class.

Power in partnerships

Our clients include public, parochial, independent, and charter schools, community-based organizations, and higher education programs throughout New York State.

Recognition that makes a difference

We are an approved NYC Public Schools Vendor for Professional Development and Coaching. Our contracts include:

Professional Development for School Leaders and Teachers - QR179BX
Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators - QR1120N

We are a sponsor of NYS Education Department Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits.

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what we do

We differentiate professional learning through collaborative partnerships.

By partnering with districts, schools, and community-based early childhood organizations, we empower educators as they gain new knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based practices and new teaching approaches to reach every student.

bridging the gap

Personalized CI coaching allows school leaders and Pre-K-Grade 12 teachers to incorporate research into everyday teaching practices that are transformative. In order to reach every learner, a specialized focus on students with unique needs in urban classrooms is fundamental to our work together.

The result: Curriculum and instruction are accessible to all students and outcomes improve.

partnering for greatest impact

We bring our approach to you by using turn-key strategies that build educators’ capacity to become reflective, confident and resilient leaders in their classroom and in their school.

The result: Educators develop, adapt, and advance their teaching practices, strategies and approaches to optimize learning.

our services

Cooke Institute’s expert coaches come to you.

Grounded in research and backed by empirical evidence, Cooke Institute equips you with the knowledge, skills and strategies to address and meet the challenges of today’s classrooms, spanning Pre-K-Grade 8.

The learning journey begins with the trusting relationships our coaches form with educators. Upon this foundation, coaches work side-by-side with teachers and school leaders to provide real-time support, guide practice and mastery of content, and inform on innovative teaching methods and classroom management techniques. As a result, teacher effectiveness increases, paving the way for successful student outcomes.

Within the context of the school's chosen curriculum, our expert coaches collaborate with teachers to support and enhance the implementation of instruction and assessment, while specializing in guiding targeted interventions and differentiation to reach each student.

CI coaches guide teachers to effectively shift their practices to implement evidence-based, systematic, and explicit literacy instruction aligned to the science of reading, writing, and state standards.

CI’s literacy services incorporate these key components:

Integrate universal screening and assessment data, along with diagnostic and progress monitoring tools, to identify strengths and needs of students, and to inform literacy instruction.
Guide effective and consistent implementation of core ELA curriculum in ways that improve or strengthen teaching practices connected to reading, writing, listening, and speaking standards.
Support small group differentiated instruction and interventions responsive to individual literacy needs, based on analysis of on-ongoing formative assessment to guide instructional decisions.
Expand knowledge base through professional learning communities focused on specific interests such as alignment of literacy goals across grade levels, foundational reading and writing skills, comprehension, language development, and data analysis.

I really have to say that my coach has been the best coach I have ever had in my almost 30 years of teaching. I feel a renewed sense of invigoration and confidence thanks to her guidance, skills, and knowledge. The skills she has taught me have made my teaching more student driven and produced students that have much more of an interest in reading! My students have become better readers and writers because of what she has shared with me!

7th Grade ELA Teacher, the Bronx

CI coaches work to elevate a school’s culture of inclusion by supporting general and special education teachers and leaders with the tools to feel confident to effectively teach students with a wide range of needs.

CI’s special education and inclusion services incorporate these key components:

Intentional co-planning that supports appropriate co-teaching models among instructional team members.
Foster responsive and supportive classroom environments conducive for all students to learn.
Design, adapt, and modify instruction and assessment in order to meet each student’s learning and developmental needs.
Expand professional knowledge base to implement systems of varied support and interventions for students at-risk, and when needed, to help navigate the special education process.

My coach guided me to refocus my lesson plan on the individual needs of each child. The students became better readers and writers. The parents along with teachers and administration were impressed. It has been a true honor working with her!

Kindergarten Teacher, the Bronx

CI coaches understand first-hand the demands early childhood educators face. We work with teachers, teaching assistants, and educational directors to fully address the cognitive and social-emotional needs of young children in developmentally appropriate ways within inclusive classrooms.

