By Mark
From the BadassTeacher Association to WEA to CSTP and everywhere between, regardless of positions on the "big issues," many organizations recognize that teachers are the change-makers in our system and thus should have their voices amplified and listened to.
The tougher question is how teachers do this. Many approaches are in the toolbox, from painting signs and marching to harnessing social media.
A while back, CSTP convened teachers to develop a Teacher Leadership Skills Framework that outlined the need for teacher leaders to have knowledge and skills, opportunities and roles, and mindful dispositions that triangulate to foster authentic leadership.
I'm brainstorming a project–hopefully in conjunction with CSTP and modeled to an extent from the original Auburn Teacher Leadership Academy–for my own district.
Therefore, I'm shopping for ideas: What do teacher leaders need? (Not just in terms of tangibles or trainings, but I'll take suggestions for those as well.) What books or articles are good resources to get us off to a good start? What has helped you along your path in teacher leadership?
Time. More than anything, teachers need time. After spending a week in DC working with teachers and attending a great conference, it’s amazing how much energy and enthusiasm teachers have when they get together to collaborate. Yet the demands of teaching are such that we rarely get to “lead” when we’re at our best and most energetic.
Thanks Hal, I’ll take a look at that one!
Mark, You can get a few answers to your inquiry from
“Leader of Leaders: The Handbook for Principals on the Cultivation, Support, and Impact of Teacher-Leaders” by Portner and Collins (Pearson, 2014)
Even just sharing the roles you’ve grown into (or adopted willingly, or not so willingly) would be helpful!