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The Teacher Leader:Supporting School and Student Success
Dr. Len Goduto, Dr. Judith Nappi,
Maria Kruzdlo and Katherine Santini
Agenda
What is teacher leadership?
What does teacher leadership look like in the 21st
Century?
Why teacher leadership?
What leadership activities/roles are available in schools?
How do we support teacher leaders in our schools?
What is Teacher Leadership?
“Teacher leadership is the process by which teachers, individually or collectively, influence their colleagues, principal, and other members of the school communities to improve teaching and
learning practices with the aim of increased student learning and achievement.”
From meta-analysis of teacher leadership research by York-Barr and Duke (2004)
Why Teacher Leaders?
Assisting supervisors and administrators with curricular and
instructional support
Grass roots - change goes furthest when it comes from
within and offers the widest reach
Fosters professional growth through collaboration and
continuous learning
Promotes a positive organizational culture and climate
Ten Roles of Teacher Leaders
1. Resource Provider
2. Instructional Specialist
3. Curriculum Specialist
4. Classroom Supporter
5. Learning Facilitator
6. Mentor
7. School Leader
8. Data Coach
9. Catalyst for Change
10.Learner
Harrison & Killion (2007). Ten roles for teacher leaders. Educational Leadership
Mentor
Serve as a role model and support system for novice
teachers
Acclimate new teachers to a new school and staff
Advise new teachers about effective instruction, grade-level
curriculum, school procedures, and best practices
Provide support to teachers in need of improvement
What to Watch Out For
Identify a mentor that is best suited to work with a new
teacher based on their needs/growth
Tapping into different teachers’ strengths and personalities
to make a good match
Administrative follow-through and goal setting
Examples of Teacher Leaders
as Mentors
Informal Teacher Leaders:
Formal mentor
Building-based, daily support
Content or grade-specific
guidance and support
Formal Teacher Leaders:
Formal mentor
Work with novice or
teachers in need of
improvement
Lead district-wide first
year teacher training
Resource Provider
Guide teachers by providing instructional
materials, websites, exemplary lesson plans
Extend teacher learning by sharing professional
resources such as articles, new approaches to
learning, and assessment tools
Act as a sounding board for teacher questions
and concerns
Assisting teachers in analyzing data to improve
instruction
What to Watch Out For
Administrative review of resources aligned with
philosophy and standards
Knowing each staff member’s strengths and tapping
“experts” in certain areas
The wrong teacher leader can undo positive strides
made earlier
What to Watch Out For
Examples of Teacher Leaders
as Resource Providers
Informal Teacher Leaders:
Content or grade-level
specific resources
Building-based
presentations and
workshops
Share exemplary lessons
and activities
Formal Teacher Leaders:
Newsletters, blogs, websites
Share professional articles
and best practices in
education
Curriculum Specialist
Serve on curriculum committees or lead curriculum
efforts
Lead teachers to understand content standards, follow
the adopted curriculum, use common pacing charts, and
develop shared assessments
Answer questions regarding the curriculum, provide
resources to support the curriculum, offer professional
development for those implementing new curriculum
What to Watch Out For
Administrators should make it a point to
acknowledge leaders as resources in such a way that
staff are encouraged and expected to use them
Provide teacher leaders with the use of flex time,
coverage, and scheduled time during staff meetings
to share findings and provide specialist support
Examples of Teacher Leaders
as Curriculum Specialists
Informal Teacher Leaders:
Serve on curriculum
committees
Act as instructional support
when implementing new
curriculum
Open classroom as lab
class for teachers to
observe
Formal Teacher Leaders:
Lead curriculum development
efforts and committees
Act as the “first contact” to
support supervisors
Become an expert in content
and curriculum
Provide coaching experiences
Catalyst for Change
Facilitate the dissemination of information
Organize movement to adopt a new policy
Have a strong commitment to continued improvement
and seek learning opportunities for the latest and
greatest approaches and practices
What to Watch Out For
Provide experiences that foster teachers’ interests to
encourage positive change
Administrators must be committed to implementing
changes that are being recommended
Administrative follow-through to support teacher
leaders in gaining buy-in from teachers and carrying
out change
Examples of Teacher Leaders
as Catalysts for Change
Informal Teacher Leaders:
Sharing a new best practice
learned at a workshop with
staff
Serve as school leader of
Professional Learning
Community to explore
change
Formal Teacher Leaders:
Learning about new
approaches and best
practices to provide
professional development to
both administrators and staff
Leading staff development
and district committees
Building Teacher Leaders
Think - Pair - Share
How can we create a structure that will allow for teacher
leadership?
What would teacher leaders look like in your school?
Why Teacher Leaders?
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world:
indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead
Anthropologist
Leonard Goduto, Ed.D.Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Graduation
Education, Leadership, and Counseling
Judith Stegmaier-Nappi, Ed.D.Assistant Professor
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www.rider.edu/teacherleader
RiderSchoolofEducation
@RiderSchoolofEd
