In Their Words: What Teacher Leaders Need to Successfully Move Their Schools

• In Event: 75.022 - Examining Teacher Leadership Initiatives From Programs to Policies

Abstract

Today’s teachers increasingly want opportunities to take on non-administrative leadership roles that enable them to have a broader impact beyond their own classrooms. Fueled in part by that rising demand, the past decade has seen a growing attention to, and investment in, teacher leadership. In the current study, we administered a national survey and conducted a series of focus groups with teacher leaders across several states to explore views of teacher leadership. Insights and recommendations from these teacher leaders are included to inform policymakers, school systems, and educators of best practices regarding the use of formal teacher leadership roles as a school-based strategy that can improve teaching and accelerate learning.

Authors

• Gary Stark, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching

• Tanee Hudgens, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching

• Joshua H. Barnett, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching