Teacher Leadership Development: Building Bridges not Borders between Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Educators

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-136
Author(s):  
Dua Jabr Dajani ◽  
Hila Katz-Berger ◽  
M. Bruce King ◽  
Laura Lang ◽  
Ariel Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Multicultural Training ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Authentic Intellectual Work ◽  
Teacher Learning Communities ◽  
Common Understanding

Teacher leadership development receives considerable attention in many educational reforms across the globe. This article reports on a unique partnership in Jerusalem that brings Israeli and Palestinian educators together to cultivate teacher leaders who facilitate professional communities and support continual improvement in teaching and learning. The research design involves participatory action research and draws on theoretical frameworks of democratic education, productive professional discourse, and authentic intellectual work. Findings focus on the enhancement of multicultural training, increased depth of pedagogical discussions, and improvement in leading teacher learning communities. The conclusions consider the ways in which a few bridges are overcoming both real and perceived borders in a region of persisting cultural tension and conflict, as the teacher leaders and co-authors developed an emerging common understanding of a shared conception of professional practice across three languages, and a growing mutual respect for the ‘other’.

Teacher Leadership

2014 ◽  
pp. 1551-1564
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Kent
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Culture ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
School Students ◽  
Public School Students ◽  
21St Century Schools

This chapter focuses on the metamorphosis of teacher leaders, from the roles, responsibilities, and dispositions of teacher leaders, to teacher leaders using technology for self-professional development as well as leading professional development for the improvement of teaching and learning. The underlying premise is that teacher leaders work with diverse populations of both teachers and public school students who are present in schools today. It is strong leadership at the classroom level that makes a difference with colleagues and students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or social class, and can ultimately impact an entire school culture. This chapter integrates these core tenants in an effort to guide the reader to understanding the necessity of developing teacher leaders to meet the challenges inherent in 21st century schools and classrooms.

Teacher Leadership

2013 ◽  
pp. 230-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Kent
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
School Culture ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
School Students ◽  
Public School Students ◽  
21St Century Schools

This chapter focuses on the metamorphosis of teacher leaders, from the roles, responsibilities, and dispositions of teacher leaders, to teacher leaders using technology for self-professional development as well as leading professional development for the improvement of teaching and learning. The underlying premise is that teacher leaders work with diverse populations of both teachers and public school students who are present in schools today. It is strong leadership at the classroom level that makes a difference with colleagues and students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or social class, and can ultimately impact an entire school culture. This chapter integrates these core tenants in an effort to guide the reader to understanding the necessity of developing teacher leaders to meet the challenges inherent in 21st century schools and classrooms.

Student teachers’ development as teacher leaders during the practicum experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 927-942
Author(s):  
Youmen Chaaban ◽  
Rania Sawalhi
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
Leadership Practices ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Data Generation ◽  
Government Schools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inductive Methods ◽  
Practicum Experience

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of student teachers’ development as teacher leaders during a 12-week practicum experience at Qatari government schools. Design/methodology/approach The investigation involved a qualitative research methodology entailing multiple data generation methods, including pre/post interviews, weekly journals, mid- and post-reflective essays, classroom observations and multiple assignments. Data analysis was carried out using deductive and inductive methods, by adapting the conceptual framework of teacher leadership practices, identity and views, but allowing for new analytical themes to emerge. Findings Upon initiating leadership practices, two pathways to leadership development were revealed, mediated by the presence or absence of supportive factors. Both pathways, however, led to the development of divergent teacher leadership identities and varying views toward teacher leadership. Originality/value The study includes implications for the design of initial teacher preparation programs designed to prepare student teachers as teacher leaders.

scholarly journals Scaling standards-aligned instruction through teacher leadership: methods, supports, and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Cassata ◽  
Elaine Allensworth
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
School Context ◽  
School Level ◽  
Instructional Change ◽  
Teacher Leader

Abstract Background The Common Core Standards for Mathematics and Next Generation Science Standards were adopted by states with the goal of preparing students with knowledge and skills needed for college, careers, and citizenry. Adopting these standards necessitated considerable changes in instructional practice. While teacher leadership is known to be important for instructional change, there is little research that articulates the processes through which that influence occurs, and how contextual factors constrain or support those processes. This paper provides a case study of efforts in the Chicago Public Schools to promote widespread instructional change around standards reform through a teacher leader model using retrospective from 2013 to 2017 interviews with 16 math and science teacher leaders serving grades 6–12, along with quantitative analysis of district-wide data showing patterns of change and professional learning. It builds off prior research to articulate a framework of how teacher leaders promote instructional change. Findings There were five patterns of teacher leader action: inspiring others, sharing with colleagues, working in collaboration, advocating for change, and providing individual support, and an interplay between teacher actions and school-level contextual factors, with some contextual factors more important than others for different types of actions. In particular, sharing and collaborative work were facilitated in schools with designated collaboration time, trusting relationships, and colleagues who were also trained and knowledgeable about the new standards. The degree of collective efficacy the teacher leaders felt seemed to be driven mostly by the presence of other knowledgeable change agents in the school. Conclusions and implications The study adds to the existing literature on teacher leadership by articulating the mechanisms through which teachers exert influence around instructional improvement of their school peers and providing examples of each. Further, the study illustrates how these mechanisms are facilitated or constrained by the larger school context. Together, the articulation of mechanisms and contexts, along with illustrative examples, provides a guide for supporting instructional change through teacher leadership in schools and districts.

