Take This Into Consideration For Teacher Leadership

By TeacherSolutions 2030 Team

2/26/13

LeadershipStressHey John,

Thank you for your latest post, and starting us on the conversation about The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Challenges for Student Leadership. One of the other major findings we see in this survey is the set of critical points made about teacher leaders:

  1. Half (51%) of teachers are at least somewhat interested in teaching in the classroom part-time combined with other roles or responsibilities in their school or district, including 23% who are extremely or very interested in this option.
  2. Most teachers (69%) say they are not at all interested in becoming a principal.
  3. Teachers are most likely to say it is very important for a principal to have been a classroom teacher (79%) and give less importance to leading the development of strong teaching capacity across the school (69%) and using data about student performance to improve instruction (53%).

These three pieces can either lend themselves to an improved school culture where we innovate on teacher leadership … or perpetuate the idea that teacher leaders are just assistant principals with less pay.

Currently, the term “teacher leadership” varies from giving a few teachers a bunch of titles to a full-blown teacher-run schools, and everywhere in between. For instance, New York City recently implemented a pilot teacher leadership program where they would work in the classroom for around half the time and, for the other half, do leadership-type activities, all negotiated between central offices, principals, and the teacher leaders.

This sounds amazing, and familiar to the ideas we had a few years back.

Yet, in programs like these, I wonder if they’re trained as teacher leaders or as assistant principals, learning how to speak to teachers from on high instead of as a liaison between parties. I wonder if some principals actually let those leaders attend to their teaching load, however “light” the program seems.

I wonder if teachers who are deemed teacher leaders understand why so many of us put the word teacher in front of the word leader when talking about teacher leadership.

This falls on some of our colleagues too, who jump right into the teacher leadership role and misunderstand what comes with the title of “teacher leader.” The perception is that, yes, they will lead as teachers. No teacher should have to feel reserved or voiceless when it comes to their professional opinion, but fellow teachers do value expertise and approach when it comes to leadership, no matter who it comes from.

If school systems don’t do a better job of defining teacher leadership, then we should recognize that no one will want to take on teacher leadership, similar to what’s happened with leadership period.

*** Photo courtesy of Carolyn Dickson ***

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Comments

Dear Teachersolutions 2030

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2013-02-27 16:50

Dear Teachersolutions 2030 Team,
I first clicked on this article because I am interested in learning about teacher leadership. I agree with the points that you make concerning the advantages of teachers being involved in leadership style activities outside of just teaching in the classroom. I believe these types of activities can greatly increase a teachers effectiveness in the classroom.

Teachers as Principles

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2013-02-27 17:02

I think it is almost needed for a Principle to once be a teacher, there is a certain understanding that needs to be met when dealing with issues and without being a former teacher they will never understand where the teachers are coming from. Yes, most teachers never aspire to become principles, for obvious reasons, but, I feel it is crucial to be able to have a system built off of former teachers. In regards to "Teacher Leaders" the name fits the criteria, the one who holds the position is and should be a speaker for the teachers and no other cause, and they should be willing to do this without hesitation. Teachers need a standing figure to compile thoughts and feelings towards for subjects that impact their work and the children they teach.

Teacher Leadership

Submitted by Lourdes (not verified) on Fri, 2013-03-22 18:00

Hello, thanks to your team for the article. I find it very interesting. I am a preschool teacher, I am currently studying a Master to support my students in their learning journey.

I know many directors who are assigned to that position for being the most ancient in the school, some have done an excellent job others make the attempt.

Certainly there are many teachers who are leaders and they are the assistant principals, some-times these teachers do more than the directors themselves, but I think it makes them great leaders, a leader is someone who goes beyond the classroom , and this is a beautiful oppor-tunity to serve the educational community and these teachers commendably honor their pro-fession by serving others .As a teacher I think it is not necessary to be the headmaster to con-tribute to your learning community, in my opinion while more teacher leaders cooperate in the community is better.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment.
Lourdes Geyer

response

Submitted by Lourdes (not verified) on Sat, 2013-03-23 09:48

Hello, thanks to your team for the article. I find it very interesting. I am a preschool teacher, I am currently studying a Master to support my students in their learning journey.

I know many directors who are assigned to that position for being the most ancient in the school, some have done an excellent job others make the attempt.

Certainly there are many teachers who are leaders and they are the assistant principals, sometimes these teachers do more than the directors themselves, but I think it makes them great leaders, a leader is someone who goes beyond the classroom , and this is a beautiful opportunity to serve the educational community and these teachers commendably honor their profession by serving others .As a teacher I think it is not necessary to be the headmaster to contribute to your learning community, in my opinion while more teacher leaders cooperate in the community is better.

Thank you very great discussion.
Lourdes Geyer

Teacher Leadership

Submitted by Lourdes (not verified) on Sat, 2013-03-23 16:46

Hello, thanks to your team for the article. I find it very interesting. I am a preschool teacher, I am currently studying a Master to support my students in their learning journey.

I know many directors who are assigned to that position for being the most ancient in the school, some have done an excellent job others make the attempt.

Certainly there are many teachers who are leaders and they are the assistant principals, sometimes these teachers do more than the directors themselves, but I think it makes them great leaders, a leader is someone who goes beyond the classroom , and this is a beautiful opportunity to serve the educational community and these teachers commendably honor their profession by serving others .As a teacher I think it is not necessary to be the headmaster to contribute to your learning community, in my opinion while more teacher leaders cooperate in the community is better.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment.
Lourdes Geyer

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