“Elena has done it again. Arise is a literal masterpiece. Full of deeply personal reflections, radically supportive scripts, and loads of opportunities to explore one’s patterns, beliefs, and experiences, this book is a game-changer for any human being. I even used the strategies with my teenagers and partner; this content is not just applicable in a professional setting, but in a personal context as well.”

—Maia Heyck-Merlin, Founder & CEO, The Together Group; author of The Together Teacher, The Together Leader, and The Together Teammate

“Since the pandemic, schools and organizations have often struggled to rebuild community and trust. Arise builds on the foundations of Elena Aguilar's impactful prior work, giving practical strategies and case studies to support the well-being of students, teachers, and administrators alike.”

—Liz SoHyeon Kleinrock

“Want change? No one knows more about leveraging the human side of change than Elena. In her deeply optimistic new book Arise, Elena shows how Transformational Coaching—yes, coaching that is literally transformational—is the key to improving teacher practice and creating a school community where we all thrive. This book is exactly what we need so our students and our schools can flourish.”

—Jenn David-Lang, Founder, THE MAIN IDEA and Learn & Lead Masterminds

“Arise is an incredible compilation of ALL Elena's best work. This book will help any coach or supervisor continually practice becoming a better coach for their team and help any organization get closer to actualizing the full potential of each human being.  To ‘Arise’ means to put in the effective effort and reflection necessary to improve yourself as a coach and immensely transform the lives of those who work with one another to improve systems for all of us.  If we believe in ourselves and others desire to bring and become our best selves, we will all Arise!”

—Shanie J. Keelean, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Rush-Henrietta Central School District

“Arise should be required reading for all coaches and instructional leaders! It addresses the too often overlooked nuisances and soft skills of being an instructional coach head on, in an authentic way. It provides its readers with emotionally intelligent strategies and mindset shifts that are vital if you are serious about becoming a transformational coach.”

—Deidra Fogarty, Black Girls Teach

“Elena Aguilar has beautifully and cogently unpacked the ‘behind the scenes’ thinking and skills that will assist any coach who desires to transform education through her coaching conversations.  With its use of real-world scenarios and practical coaching language supports, Arise will support every reader, no matter her role, in developing her coaching mindset (and skill set).  Brava and thank you, Elena for another wonderful contribution to our field.”

—Jennifer Abrams, Communications Consultant and author of several books, including Having Hard Conversations and Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work 

“Elena’s human-centered approach is revolutionary, and offers an accessible path to the nuances of transformational coaching and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.”

—Angela Watson, Founder of TruthforTeachers.com

“As a school principal, I find Arise to be a must-read, transformative coaching guide that sharply focuses on emotions, behaviors, and beliefs to establish systems that support effective coaching and staff development. This book is essential for every school leader committed to educational equity—every child, every day.”

—James Allrich, Principal, Argyle Middle School; Maryland Principal of the Year (2023)

“This phenomenal book sets the bar high, calling in every educator and coach to recognize the power of showing up and removing barriers for students even if it requires our own shift, vulnerability, and discomfort. With Arise, Elena inspires all of us to create conditions for positive transformation for our students (and ourselves) to explore, learn, and thrive.”

—Danielle Nava-Mijares, CEO & Educational Strategist, Nava Consulting LLC

“At a time when educational coaches are told they must help clients interpret data, navigate divisive politics, and implement revolving improvement initiatives, Elena Aguilar reminds us that just as effective educators strive to educate the whole child, we must support the whole adult educating the child. Arise is a brilliant, beautiful, and hopeful synthesis of Elena Aguilar’s prior work and experiences. It is the definitive guidebook to transformational coaching. If you want to coach people instead of initiatives, this book is for you.”

—Brendan Wilson, Principal Coach, Anchorage School District

“Aguilar’s Arise reminds us to trust teachers. In this book, her transformative coaching model is elevated as she reaffirms personhood as the path to creating the conditions that allow teachers to do their best thinking in pursuit of improving their practice.”

—Zaretta Hammond, teacher-educator and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

“Arise is a revelation. This book is an invaluable gift for coaches in any field, but particularly education, Arise isn’t a toolbox, it’s a profound invitation. It challenges and supports its readers to build and sustain relationships and communities that foster learning and belonging. In this beautiful, rejuvenating text, Elena Aguilar offers a blueprint for building a better world—one where every child is valued, every adult is a partner for transformation, and every human being’s dignity is treasured.”

—Garrett Bucks, author of The Right Kind of White and founder of The Barnraisers Project

“Arise is a comprehensive resource for those committed to supporting pre-service teachers through collaborative coaching conversations. Elena’s guidance has transformed my approach to interacting with student teachers, creating conditions where self-awareness, equitable practices, and resilience flourish so that everyone involved can truly thrive.”

—Kathrina Mendez, lecturer & Supervisor of Elementary Education, University of California, San Diego

“The incomparable coach extraordinaire, Elena Aguilar, beautifully combines narrative, theory, and practice to guide educational leaders on how to center humanity, equity, and love in their coaching so that they can create the conditions for adults and students alike to thrive.”

—Dena Simmons, Ed.D., Founder and Executive Director, LiberatED