Turn Toward the Light: Coaching for Connection in the College Classroom

Hello, I’m Dr. Angela Nagel from Western Kentucky University. My poster, Turn Toward the Light: Coaching for Connection in the College Classroom, explores how resiliency coaching practices, originally developed for teacher candidates, can be reimagined to help all students thrive in higher education. I’ve spent over 27 years in education, from classroom teaching to instructional coaching to university-level teacher preparation. That journey has shown me firsthand how powerful relational connection is—not just for K-12 students, but for college learners, too. As faculty, we know that students are far more likely to succeed when they feel safe, seen, and supported. But knowing that and having the tools to make it happen are two very different things. This project introduces a simple, adaptable coaching framework built around the idea that resilience isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about turning toward thelight, a reminder that the challenges our students face don’t make them broken. They make them human. On the poster you’ll see practical tools like metaphor-based check-ins, structured reflection prompts, and feedback framing that reduces shame and builds confidence. This work is personal. Coaching for connection is how I’ve learned to stay in the work, and help others do the same. The outcomes are clear: when students feel connected, they persist through challenges, take academic risks, and grow more resilient. My hope is that you’ll leave with a few easy practices you can adapt to your own teaching context—practices that strengthen community and connection while supporting both student and faculty well-being.