Wax On, Wax Off: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Instructional Coaching in Gifted Education

Instructional coaching in gifted education is currently few and far between, and when it is available, it is not always fostered through a foundation of cultural responsiveness. This manuscript addresses this gap by providing an innovative framework that builds upon the established Gifted and Talented Coaching Circuit of Mofield and Phelps (2023), intentionally reframed for effectiveness within culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse (CLED) communities. The proposed model provides strategic reflective questions that serve as the foundation of the framework, reflecting the heart of true cognitive coaching by guiding practitioners toward critical self-discovery and bias mitigation. In anchoring the coaching cycle in the pursuit of equity and belonging, this anti-oppressive model ultimately aims to awaken and inspire more culturally responsive gifted educators within the educational system, ensuring that the brilliance of every child is recognized, cultivated, and valued.