☕ Let’s Talk About Feedback

Because Some of Y’all Are Still Doing It Wrong

One of the biggest mistakes leaders make isn’t avoiding feedback.
It’s giving feedback the way they like to receive it… and then wondering why the teacher across from them suddenly looks like they want to crawl under the desk.

Listen.
Feedback that lights one teacher up can shut another one all the way down.
Some folks want it straight, no chaser. Others need a little warmth, a little context, a little “Hey, you’re actually amazing, but let’s tweak this one thing.”

And if you don’t know the difference?
You’re not coaching, you’re accidentally creating chaos.

The Coffee Test: Back‑to‑School PD That Actually Hits

One of my favorite Back‑to‑School activities is something simple, fun, and wildly effective: Feedback Styles.

We use a coffee analogy (because teachers run on caffeine and vibes), and everyone discovers how they actually like their feedback served.
More importantly, they learn how their colleagues take theirs too.

Suddenly your team has a shared language.
Coaching conversations get smoother.
Trust gets stronger.
And leaders stop unintentionally stepping on people’s emotional toes.

Because here’s the truth:
Teachers process feedback differently. What motivates one person might make another shut down and start Googling “jobs that don’t involve humans.”

☕ Five Ways to Give Feedback That Doesn’t Make People Spiral

Be specific

“Great job” is cute, but it’s not coaching. Tell them what was great and why it mattered.

Explain the why

Even the direct folks appreciate context. Nobody wants mystery‑meat feedback.

Lead with strengths

Start with what they’re doing well. Then offer one focused area for growth.

Ask before you tell

“How did you feel that lesson went?” opens the door for reflection instead of defensiveness.

Know when to pause

Not every convo needs a solution right now. Some teachers just need a minute to breathe.

These tiny shifts?
They change everything.

Why This Matters (Especially for Leadership Teams)

This activity is a Back‑to‑School favorite because it gives teams a shared language around feedback. Instead of wondering why someone got defensive, your staff starts understanding how different people receive coaching best.

When we change the way we deliver feedback,
we change the way people grow.

Feedback isn’t just about saying the right thing.
It’s about making sure the person in front of you can actually hear it.

Here’s to a School Year That Builds People, Not Barriers
May your conversations be clear, kind, and real.
May your feedback land with intention instead of impact trauma.
And may your leadership create classrooms where teachers feel supported enough to thrive — not just survive.

☕ Cheers to a year of growth, joy, and coaching that actually works.

Dr. Deonna Smith

P.S. If this made you think of a school leader who needs a little encouragement before Back‑to‑School season, send it their way. Joy multiplies when you share it.