CI’s early childhood services incorporate these key components:

Use early childhood frameworks, curriculum, authentic assessments, and program evaluation results as resources to advance teaching practices and student learning.
Nurture responsive, interactive and joyful classroom environments conducive for all young students to learn.
Design, adapt, and modify instruction and assessment to reflect each child’s learning, social-emotional and developmental needs.
Expand knowledge base through professional learning communities focused on differentiating instruction, positive behavior support techniques, expanding literacy skills, and when needed, help in navigating the preschool special education process.

Working with our coach was truly a privilege and a pleasure. She was sensitive to the needs of both the teachers and the children, offering strategies that were practical and easy to implement. The entire program benefitted from her support.

Early Childhood Director, the Bronx

Our coaches have led schools and programs with distinction! We support school leaders (principals, assistant principals, educational, and program directors) to increase their effectiveness as they educate the next generation of learners.

Often embedded in all of our service areas, our leadership consulting impacts instruction and builds school-wide capacity related to teaching, assessments, and effective use of data while advancing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The utilization of MAP data to tailor instruction demonstrates the coach’s commitment to evidence-based practices, ensuring that every student's unique learning needs are met effectively. Her ability to connect with teachers and establish common goals is truly a gift.

Principal, Manhattan

Interested in large group faculty workshops? Are small group workshops or focused consultations best for your school or program?

No matter the setting, we know what educational professionals want out of professional development: customized content that meets their specific needs, engagement, and practical applications of material.

Our expert facilitators design a wide range of learning experiences that will energize you to return to your classroom, ready to implement your expanded knowledge and skills related to inclusion, literacy and language development, and content area teaching.

A sample of our most requested topics include:

The Science of Reading and Writing
Executive Functioning Skills and Literacy
Supporting Language Development and Literacy Skills in Inclusive Classrooms
Creating a Sensory Friendly Environment

My session was very informative and a great way to start off our spring series! Participants said that the workshop was the perfect length, included content that can be implemented into daily classroom routines, well paced, and engaging.

NYC Professional Development Client

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our approach

What drives us?

We are driven by our belief that when educators actively engage in consistent coaching and meaningful professional development, growth is unstoppable: teaching practices change and student outcomes improve.

Based on 25+ years of experience, Cooke Institute has amplified evidence-based practices in special education and inclusive strategies across academic subject areas while setting the standard for a highly effective approach to support general education teachers and school leaders. We guide our partners to develop and build their capacity to teach subject matter using innovative methods to meet the unique needs of their students.

We’re with you every step of the way. Explore the four pillars of our approach.

Discover and identify coaching goals with school leaders and teachers based on student needs

Our work begins with a needs assessment that is often guided by school-wide program goals and based on the results of current program assessment tools, specific curricula, and mission-driven philosophies such as inclusion and diversity.

Design and co-create the coaching cycle whereby everyone is an active participant

Together with school leaders and teachers, we design a customized coaching plan to meet the needs of classrooms and schools. We leverage resources schools and programs have, including curriculum, instructional frameworks, standards, and assessments, in order to facilitate and differentiate teaching and learning in developmentally appropriate ways.

Deliver and implement evidence-based, research driven teaching practices and inclusive strategies

The collaborative coaching process takes place shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders and teachers, empowering educators as they gain new knowledge and skills to reach every student. Together we plan, observe with a focus, teach (“I do, we do, you do”) and debrief/reflect.

Dialogue, debrief and facilitate reflection, feedback, and refinement of goals

Collaborative discussions increase educator effectiveness, build school-wide capacity, and advance a culture of ongoing professional learning. We conclude each coaching engagement with a post-coaching questionnaire. Results are then analyzed to inform the goals of the next coaching cycle.

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Our annual impact

Students Impacted

Educators Impacted

Coaching & Training Hours Provided

STUDENT OUTCOMES

Improving teacher effectiveness improves student reading

Proficiency in English Language Arts

In NYC classrooms where teachers received and engaged with Cooke coaching, 64% of students achieved proficiency in English Language Arts on the New York State Exam in Spring 2023, as compared with the overall NYC ELA proficiency rate of 51.7%.

