To Wish Is Not Enough: How Flattened, Nonhierarchical Approaches to Teacher Leadership Have Failed the Movement

• In Event: Beyond the Classroom: Exploring Effects of Teacher Leadership

Abstract

The objective of this paper and presentation is to more deeply explore a crucial issue in teacher leadership research and practice – whether teacher leaders are more effective in informal settings or formal roles. This will be accomplished by first looking at the contrasting perspectives in the teacher leadership/distributed leadership literature. Then, related findings from a two-year study of teacher leadership in Washington state will be shared. As the findings of this research strongly support the notion of formalized teacher leadership, the work will conclude with recommendations for the careful defining and embedding of teacher leader roles within educational organizations. The warrants for these recommendations, as well as implications for future teacher leadership research and practice, will be included.

Authors

• Jason M. Margolis, Duquesne University

• Kristin Shawn Huggins, Washington State University