The Teacher Leadership Academy workshop put on by Kamehameha Schools Office for Educator Growth and Development introduced the important roles, functions and skills of teacher leaders. Teacher leadership is a key strategy to achieve successful student outcomes. In addition, teacher leaders can play an important role in the success of educational projects by working with administrators, fellow teachers and act as a change agent.
The workshop covered the following:
- Various roles and functions of teacher leaders within a variety of contexts, and how teacher leaders work in tandem with administrative leadership to support effective teaching and student learning.
- Knowledge, skills, and competencies that are necessary for teachers to effectively serve in leadership roles and support colleagues’ professional learning and develop a personalized professional learning plan for preparing to serve as an effective teacher leader.
- Effective facilitation and collaboration skills for engaging peers in professional inquiry, innovation, and action research focused on improving student outcomes.
- Draft theory of change and fundamental assumptions to share with administrators and colleagues that explain how enhancing teacher leadership serves as a key strategy for ensuring college and career readiness of all students.
Attributes of Teacher Leaders
- Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, Aspirations, Behaviors (KASB)
- KASBs outline competencies toward implementing teacher leadership domains
Teacher Leaders Play Numerous Roles, including:
- Data Coach
- Classroom Supporter
- School Leader
- Resource Provider
- Mentor
- Learning Facilitator
- Instructional Specialist
- Curriculum Specialist
- Catalyst for Change
- Learner
- Teacher leader roles are numerous, but should be limited to be effective
- Pausing/Listening
- Takes 3 to 5 seconds for most learners to process higher level thoughts
- Allows for differentiation so that each learner can choose the process that most meets his/her learner preference
- Paraphrasing
- Check understanding
- Organize and Connect Ideas
- Shift Level Logic
- Positive Presuppositions
- Use positive presuppositions that presume a person has capacity, positive intention, desire, and prior and ongoing consideration
- Honor the speaker by demonstrating belief or trust in the speaker
- Model acceptance and respect
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