Cooke Coached Classrooms
(64%)

NYC ELA Proficiency Rate
(51.7%)

NWEA MAP Reading Assessment

The NWEA MAP Reading Assessment was administered to all of our K-Grade 8 partner schools. On average in NYC, classrooms that received Cooke coaching exceeded growth expectations in reading when compared to classrooms that did not receive Cooke coaching services.

Average expected growth increase based on national norm is 9.25 points. Based on an analysis of weighted means of fall to spring gain scores.

AVERAGE CLASSROOM GROWTH INCREASE FROM FALL 2022 - SPRING 2023, K-8

Cooke Coached Classrooms
(10.38 points)

Non-Cooke Classrooms
(7.6 points)

Spotlight on Coaching for Inclusion

When we provided coaching focused on a holistic approach to support inclusion at 4 pilot schools, we found that teachers advanced their teaching practices to effectively teach students with a range of learning and social emotional needs, and as a result, students in eleven K - 3rd grade Cooke coached classrooms also soared in reading achievement gains.

Average expected growth increase based on national norm is 13.91 points. Based on an analysis of weighted means of fall to spring gain scores.

AVERAGE CLASSROOM GROWTH INCREASE FROM FALL 2022 - SPRING 2023, K-3

Coaching for Inclusion
(20.19 points)

Non-Cooke Classrooms
(13.95 points)

teacher results

Transforming classroom teaching practices

Each spring, CI shares a coaching feedback survey with the teachers and school leaders we work with. Consistently year after year, 100% of respondents report impactful change in teaching practices, with significant change reported in developing knowledge to implement evidence-based instruction to teach literacy skills.

of surveyed respondents
report impactful change

Our coach is extremely kind and is willing to meet the teachers "where they are at" in order to help them grow. She takes stock in our school, knowing each student by name as well as their strengths and weaknesses., Our program would not be what it is without the collaboration with Cooke. I am personally very grateful for having been working with Cooke.

Principal, Staten Island

My coach was an integral part of my success as a teacher this year. As my first year in a new grade level, I was nervous and unsure of myself. She was always there with supportive, constructive feedback. Her commitment and dedication are palpable. My student’s faces light up any time I tell them our coach is coming to visit. She truly is amazing and I am so grateful for her coaching this year.

2nd Grade Teacher, the Bronx

FUNDING

There are a variety of ways to pay for our services.

Our coaching and professional development are allowable expenditures under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA):

Title I- Part A-
Improving Basic Programs:

This program provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts/schools with a high percentage of children from low-income families, to provide all children a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, high-quality education and to close educational achievement gaps.

Our Professional Development services can align to your Schoolwide Program plan or directly relate to the needs of participating Title I students.

Title IIa:
Supporting Effective Instruction:

This program is designed to advance excellence in teaching and learning and to promote equity in educational opportunity.

Our services are consistent with the conditions for use of funds in many of the areas outlined under the state guidance section: Personalized Professional Development.

Title III- Part A:
Supporting English Language Learners:

This program is designed to provide effective services that improve the English language proficiency and academic achievement of English Language Learners (ELLs).

Our Professional Development services can align to your Schoolwide Program plan or directly relate to the needs of participating Title I students.

Please contact us for more information and to discuss your needs.

Head Start programs can leverage federal Head Start funds to partner with us. Cooke Institute’s early childhood services help meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards by implementing Practice-Based Coaching.

Please contact us for more information and to discuss your needs.

Many private foundations offer grant opportunities for educational coaching and professional development programs. Once you’ve identified a grant that would be a good fit for us to partner on, we are happy to work with you throughout the proposal process pro bono.

Please contact us for more information and to discuss your needs.

Some of our partners have an allocated budget per year for instructional coaching and professional development aligned to their school’s Professional Learning goals.

Please contact us for more information and to discuss your needs.

Looking for more information or to discuss your needs?