Coaching and Professional Learning for Districts and Schools

Driving student success through building teacher capacity

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Administrators

Personalized, professional development and coaching for district and school level administrators, focusing on our Kids First L.E.A.D Framework

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Educators

Customized, professional learning and embedded-coaching for teachers, focusing on our Kids First T.E.A.C.H Framework

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Students

Customized learning experiences for students, focusing on our TARGETed support

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Our mission

At Kids First Education, our mission is simple: placing kids first in every aspect of teaching and learning. Founded by career educators Chuck Poer and Cellie Scoggin, who are deeply committed to transforming education, we partner with PreK -12 schools and districts to provide innovative, results-driven solutions for administrators, teachers, and students.

With decades of experience, our dedicated coaches and specialists bring passion, expertise, and a relentless drive to improve student outcomes. We offer personalized instructional coaching, leadership development, and curriculum support, delivering effective solutions for all educational stakeholders.

 

Meet the Team

At Kids First Education, we are committed to:

  • Empowering educators with high-quality professional learning and instructional support
  • Driving measurable student achievement through research-based teaching strategies
  • Building strong partnerships with schools to foster lasting, positive change

Our work is fueled by a genuine love for kids and a belief in their limitless potential because when we put KIDS FIRST, everything else falls into place.

Our Unshakeable Mission: Our WHY

To equip all educational stakeholders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to drive meaningful student success – cultivating Champions for Kids

Our Proven Approach: Our HOW

To assess the unique needs of districts and schools, then collaborate, create, and commit to tailored solutions that drive intentional, lasting impact

Our Forward-Focused Vision: Our WHAT

To stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving educational landscape, delivering high-quality professional learning services and products that foster sustained growth and success

Explore Solutions

At Kids First Education, our work is grounded in evidence-based research and driven by data that matters. We believe that every instructional decision should be informed by what works—and we stay current with the latest research to ensure our strategies are not only proven but also practical. From our materials and resources to professional learning experiences, we use meaningful data to identify needs, monitor progress, and guide continuous improvement. This intentional, research-aligned approach helps us support educators in making the highest-impact decisions for students—every step of the way.

