Teacher Leaders: Bringing an Inquiry Focus to Professional Learning Community Conversations

• In Event: 46.045 - Teacher Leaders Engaged in Collaborative Learning

Abstract

With increasing accountability pressures, many posit school-based, collaborative learning opportunities as essential for teachers’ ongoing learning and reflection. Such models often include teacher leaders, who are intended to guide these reflective processes. This study investigates the experiences of teachers and teacher leaders engaged in weekly, team-based inquiry. Ultimately, the teacher leaders helped to keep conversations on track and focused on the questions at hand with the structure of inquiry serving as a guide for this work. As a result, participating teachers reported that team meetings served as a source of valuable learning, as they were able to work collectively with colleagues to inquire into important questions related to teaching practice.

Authors

• Megin Charner-Laird, Salem State University

• Christina L. Dobbs, Boston University

• Jacy C. Ippolito, Salem State University