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The Teacher–Child Interaction Training program (TCIT) is an evidence-based intervention that coaches effective strategies for managing disruptive classroom behavior (Garbacz et al., 2014). However, its widespread implementation is limited due to its costly and time-consuming model of delivery. This pilot study investigated whether the Teacher–Child Interaction Training- Group Coaching (TCIT-GC), a briefer, cost-effective adaptation of TCIT, would be effective in improving classroom climate, student behavior and professional quality of life among educators.

TCIT-GC is a remote, manualized, 8-week adaptation of TCIT. Participants included 41 educators representing both public and private K-12 schools from 11 public school districts. TCIT-GC comprised eight synchronous group sessions via Zoom, four Didactic sessions and four Consultation/Coaching sessions for trainer feedback, paired with asynchronous skill practice. This contrasted with the fully synchronous, one-on-one, in vivo coaching format of traditional TCIT. Participants practiced applying skills with students between Zoom sessions and documented the effectiveness of their acquired skills across various measures.

Results of pre- and post-training comparisons showed significant improvements in reported classroom functioning, positive student behaviors, perceived effectiveness of TCIT-GC skills and significant reductions in problematic student behaviors and discipline use. Findings showed significant improvement in compassion satisfaction. No significant changes in levels of other ProQOL scales were observed.

Disruptive student behavior takes a toll on the educational experience of misbehaving students, their classmates and educators. Results of this pilot study supported TCIT-GC as a feasible and promising behavioral health model that warrants further study.