Introduction to Teacher Leadership

Catalog description

This course focuses on understanding teacher leadership and its function with the school system. EDLDR 801 Introduction to Teacher Leadership (3) EDLDR 801 Introduction to Teacher Leadership provides an orderly introduction to new conceptions of teacher leadership in schools. The course focuses on three main areas that are foundational to building understandings of teacher leadership. The first of these areas focuses on who teacher leaders are, how they become teacher leaders, and what it is that teacher leaders do. Both formal and informal roles are discussed along with professional and personal qualities that appear to distinguish teacher leaders. Finally, a clear distinction is made between formal administrative leadership, i.e., building principals and their duties, and the role of teacher leaders. The second area uses a systems perspective to focus on the organizational supports and capacities that are necessary for teacher leadership to grow and flourish. At the district level, the focus is on the development of supportive policies and appropriate programs. At the school level, the focus is on developing a culture of continuous learning/continuous improvement in support of teacher leadership. The third area examines not only how one develops teacher leadership but also what is necessary to sustain and nourish it in schools. The focus is on building relationships, distributing power and authority, and aligning professional learning. These three areas culminate in the development of a practice-based conceptual model of teacher leadership.