The literature on teacher leadership suggests that the notion has developed over time and some have argued that this development comprises three stages or "waves" that progressively delink the idea from the formal organizational hierarchy. The third wave emphasizes that teacher leadership is a process rather than a positional concept and notes…

Teacher leadership is a concept that is gaining increasing interest from both practitioners and researchers. This article presents findings from three case studies in the UK that can be characterized as exhibiting developed, emergent and restricted teacher leadership. Differences and similarities between the schools were examined, leading us to…

Describes the experience of three teacher leaders who attempt to lead from within their classrooms. Interview and biographical data indicate that these teacher leaders navigate the structure of schools, nurture relationships, model professional growth, help others with change, and challenge the status quo by raising children's voices. However,…

Educators in the United States are being asked to do more with less: school budgets are shrinking, principals are struggling to be instructional leaders in the face of huge management issues, and teachers are trying to meet the needs of increasingly diverse students at a time when a standardized, one-size-fits-all curriculum is mandated. The tenor…

Today's teachers work in an environment that requires them to meet a multitude of expectations from students, parents, principals, and the community. With the spotlight increasingly on school performance, there is a need for educational leaders to build an authentic learning climate. The fully engaged teacher leader is central to this climate.…

Challenges confronting schools worldwide are greater than ever, and, likewise, many teachers possess capabilities, talents, and formal credentials more sophisticated than ever. However, the responsibility and authority accorded to teachers have not grown significantly, nor has the image of teaching as a profession advanced significantly. The…

Purpose: This exploratory study examines conditions that lead elementary principals to support the work of school-based instructional teacher leaders. The study asks, How do principals' knowledge of teacher leadership and their interaction with teacher leaders contribute to principals' support for teacher leadership? And, How might district…

Holistically examines educational leadership based on relational learning, collaboration, connectedness, and commitment to self and others, highlighting a high school where teacher leaders participate in governance, administration, and teaching, and co-create learning environments which emphasize authentic self-expression, interpersonal…

There's nothing new about having teachers lead teams, chair departments, and manage programs, but what's never been available to schools is a framework for developing these teacher leaders and encouraging them every step of the way... until now. One of education's foremost consultants and authors lays out the foundation that every school needs for…

This article addresses the issue of preparing teachers as curriculum leaders to support the wide-ranging curriculum reforms that characterize societies in the Asian Pacific region. It draws on social cognitive theory and, in particular, on what has come to be called "teachers' sense of efficacy." The study sought to extend that research…

To increase collegiality at a rural upstate New York high school, the principal scheduled informal sessions on various subjects (daily plans, objectives, clarity, and learning principles), based on Saphier and Gower's "The Skillful Teacher" (1993). He then discovered that teacher-led presentations worked even better. (MLH)

Cultivating the "professional knowledge landscape" of schools (Clandinin & Connelly, 1995) from the perspective of insiders can enrich the leadership and curriculum fields. Toward this end, the author offers a map for becoming oriented to one teacher group's vision for improving school environments. During the summer of 2001, 33…

This newsletter defines teacher leadership and offers concrete ways teachers can step forward, sometimes out of their comfort zones, into leadership roles. In most schools, traditional structures are in place that define certain teachers as leaders such as department heads and grade-level team leaders. Many schools also have a leadership team,…

This guide is intended as a resource for school administrators, school leadership teams, and other teacher leaders as they learn about implementing professional learning teams (PLTs) in their schools. PLTs are teams of four to six teachers who come together to help each other improve student learning by changing classroom instruction. This guide…

This study examined shifts in perceptions of the meaning of leadership and necessary leadership skills held by 18 teachers in a graduate program on teacher leadership. Participants were queried twice regarding their definitions of leadership; once at the outset of their degree program and again 1 year later. In between, they took classes in…