According to the author, for any change to occur in language arts, it must originate from a classroom need and have the support of "teacher leaders" who are able to carry it forward. Learning environments would cease to exist without a teacher leading the learning. The essence of the profession is leadership, yet many teachers do not see themselves as leaders beyond the classroom setting. The term teacher leader generally describes teachers willing to take on responsibilities outside of their assigned teaching duties. The term (and position) has grown in popularity as research supports the importance of leadership in school improvement efforts. It is critical to the profession that strong teachers remain, not only in education generally but also in the classroom. To do this, opportunities to grow and contribute to the profession "outside of administration" must be identified and promoted. More teachers are needed to take on leadership roles. The challenge lies in motivating teachers to step forward despite the present obstacles. Change initiatives will require those leading to spend more time describing the vision and engaging potential teacher leaders with a call to action.