Coaches say success characteristics of a teacher include:

• Seeing the need and purpose for this work.
• Seeing how much fun it is.
• Knowing that it is okay to make mistakes or ask dumb questions.
• Being open to learning and being helped.
• Having an existing relationship with the peer coach, if possible.
• Being committed to learning and willing to try out new things.
• Feeling okay about taking risks and failing.
• Having a flexible classroom and a willingness to change teaching style, curriculum, and scheduling.
• Being able to make use of this opportunity. For example, some teachers want a lot of training but don't ultimately incorporate technology in their classroom; a teacher who already has the classroom set up for group work and project-based learning is more likely to integrate technology into their classroom.

Teachers and coaches say success characteristics of a school include:

• A "tight" staff with a "help each other" ethic.
• A school culture that encourages teachers to ask for help.
• A school culture that is open to project-based learning.
• Teachers who see themselves as lifelong learners and who seek out new teaching strategies.
• Alignment of coaching with school/district goals, initiatives, and priorities.
• Clear school/district expectations and accountability measures for coaches and collaborating teachers.
• An invested principal who will ensure that coaching is supported as part of the school's educational plan.
• Time provided by the school/district for coaches and teachers to collaborate.
• Opportunities for flexible teacher scheduling.