Full Description
"This is an insightful analysis on how to cultivate and empower teachers to become genuine leaders in their schools and classrooms, and an invaluable guide for any school district trying to implement genuine, sustainable reform."
-Pedro Noguera, Professor New York University
"The beauty of this book is the authenticity of the voices. The fact that struggles and conflicts are included make the teachers' stories believable, fresh, and inspiring."
-Pamela S. Hankins, Staff Development Specialist
Springfield Public Schools, MO
"Krovetz and Arriaza go directly to the source in this insightful look at the challenges, successes, and professional/personal transformations when teachers engage in collaborative leadership roles in the schools. A great read!"
-Robert Topf, Principal
Parkview Elementary School, San Jose, CA
"Reading about the field experiences of other teacher leaders will inspire and guide the reader towards making a positive impact on student achievement. This is a must-have book for any current or future teacher leader."
-Mike Greenwood, District Teacher Leader
Windsor Public Schools, CT
Who better to illustrate the challenges and rewards of teacher leadership than teachers themselves?
As the pressure of external accountability has intensified, teachers are being asked to play increasingly important leadership roles. Yet few teachers are prepared to accept this daunting responsibility without first building their leadership capacity.
By placing teachers' voices and stories at the center of this book, authors Martin L. Krovetz and Gilberto Arriaza reveal how approaches like collaboration, the use of data, a focus on equity, and job-embedded professional development have been incorporated into real-world settings to lead and manage change successfully.
Ideal for group study, this practical resource includes
Reflective questions to help apply teacher stories to specific situations
Dozens of first-person narratives representing a wide range of voices
Strategies for documenting and sustaining growth as a teacher leader
Based on the authors' work with hundreds of teacher leaders, this essential guide is ideal for teachers, administrators, leadership teams, and school improvement teams to achieve the goal of every school-maximizing student learning.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Reframing School Culture
What I Am Becoming
What Does This Look Like? Changing the Nature of Work
Why Do It? It Is About Quality of Life and Learning!
Fostering Resiliency: A Lens for Reframing Culture
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
Endnotes
2. Learning to Lead
Why the Need to Distribute Leadership?
The Skills, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Skillful Teacher Leaders
New Roles, New Relationships
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
Survey
How Did We Do? --A Teacher Survey
Endnotes
3. Influencing Student Learning
Closing the Achievement Gap and Habits of Mind
Valuing the Staff
Focusing Resources
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
Endnotes
4. The Role of Inquiry
Definition of Collaborative Action Research
Collaborative Action Research, When Well Conducted, Brings Out the Best in Its Members
Action Research Has an Invaluable Application to the Classroom
The Potential Power of Collaborative Action Research as a Methodology to Enact Schoolwide Sustained Change
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
5. Building Equity in Diverse Classrooms
Distributing Teachers' Work
Personalizing Teaching and Learning
Students' Academic Performance at the Center of Staff Conversations
Having the Equity Conversation
What Equity-Focused Schools Look Like
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
Endnote
6. Advocating for Students and Teachers
Advocacy: Adding Voice to a Cry
Advocacy for Students
The Whole Child
Supporting Parents as Advocates for Student Learning
Advocacy for Beginning Teachers
Advocacy for Teachers
Political Advocacy
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
Endnote
7. Courageous Followers and Leaders
Spreading One's Wings: Lessons Learned While Becoming Leaders of Change and Transition
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
The Courageous Follower: Standing Up To and For Our Leaders
Applying the Concepts in Your Workplace
Essential Questions
Resources
Conclusion
Appendix A: List of Contributors
References
Index
