The Clinton Board of Education took a step forward Tuesday night to better equip its teachers in the classroom, with the long-term goal of improving achievement scores at the elementary grade levels.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Assistant Superintendent Karrah Jensen told the Hart Media Group that instructional coaches should be viewed as teachers alongside teachers.

An instructional coach will provide a level of ongoing support that sometimes temporary curriculum installation cannot. Jensen explains that the instructional coaches will provide many different variations of support to teachers.

According to Jensen, an instructional coach will help students have a similar experience across all grade levels in how the material is presented to them. She points out that this hasn't always been in alignment, which impacts student achievement.

While some may question the fundamental role of an instructional coach and reduce it to training a staff member who should not need assistance of this kind, Jensen sees it differently. She compares it to learning new systems in other jobs.

The Board of Education approved the hiring unanimously on Tuesday. The district is moving Elizabeth Pertl from a third-grade teacher to an instructional coach. Additionally, Cassie Mann was approved, who will join the Clinton staff next year.