This study examined teacher leadership as a step beyond the traditional teacher role, developing a profile of the teacher leader. Formal and informal teacher leaders responded to statements that revealed identifiable descriptors of characteristics or attributes of effective teacher leaders who lead beyond the classroom. These descriptors were…

This study examined the relationship between personality characteristics and National Board Certification among teachers who had achieved National Board Certification, teachers who were in the process of completing the requirements for National Board Certification, and teachers who had not attempted National Board Certification. It identified…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to uncover and describe: preservice teachers' conceptions of the role of teacher leader; their understandings of the differences between the roles of teacher leaders and principals; and their projections of themselves as teacher leaders during their first year of teaching. During one-on-one semi-structured…

This paper describes a critical, collaborative, qualitative approach to action research that involved university and school system personnel. The paper discusses researchers' engagement with narratives and conversations during their study, examining how they gained critically reconstructive insights into the teachers' world of curriculum decision…

This study examined the short- and long-term effects of the Samford Summer Institute for Teacher Excellence (SSITE 2000), which created a climate for teacher leadership and for educators to connect with leadership resources. It investigated how two teachers and their principal networked with other school leaders, learned from successful leadership…

This report has two main purposes: to examine the perceived impact of teacher leadership, and to explore the conditions in schools that support or constrain teacher leadership. It discusses peer-nominated, nonadministrative leaders; leadership practices; and sources of power. The report is based on a multisite case study of three schools, serving…

This paper discusses the emerging national issues surrounding supervision of paraeducators in the classroom and provides initial guidance on practical ways to supervise effectively. It begins by describing the current situation in the U.S., focusing on two important issues: the training of teachers as supervisors and training for paraeducators.…

The study reported in this paper inquired about the extent to which perceptions of teacher leadership were influenced by factors similar to those that influence perceptions of transformational principal leadership. The study consisted of a survey of all staff members in one large school district and interviews with teachers in six secondary…

If contemporary plans for devolved decision making to schools in Australia are to be realized, the role of all teachers in curriculum decision-making processes will need to be acknowledged. This paper presents findings of a study that sought to build a theory of curriculum leadership from the teachers' own perspectives--a theory of curriculum…

This qualitative case study examines the use of teacher leaders to support fellow teachers in the implementation of a standards-based mathematics curriculum. Empirical and theoretical research advocate that teacher leaders need to internalize and embody seven interdependent leadership roles in order to create real and sustained change. Data were…

I describe a major research program on primary mathematics in the UK, the Leverhulme Numeracy Research Program, and give a sample of some of the preliminary results. The program combines large-scale longitudinal survey and case studies, quantitative and qualitative data, and observation and intervention studies in order to try to ascertain how and…

This study examined the perceptions of school board chairs and teacher leaders regarding the work-related behaviors of Alabama's elected and appointed local school superintendents. A mailed survey sought information on: demographics; work-related behaviors identified as essential for successful school system leadership; perceptions of…

Some promising educational reforms are aimed at the classroom (strengthening the interaction between students and teachers and enhancing the curriculum). Change models most likely to succeed are those that give teachers, students, and other stakeholders a clear, common vision of their school's direction. When teachers translate visions into…

This paper presents the stories of two urban middle school science teachers, both identified as leaders in their districts. Both bring substantial expertise to science education, though neither has experienced optimal conditions for flourishing as teacher leaders. One teacher has strong content knowledge and a deep understanding of standards. The…

This paper addresses educational reform centering on teacher participation and leadership. Although schools have developed new mission statements and implemented strategic planning and site-based management in recent years, most schools are not set up to accept teachers in leadership roles. The literature suggests that our "new" schools…