Appointment reflects school’s commitment to teacher development and student achievement
St. Paul Lutheran School has appointed veteran educator Meka Willis to serve as the school’s new instructional coach, a role designed to support teachers and improve student outcomes through focused professional development.
Willis brings over two decades of educational experience to her new position, 12 years of which has been spent at St. Paul. She has been a cornerstone of the school community, serving as art instructor for grades K-6 since 2013 and stepping in last year to teach our combined third/fourth-grade classroom.
“Just like every child has unique gifts, so does every teacher, and my job is to help them discover and develop those gifts further.”
Meka Willis
Instructional Coach and Fine Arts Teacher
Supporting Teacher Excellence
Principal Ruth Sebastian explained the decision to create this new position, citing research by Joyce and Showers that demonstrates the significant impact of instructional coaching on teacher effectiveness and student achievement.
The research Sebastian references shows that when teachers receive theory, modeling, practice, and coaching together, the impact on their knowledge, skills, and classroom practice increases dramatically compared to traditional professional development approaches.
“Our vision and goal of placing Meka in the role of instructional coach is to provide our teachers with ongoing support and feedback on instruction, resulting in improved pedagogical understanding to meet the students’ needs,” Sebastian said. “Meka will work with each teacher individually to set goals for their professional growth.”
Part of a Growing Educational Trend
St. Paul’s investment in instructional coaching aligns with a broader national trend. According to recent federal data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 59 percent of public schools now have at least one instructional coach.
Education experts recognize the critical role these positions play. As Aly Martinez, chief program officer for mathematics at Student Achievement Partners, noted in Education Week, instructional coaches serve as translators who “take resources and research that are current practices, and they translate that to the context of the site or the demographic that they’re supporting.”
A Foundation of Experience
Willis holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, Stanislaus, and earned her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and CLAD Certification from Chapman University. She worked as a grade level leader, Student Study Team member, and BTSA Support Provider during her 14-year tenure at Los Banos Elementary School. After leaving Los Banos, Mrs. Willis taught art for local homeschool programs and at St. Paul.
Mrs. Willis will continue teaching fine arts at St. Paul along with her appointment as instructional coach, combining her passion for supporting the success of fellow teachers and fostering artistic creativity in elementary-age students.
“What excites me most about this new role is the opportunity to support the amazing teachers we have here at St. Paul,” she said. “I’ve seen firsthand how dedicated our faculty is to their students’ success, and now I get to help them reach even greater heights. Just like every child has unique gifts, so does every teacher, and my job is to help them discover and develop those gifts further. We’re a family committed to providing the best possible education for our students. I look forward to continuing that mission in this new capacity.”
Investment in Excellence
Campus Executive Stuart Rawling emphasized how this appointment demonstrates St. Paul’s commitment to educational excellence.
“While many schools talk about individualized instruction and teacher development, we’re making a concrete investment to ensure it happens,” he said. “Having Meka serve as our instructional coach means every teacher at St. Paul will have dedicated, ongoing support to refine their craft and better serve our students. When our teachers grow, our students thrive, and that’s the St. Paul difference.”
Building on St. Paul’s Culture of Growth
Sebastian emphasized that the instructional coach position aligns with St. Paul’s existing culture of continuous improvement.
“Our teachers are lifelong learners. We have built a culture where teachers reflect on their instruction and adapt their learning to meet the needs of individual students,” she said. “Adding an instructional coach will give our teachers another layer of support.”
Willis will design professional learning opportunities for teachers around current research-based pedagogical practices, working individually with each educator to establish personalized professional growth goals.
“We have built a culture where teachers reflect on their instruction and adapt their learning to meet the needs of individual students.”
Ruth Sebastian, Principal
A Natural Fit
As St. Paul’s most veteran staff member, Willis brings institutional knowledge and deep understanding of the school’s mission alongside her extensive classroom experience. Her background spans multiple educational settings, from traditional elementary classrooms to specialized art instruction and homeschool environments.
The appointment reflects St. Paul’s commitment to investing in teacher development as a pathway to improved student outcomes. With Willis’s combination of classroom expertise, coaching experience, and dedication to the St. Paul community, the school is positioned to strengthen its already robust educational program through targeted teacher support and professional development.
St. Paul School and Preschool has been serving Merced County families since 1991. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA), and affiliated with the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