Research and Data
[Our] Kids First Coach was able to support the teachers with the development of [a] writing rubric, creating writing posters to support the students’ writing vocabulary, as well as helping us develop a “Community of Writers” Wall to inspire students when writing. … The Kids First ongoing support is very effective and needed to help [us] better understand the HQIM [we are using].
Rachel Strong, General Studies, 1st Grade Teacher, Pine Bluff Schools Southwood, AR
Our tutor was punctual, great management, sessions were engaging, relationships built and students LOVED their sessions…GREAT experience!
Larissa Harrison, Principal, North Little Rock School District, Seventh Street Elementary, AR
Over the past three years we have received positive feedback from all teachers and administrators working directly with Kids First [coaches]. School receiving Kids First coaching support last year showed substantial gains in both achievement and growth scores on the state assessment. I attribute much of our success to the work of Kids First. We are looking forward to furthering our work with Kids First this coming school year.
Maria Johnson, Assistant Superintendent, Dothan City Schools, AL
…We have observed growth among both our teachers and students in targeted areas. Teachers have benefited from instructional support and professional development opportunities, while students have shown progress in key academic skills. Kids First Education has provided resources and insights that have contributed to our ongoing efforts to enhance teaching and learning at our school.
Zane Thomas, Principal, Houston High School, MS
Guided by Kids First the past two academic years, the services and support we have received for our district initiative to fully develop and implement a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) are showing not only an immediate impact in providing students intervention support, but a far reaching influence for all members of our learning community as we lean into solid data decision making and embracing a proactive/preventative model rather than a reactive approach to support our students.
Angela M. Jones, Lead District Interventionist, Copiah County School District, MS
Early in the school year, I was still familiarizing myself with the complexity of the curriculum, which left me feeling overwhelmed. [My Kids First coach] provided invaluable support by stepping in to guide the lesson, for which I was deeply grateful.
Cassie King, Clarendon High School
Sometimes, when consultants come in, they bring unrealistic expectations…. My coaching partnership … was a very positive and beneficial experience. She provided clear, practical strategies and valuable feedback that helped me grow as an educator. Her knowledge of the curriculum and testing expectations was especially helpful in developing my instructional approach. I truly appreciated her support, and I feel more confident in my ability to help my students succeed because of her guidance.
Rachel King, West Marion Middle School, Marion County School District, Mississippi
After every meeting my coach has emailed me with a debrief and review of best practices if needed. Even a veteran of 21 years like myself needs a little reminder of those sometimes.
Katrina Zachary, Clarendon High School
After our debriefs, I was better prepared on follow-up lessons and determining if I needed to reteach a lesson or use small group intervention for struggling students.
Deborah Clark, Deborah Clark
Each debriefing includes a review of our current progress in the curriculum, an outline of the upcoming steps, and a general overview of the assessment. Additionally, [my Kids First coach] provides helpful suggestions, and all of my questions are addressed thoroughly.
Cassie King, Clarendon High School
Before our first major essay assignment, [my Kids First coach] ensured I was fully prepared by providing an outline of key points to address, along with a reference from the textbook to guide both myself and the students. During the next visit, she modeled and co-taught a lesson, walking the class through the writing process while informally assessing students' understanding of each phase through interactive engagement.
Cassie King, Clarendon High School
She showed me how what we discussed could be presented to the students during the first class, making it effortless for me to do it during the next two classes.
Shantell Smith, Kipp Delta Public Schools
If there was a time that students continued to struggle with understanding a particular skill, [my Kids First coach] would ask if she could show a strategy that might support their learning. I was most thankful for offering her support and asking if it was okay. This showed respect to me as a teacher which in return built great rapport with me and the students.
Deborah Clark, Deborah Clark
As a veteran teacher new to teaching English this year, I have had many opportunities to receive targeted support that has fostered both my professional growth and the quality of instruction I provide. This support has included guidance on curriculum structure, pacing, and planning. Once I became familiar with the curriculum resources, the main challenge was determining how to effectively incorporate them into daily lessons without overwhelming myself or my students. Throughout this process, [my Kids First coach] has been instrumental in offering the support and confidence-building I needed to navigate this transition successfully.
Cassie King, Clarendon High School
During our goal setting discussions, we set goals on what standards should be taught and when. We also discussed individual goals for students that were struggling. One particular goal for our sixth graders was to become fluent with multiplication facts to support them with long division.
Deborah Clark, Deborah Clark
The coaching relationship I have with [my Kids First coach] is a true partnership. She consistently maintains professionalism, and I always feel fully supported. I never feel intimidated or as though I’m being "evaluated," but instead, I receive constructive feedback, thoughtful suggestions, valuable resources, and engaging dialogue during each interaction.
Cassie King, Clarendon High School
During our debrief, [my Kids First coach] and I discussed the things that went well as well as the things that she noticed students were struggling with. A plan was created for skills that needed to be addressed in order to close learning gaps.
Deborah Clark, KIPP Delta College Preparatory School
After each observation, we engaged in a debriefing session to reflect on the lesson's effectiveness. This included discussing strengths, areas for improvement, and aligning on specific goals for future lessons. Earlier in the school year, [my Kids First coach] modeled strategies to address any challenges, followed by co-teaching to implement those strategies. Afterward, we reconvened for another debrief to assess progress and adjust as needed for continued growth.
Cassie King, Clarendon High School
[My Kids First coach] is very proficient. Her expertise and dynamism have helped me hone my skills as an educator in many different aspects.
Joy Camelle Minoza, KIPP Delta Public Schools
The feedback that I have received from the Districts utilizing Kids First has been positive. Additionally, one of our Content Specialists has collaborated with the Kids First Coaches and they have aligned their work so that it is more meaningful and supportive for the teachers.
Kelsey Riley, Great Rivers Educational Service Cooperative, Arkansas
Having a veteran teacher be able to show me what works and have the data to back it was invaluable.
Matthew Stafford, East Marion Middle School, Marion County, Mississippi
[My Kids First coach] came to us in a time of great need. Despite student behavior, she has persisted in helping our kids keep up with the math curriculum. She has introduced games like Blooket to the classroom during intervention periods which has helped profoundly with student engagement. She has also been helpful with discipline and classroom management, providing recommendations for handling certain types of behavior, which I really appreciate as a second year teacher.
Hunter Moffett, KIPP Delta College Preparatory School
[My Kids First coach] has been great at giving me advice and reminders of best practices. She has also been a lifesaver at helping me develop resources that are both rigorous and engaging for my students. Having multiple grades to plan for is a struggle for time and attention, but having this extra set of hands/time has really helped me with my current novel studies.
Katrina Zachary, Clarendon High School
[My Kids First coach] has been an incredible mentor during my first year of teaching, providing me with invaluable guidance and support. She has shared numerous ideas and effective strategies for teaching, lesson planning, and pacing, helping me build confidence in the classroom. Her encouragement and expertise have made a significant impact on my growth as an educator, and I am truly grateful for her mentorship.
Shantell Smith, KIPP Delta Public Schools
[My Kids First coach] is absolutely wonderful. She is very knowledgeable of her content area and uses effective learning strategies to support both students and staff. The children were very receptive of her and were excited to receive her feedback. She used proximity to make sure that she was supporting every student. She never hesitated to help in any capacity that was needed in the classroom.
Deborah Clark, KIPP Delta College Preparatory School

Let’s improve teaching and learning together

KIDS FIRST Education’s low overhead and research-based efficiency help us to provide high quality services with competitive pricing. Our Teaching and Learning Solutions are priced by the full day and by the half day per consultant. Virtual training options are available.

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