The study aimed to analyze the similarities and differences between shepherd leadership and informal teacher leadership. The research method used was content analysis. The results showed that there were several similarities and differences between shepherd leadership and informal teacher leadership based on contents, characters, competencies,…

Teacher leadership has its beginnings in Western countries as a response to fast changes that have taken place in the social, political, and economic environments. Currently in the Latin American context it has become a focus of interest for educational researchers particularly because the incipient research on the topic in these contexts. This…

Building on the research about assessing teachers' leader identity, we were curious to understand how K-12 school principals perceive teachers as leaders. We used a survey research design to gather quantitative and qualitative data from K-12 school principals. We could not find any extant surveys aligned with our research focus; thus, we designed…

The rapidly changing landscape of education necessitates that schools build the capacity to swiftly pivot to new modalities, curriculum, and operations models. Much of the onus for positively responding to these changes falls to teacher-leaders. In many schools, teacher leaders are untrained and designated by virtue of their seniority. The authors…

In Massachusetts public elementary schools, teaching and leadership roles are perceived as mutually exclusive rather than interwoven. Despite credentials that would recognize Massachusetts public elementary school teachers as leaders beyond their classrooms, the leadership frame of reference attests that those who have the position, power and…

Teachers are leaders, so it seems natural to think that the act of teaching is similar to the act of leading. Research regarding leader identity in teachers, however, presents the concept of teacher leadership as opportunities for leadership beyond the classroom. Teachers who aspire to leadership roles within a school or educational organization…

Science teacher leaders have been identified as an important lever for the implementation of science education reform. However, science reform implementation is locally controlled and not uniform across districts; therefore, the work of STLs within a reform context can vary. In this descriptive case study, we explore the work of 11 science teacher…

Teacher and principal leaders at the school building level often are tasked with taking on duties in addition to their regular job serving as instructional leaders focusing on improving instructional practice in their schools. Effective job design for teacher and principal leaders that offers the appropriate level of autonomy and a balance of…

The role of faculty in gathering, analyzing and using student learning data is growing and changing, but still underrepresented in the higher education research literature. While faculty are often expected and required to participate in assessment work, some faculty go beyond assessment work as service to take leadership roles. Using data…

The goal of the study was to examine the factors that drove early childhood teachers to accept a leadership role in professional learning communities (PLCs), their perceptions of the role's characteristics and the implications of taking on an additional role beyond the teaching of kindergarten-age children. This qualitative study included 30…

Teacher leadership is important both within and beyond the school. Teacher leaders have the potential to expand their role beyond policy implementation in the classroom to influence educational policy development. However, few teachers receive explicit preparation or guidance for contributing their voice and providing first-hand knowledge of…

The study uses reflexive leadership as a framework for considering teacher professional learning across a network of schools. The paper explores professional learning strategies for eight next generation leaders, both for their own leadership learning and to build their repertoire of professional learning strategies. The study found that the…

The contextual, purpose-driven challenges facing schools and school systems across the world call for creative and innovative responses to revitalize school practices. The process of revitalization will require new thinking, new mindsets within an adaptive school culture and new leadership roles (formal and informal). Often the perception of…

The image of backbone teachers has long informed the modern-era Chinese educational system. Backbone teachers play leadership and modeling roles in school-based groups of teachers focusing on research, lesson planning, and grade development. China's New Basic Education (NBE) reform, which differs from previous Chinese reforms, aims to…

Background/Context: Research underscores that school improvement relies on leadership that stretches beyond a principal, but significant developments to the design of school level leadership lags. This paper shares data and interpretations of school leadership organized as a network of formalized teacher-leader roles that are ranked, titled, and…