From Policy to Practice: Investigating Teacher Leadership as a Lever of Educational Change

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Teacher leadership is a key strategy for strengthening the educator workforce. Research suggests that opportunities for achievement, recognition, advancement, and growth matter to high performers in education (Ableidinger & Kowal, 2010). Providing teachers with leadership opportunities enables them to develop instructional alternatives and processes that lead to the development of a community of learners engaged in efforts to improve student outcomes and educational equity (Darling-Hammond, Bullmaster, & Cobb, 1995; Achinstein & Athanases, 2006). This session focuses on three unique investigations of teacher leadership and highlights findings and recommendations from unique practice and policy positions. The symposium will explore the research base, utility, and effectiveness of teacher leadership initiatives and aims to inform the future of teacher leadership policy and research.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education / Division K - Section 02: Teacher Leadership Within and Beyond the Classroom (teachers as leaders, researchers, policy makers, community activists, and decision-makers)

Chair

• Lisa Lachlan-Hache, American Institutes for Research

Papers

• Exploring Effective Strategies and Resources for Supporting Teacher Leadership - Elizabeth Barkowski, American Institutes for Research

• Good to Great and Great to Influential: Teacher Leadership From the Perspectives of Exemplary Teachers - Catherine Jacques; Ellen J. Behrstock-Sherratt, American Institutes for Research; Katherine Ann Bassett, National Network of State Teachers of the Year

• Leading on Leadership: How the New York City Department of Education Implemented a Successful Teacher Leadership Program - Robert M. Stonehill, American Institutes for Research; Jenny DeMonte, American Institutes for Research; Catherine Pratt, Eskolta

Discussant

• Wendy Saur, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation