Developing Teacher Leadership: (Stage 1, 11:50 AM)

• In Event: e-Lightning Ed-Talk Session 17 - Stage 1

Abstract

Teacher leadership as a means to address the complex demands of education has become an increasingly important form of leadership within K-12 schools across the United States in recent decades. Still developing, however, is a common definition of teacher leadership along with a set of empirically-supported best practices. This mixed-methods study sought to better understand the perceptions of teacher leadership. We find several common themes among focus group participants in terms of needs: 1) a recognition of formal versus informal roles, 2) a need for community building and engagement, 3) a need for tiered professional development emphasizing a social justice framework, 4) a need for support from administrators, and 5) a need to identify strategies for teacher leadership.

Authors

• James Coaxum, Rowan University

• Matthew J. Stier, University of Iowa

• Margaret Thornton, Rowan University

• Gaëtane Jean-Marie, Rowan University

• Joanne Connor, Rowan University

• David Lindenmuth, Rowan University

• JoAnn B. Manning, Rowan University

• Magdalena Martinez, Rowan University