HELPING TEACHERS DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL

Presented by: Hilary A. Green

For classroom teachers, specialists, teacher assistants, office staff, and administration.

Today’s Objectives:

Understand the importance of leadership within the school environment

Examine the attributes of an effective mentor

Gain knowledge of potential challenges with a teacher leadership program

Determine responsibilities of teacher leaders

Reflect on today’s professional development to determine changes/additions to personal teaching and leadership practices

“Teacher leadership is a necessary component in improving the quality of learning in schools”

-Ackerman, R., & Mackenzie, S. (2006)

One of the most common difficulties for teachers is moving out of their comfort zones when they advocate for what they believe. Yet, authors Berry, Johnson, and Montgomery, from the article titled The Many Faces of Leadership, support the idea there is a link between the “teaching quality and student achievement.”

Rationale for implementing the Teacher Leadership Program in our school

The effect of teacher leadership

Why do we need teacher leaders?

Principals can’t do it all! It is the job of teachers to fill both formal and informal roles as a teacher leader. Danielson, C. (2007).

Where can Teacher Leadership take place?

School Literacy or Match Leader

Grade level chair

Classroom teacher and mentor for students

Attributes of an effective mentor

Some Qualities of an effective leader are: taking ownership of one’s career being active in the school and/or district having confidence identifying a change that is needed for

school improvement (Kurtz, S. 14) having a positive attitude being able to pass along important

information to others in ways that are easier to remember (Godt 56)

Road blocks along the way

Uneven distributi

on of leadersh

ip

“There needs to be a distribution of leadership to effectively promote school improvement (Phelps 120).” One person cannot possibly handle the workload of an entire school. Responsibilities should be shared

amongst the staff.

Example:

A Curriculum and Instruction Correlate Team at an elementary school created two goals that need to be accomplished by the end of the first quarter. 1. Create surveys for the staff 2. Update Science kits to make them

more useful for classroom teachers What to do?

-Split correlate into 2 teams

-Each team tackles one goal

Road blocks along the way

Other challenges may include: Creating unrealistic expectations

for the teacher leader Feelings of superiority and

dominance over others while being a teacher leader

Dishonesty among staff- slowly causing an effective teacher leadership program to fail. The social atmosphere needs to be welcoming of others.

There are several responsibilities of an effective Teacher Leader. Here are just a few…-Makes decisions that benefit all students and staff-Mentors both formally and informally-Seeks effective ways to attain a goal or solve a problem (Kurtz 12)-Provides support and encouragement for others-Good listener and communicator

Responsibilities of Teacher Leaders

-Success of the school improvement in both student achievement and staff development-Should benefit the students, staff, and local community (Harris 202)-Mentees should be able to take the success of their teacher leader role models and apply it to their own career.

Assessing an effective Teacher Leadership program

“SCHOOLS WILL IMPROVE AND TEACHER’S WILL REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL”

Danielson, C. (2007).

Final Thoughts…

Questions & Feedback

Please attach a sticky note for both plus (positive) and delta (needs improvement) for this Teacher Leadership Workshop on the poster board paper.

You may also choose to complete an online survey of this workshop on Blackboard.com under our school’s site at your convenience.

Option 1: Plus/Delta (NOW)

Option 2: Online Survey (LATER)

References

Ackerman, R., & Mackenzie, S. (2006). Uncovering Teacher Leadership. Educational Leadership, 63(8), 66-70. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Berry, B., Johnson, D., & Montgomery, D. (2005). The Power of Teacher Leadership. Educational Leadership, 62(5), 56-60. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Danielson, C. (2007). The Many Faces of Leadership. Educational Leadership, 65(1), 14-19. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database

Frost, D. (2008). 'Teacher leadership': values and voice. School Leadership & Management, 28(4), 337-352. doi:10.1080/13632430802292258. 

Godt, P. (2010). Leadership in Reading: How Can Teacher Leaders Pass Along Information to Teachers and Others in Ways that Will Be Remembered?. Illinois Reading Council Journal, 38(2), 56-61. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Harris, A. (2005). Teacher Leadership: More than Just a Feel-Good Factor?. Leadership & Policy in Schools, 4(3), 201-219. doi:10.1080/15700760500244777.

Kurtz, S. (2009). Teacher LEADERSHIP. Leadership, 39(1), 12-38. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Phelps, P. (2008). Helping Teachers Become Leaders. Clearing House, 81(3), 119-122. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.