Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
FOCUS
How teachers learn to lead
Programs build knowledge and skills teachers need to be influential beyond their classrooms
By Jill Harrison Berg
June 2019
Vol. 40, No. 3
While many schools are experimenting with new fads and formulas in an effort to ensure that all students receive what they need to be successful, others have begun to look anew at the resources they already have: teachers. Each teacher brings a unique combination of knowledge, skills, experiences, passions, and talents to his or her school, just as students do to their classrooms. When teachers are able to exchange expertise, challenge each other to meet high expectations, and support each other to meet them, they better serve their own students while also being a tremendous resource for improving the quality of each other’s teaching. They become teacher leaders. When teachers are able to exchange expertise, challenge each other to meet high expectations, and support each
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References
Berg, J.H. (2018). Leading in sync: Teacher leaders & principals working together for student learning. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Berg, J.H., Horn, P., Supovitz, J., & Margolis, J. (2019). Typology of teacher leadership programs (Research Report #RR 2019-1). Philadelphia, PA: Consortium for Policy Research in Education, University of Pennsylvania.
Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession. (2018). Teacher leadership skills framework. Available at cstp-wa.org/teacher-leadership/teacher-leadership-skills-framework.
Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M.E., Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute.
Johnson, S.M. (2019). Where teachers thrive: Organizing schools for success. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.
Knowles, M. (1984). Andragogy in action. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Learning Forward. (2011). Standards for Professional Learning. Oxford, OH: Author.
National Policy Board for Educational Administration. (2015). Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015. Reston, VA: Author.
Teacher Leadership Exploratory Consortium. (2011). Teacher Leader Model Standards. Carrboro, NC: Author. Available at www.ets.org/s/education_topics/teaching_quality/pdf/teacher_leader_model_standards.pdf.
Teacher Leadership Institute. (n.d.). Competencies. Available at www.teacherleadershipinstitute.org/competencies.
Jill Harrison Berg is a leadership coach, school improvement consultant, researcher, and writer committed to maximizing the leadership potential of teachers.
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