18.071-11 - Structural, Conceptual, Interpersonal, and Critical Challenges to Teacher Leadership

• In Event: 18.071 - Roundtable Session 5

Session Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

Teacher-leadership is increasingly viewed as an essential component of providing students from all backgrounds with culturally relevant, rigorous education. In this panel presentation, we discuss current challenges to effective teacher-leadership from the following perspectives: structural, interpersonal, conceptual, and critical. Structural challenges include ongoing concerns related to funding, compensation, training, and overall support. Interpersonal challenges involve navigating complex dynamics of distributed leadership while facilitating effective, high-leverage work with diverse colleagues. Conceptual challenges refer to ongoing discussion – in scholarly circles, broader media, and within schools – of who teacher-leaders are (and aren’t), and what their responsibilities should be. Critical challenges include teacher-leaders working within pre-defined pedagogical and cultural parameters while attempting to enact necessary and sometimes uncomfortable change.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education / Division K - Section 2: Teacher Leadership Within and Beyond the Classroom (teachers as leaders, researchers, policy makers, community activists, and decision-makers)

Chairs

• Alex Alexandrou, Freelance Academic

• Ken Jones, Professional Development in Education

Papers

• Teacher Leadership as Willingness to Learn in the Presence of Teachers and Students - Jason M. Margolis, Duquesne University

• Theorizing Teacher Leadership Development Through Personal and Professional Growth - Alex Alexandrou, Freelance Academic; Philip E. Poekert, University of Florida

• Understanding Interpersonal Dynamics of Teacher Leadership Through Relational Models Theory - Sylvia Stralberg Bagley, University of Washington - Seattle