This book bridges theory and practice quite deliberately in the knowledge that there is much work to be done to improve communication and understanding between teachers and others working in schools, policymakers and the academic and research communities. It provides both a theoretical and a practical rationale for teachers' leadership of change…

Challenges current orthodoxy of school organizations and seeks to extend the current debate about distributed leadership. Offers an inclusive view of teacher leadership. Focuses on learning-centered development in which teachers act strategically to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Includes illustrative cases and proposals for…

Between 1999 and 2003, the Western Massachusetts Writing Project experienced a series of changes that made it question whether it could survive as a writing project site. The convergence of retirement, unexpected death, and withdrawal of long-term financial support forced the existing leadership to develop a process to look deeply into the work of…

This research is part of a comprehensive effort to pinpoint the key leadership factors that improve student achievement and increase the number of high school graduates who are ready for college and careers. In this study, SREB (Southern Regional Education Board) examined the role of the district office in providing principals with the working…

Discusses how local school leaders construct the conditions for professional community in their schools. Arguing that professional community is a special form of social capital resulting in part from the design and implementation of facilitating structural networks by instructional leaders in schools. (SLD)

Effective leadership is recognized internationally as a crucial factor in successful learning. It is vital that leadership talent is nurtured and developed within Scottish education. In this article, the author discusses how leaders are developed in the Scottish education system. She also discusses the characteristics that define the emerging…

Teachers often resist the label of "leader" and the hierarchical structures that the idea of leader conjures, yet they continue to engage in leadership enactment. This article describes an alternative conception of teacher leadership--"practical leadership"--embodied by leadership enactment through local deliberation and action. This notion is…

Examines the expectation for teachers to participate in school leadership and, based on results of a recent study, draws conclusions and makes recommendations regarding the kinds of professional development that would engender competent and effective involvement of teachers in the leadership of schools. Considers the extent to which preparation in…

Describes a visit with an educational leader, Louise Rosenblatt. Notes that Rosenblatt is a teacher, and from her teaching, both in the classroom and in other forums, she has led educators to think about teaching, and about what is valuable. Notes that for secondary teachers, the National Council of Teachers of English's Secondary Section offers a…

Almost four years ago, a mathematics professor started the (fictitiously named) Mathematics Education, Equity and Leadership (MEEL) project to reform mathematics education, promote equity, and develop teacher leadership. This article discusses challenges faced by participants working to develop the new knowledge, habits of mind, and resources…

The purpose of this article is to review the research on policy and professional development undertaken by the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA) and to suggest how this work has advanced knowledge in these areas. This research provides a base for understanding the relations between effective teaching and learning in…

In an era of dwindling resources, compelling student needs, burgeoning violence, and escalating performance expectations for students and faculty alike, classroom teachers are confronted with new demands that challenge their traditional roles as educators. The leap from a productive individual contributor, working essentially behind a closed…

In this article, the author contends that state and national policymakers should tap the talent pool of National Board Certified Teachers to boost student achievement and enhance teacher quality. This resource represents over 32,000 teachers who are nationally certified through a rigorous process, requiring demonstration of high levels of teaching…

The Reaching for Excellence in Middle and High School Science Teaching and Learning Partnership Project at East Tennessee State University has a long history in the development of teacher leaders. This article describes the professional development model, the challenges addressed, and the impact on both teacher and student learning. (Contains 3…

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…