September 10, 2026
WestEd today announced the release of My School Improvement Partner, an AI-powered coaching tool designed to provide principals with guided reflection, evidence-based resources, and structured support for school improvement. Principals can use the tool to upload school data, discuss and refine their practice, identify and track their school improvement goals, and prepare for meetings.
My School Improvement Partner was developed by WestEd’s Center for School Turnaround and Improvement (CSTI), which has provided one-on-one coaching support to principals across the country since its inception. The support provided by this new coaching tool reflects the coaching expertise of CSTI’s School Improvement Specialists and is grounded in the Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement framework.
CSTI uses the framework in partnering with states, districts, and schools to support school improvement. This work centers on 12 essential, evidence-based practices that promote systems-level change. WestEd is a nonpartisan research, development, and service agency that works to promote excellence, improve learning, and increase opportunities for children, youth, and adults.
Built to Sustain Long-Term School Improvement Efforts
My School Improvement Partner works by seeking to understand the school context from the start. Principals can upload their school improvement plans, assessment outcomes, meeting notes, and any other relevant data. “The goal is not simply to give principals a quick answer,” said CSTI Director Dr. Terry Hofer. “It is to help them think through what is happening in their school, consider the evidence, and determine the leadership move most likely to have the greatest impact.” Through ongoing, contextualized, and inquiry-based guidance, principals can reflect on their systems and refine their practice.
Early Excitement About the Potential of My School Improvement Partner for Schools, Districts, and States
Early testers of My School Improvement Partner have expressed excitement about the possibilities of the platform. “I’m really excited about this new tool, because I think for the first time, we have a tool that, utilizing AI, could be powerful enough to help with the daily whirlwind of the education system,” one tester shared.
Districts and states can also benefit from My School Improvement Partner. While the tool is designed to provide individualized coaching to principals, district- or state-level adoption can provide alignment and consistency in improvement efforts grounded in the Four Domains across multiple schools. With My School Improvement Partner, “we get the day-to-day actions in our schools closer aligned to school improvement and general improvement together,” said a state education leader.
A Consistent Thought Partner to Address School Improvement Challenges
Principals navigate multiple competing operational and instructional demands every day. My School Improvement Partner helps principals progress toward long-term goals by translating those goals into daily actions. My School Improvement Partner provides daily reflection prompts that principals can engage with as soon as they log in. The reflections are action-focused and designed to encourage a continually refined practice.
“My School Improvement Partner can help principals identify what is worth reflecting on more quickly and with greater precision,” said Hofer. “That can lead to better questions, stronger conversations, better ideas in response to challenges, and ultimately, better outcomes for students.”