Just as the workplace, for many adults, has been transformed by the introduction of information and communication technology (ICT), expectations are high that educational establishments, particularly schools, will follow suit. This article explores the impact of technology on learning and teaching in the classroom. It draws on the findings of…

This paper considers four notions of teacher professionalism--traditional, managerial, collaborative and democratic professionalism. While its focus is on England, the increasing convergence of education policy around the world means that its discussion and arguments have much wider relevance. The paper begins by outlining the different…

The author states that being a leader is more than being put "in charge" of something. It means sharing and modeling what's best for students. She describes real-world teacher leadership as participating on or heading committees or acting as department heads for some teachers. While for others, it means mentoring other teachers, asking probing…

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…

In The Netherlands, school management is no longer deemed senior management's exclusive preserve. This paper reports Dutch research into departmental teams carrying out middle-management functions in secondary schools. Departments offer relevant contexts for teachers' collective engagement and collaboration but can create barriers to professional…

Examines the experiences of a small group of (British) teachers who have assumed leadership roles that have enhanced their teaching. Respondents point to the significant effects of work culture on teacher development. Those involved in leading such developments must be sensitive to each school's peculiarities and use what works locally.…

Discussions with 13 teachers nationwide examined what they thought about their roles as teacher leaders, highlighting benefits of teacher leadership, necessary supports, finding time, who to talk to for support, and what has been helpful in their role as teacher leaders. Respondents were genuinely concerned about their students, eager to…

Creating an innovative setting is demanding and stressful, as charter-school leaders are discovering, for several reasons: they have never done it before; they are untrained, self-selected leaders; and they lack conceptual road maps charting predictable problems ahead. Leadership and evaluation deficiencies will thwart charters' objectives. (MLH)

This paper focuses on a most significant domain of inner power of teachers' lives--their leadership of student learning. Traditional conceptions of teacher leadership owe much to the presumption of a classroom, or a formally designated site, where teacher instructed learning takes place. However, the rise of the Internet, with its ready…

This paper reports on an ethnographic study of 25 teacher leaders in five schools within a large midwestern city school district. Data was collected through unstructured interviews and observations of teachers. Three central themes appeared repeatedly, and explain the presence of and support for teachers as leaders, including: (1) specific school…

This paper examines teachers' perceptions of their professionalism under conditions of educational reforms in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan. Conceiving teacher professionalism in terms of four dimensions (teacher efficacy, teacher practice, teacher leadership and teacher collaboration) it reports a quantitative survey research…

This article presents findings from a 2-year reflexive action research study of a cohort-based Master's degree program in literacy for practicing teachers. Questions revolved around whether and how the program brought about changes in candidates' conceptions about literacy, expertise in literacy, and leadership/activist skills to foster equity in…

Research suggests the need to provide leadership opportunities for teachers within school settings in order to increase professional collaboration and community. This research explored one rural district's professional development model, which was evaluated to determine its potential in developing teacher leaders. This district's professional…

The Colorado Partnership for Educational Renewal has created a professional development opportunity for teachers who are skilled in and committed to teaching for equity and diversity. Participants discuss benefits of their participation, especially valuing the support that crosses district and age-level boundaries. (Contains 1 note.)

Schools have differing levels of ability to develop leadership capacity. Yet even high leadership capacity schools may not always sustain improvements in student achievement. Several factors are key to realizing the promise of leadership. These factors challenge traditional concepts about leadership and the distribution of power, but when…