Research on language teaching and learning in Austria (2004–2009)

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Dalton-Puffer ◽  
Renate Faistauer ◽  
Eva Vetter
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Language Instruction ◽  
Foreign Language Instruction ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
National Education ◽  
Learning And Teaching

This overview of six years of research on language learning and teaching in Austria covers a period of dynamic development in the field. While all the studies reviewed here illustrate research driven by a combination of local and global concerns and theoretical frameworks, some specific clusters of research interest emerge. The first of these focuses on issues connected with multilingualism in present-day society in terms of language policy, theory development and, importantly, the critical scrutiny of dominant discursive practices in connection with minority and migrant languages. In combination with this focus, there is a concern with German as a second or foreign language in a number of contexts. A second cluster concerns the area of language testing and assessment, which has gained political import due to changes in national education policy and the introduction of standardized tests. Finally, a third cluster of research concerns the diverse types of specialized language instruction, including the introduction of foreign language instruction from age six onwards, the rise of academic writing instruction, English-medium education and, as a final more general issue, the role of English as a dominant language in the canon of all foreign and second languages in Austria.

Assistant principal leadership development: a narrative capture study

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Petrides ◽  
Cynthia Jimes ◽  
Anastasia Karaglani
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
Assistant Principals ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Assistant Principal ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Challenges ◽  
Teacher Professional

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge base on the ways in which assistant principals view their roles, and on the potential challenges involved in a distributed leadership model. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a narrative capture method, in which assistant principals from two large urban school districts were asked to relate and self-interpret two leadership stories through a web-based narrative capture form. A total of 90 stories were collected from 45 assistant principals. Participants rated their stories based on a set of leadership indicators (including method of decision making and type of teacher interaction present in the story, among others); the results were analyzed statistically. Findings – Overall, participants tended to view their roles in terms of instructionally focussed leadership. However, leadership challenges emerged in several areas of leadership practice, including operational management and teacher professional development (PD). Demographic factors were found to influence leadership perceptions and practices. Research limitations/implications – This study begins to fill the empirical gap on assistant principal leadership roles, practices, and perceptions. Further research, using other methods (e.g. observation), is needed to collect evidence of in situ leadership practices of assistant principals, and how those practices impact and relate to school objectives for teaching and learning. Practical implications – The study sheds light on the leadership development needs of assistant principals and on the importance of ongoing, tailored PD, based on factors including where leaders are in their careers and how they envision their roles. Originality/value – This paper contributes to nascent scholarship regarding assistant principal school leadership.

scholarly journals Empowerment through a teacher leadership academy

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy D. Visone
Keyword(s):  
School District ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Leadership Capacity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Leadership Academy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Suburban School District

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of a teacher leadership academy (TLA) organized through a school district/university partnership in a small, US Suburban School District in increasing teachers’ participation in leadership activities. Design/methodology/approach TLA participants (n=11) were surveyed using the Teacher Leadership Activities Scale, and their results were compared to a control group of teachers in the district who were not participating in the TLA (n=12). Interviews and open-ended response items provided qualitative data to examine how the TLA contributed to teachers’ growth as leaders. Findings Results indicated that teachers in the TLA did increase participation in teacher leadership activities. Qualitative data revealed themes of many espoused benefits from TLA participation, including increased interactions with administrators, improved understanding of the obstacles associated with implementing changes, and expanded leadership capacity. Research limitations/implications Conditions that both enhanced and detracted from teacher leaders’ growth were identified and outlined, including formal leaders’ participation in TLA activities, material support for projects, and a supportive atmosphere (enhancers) and administrative roadblocks and the inability to remediate capacity issues for teacher leaders (detractors). Originality/value The conditions outlined above will assist those interested in creating TLAs in doing so with purpose and increased chance for buy in and success.

scholarly journals Learning how to lead police investigations

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon-Andre Nilsen ◽  
Terje Aaserud ◽  
Cathrine Filstad
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Leadership Practice ◽  
Police Investigation ◽  
Police Investigations ◽  
Reflection Time ◽  
New Learning

The aim of this article was to investigate how police investigation leaders learn leadership and whether the facilitation of learning activities and learning methods might bridge the well-known gap between teaching and learning leadership. Using action research, we constructed an ‘i-leader’ learning pool consisting of police investigation leaders. The pool provided interactive and collaborative learning activities that included reflection, knowledge sharing and social support. Participants were receptive to this learning initiative, but also argued that ‘learning by doing’ is most important because it allows for communication and cooperation between colleagues in the context of their everyday leadership practice. They acknowledged the need for reflection and argued that the pool provides important reflection time, which they lack in their everyday practice. Participants also found the learning methods, particularly the ‘group support methodology’ and the new network useful for their own leadership development. However, using these new learning methods ‘back home’ was more challenging. Participants did not have time to prioritize and develop this new network. Providing learning methods and building a network takes time and must be relevant to everyday leadership practice. The significance of their leadership practice and how to accumulate experience as the basis for reflection was acknowledged, but still needs to be applied within leadership practice. Bridging the gap between teaching and learning is not just about providing learning and reflection methods, but also about learning how to apply new knowledge through experience, where reflection ensures that learning in practice is not ‘due to change’.

scholarly journals Developing a Program to Strengthen Learning Leadership of School Principals under the Secondary Educational Service Areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Aphisayarat Prarasri ◽  
Amnaj Chanawongse ◽  
Kowat Tesaputa
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Educational Service ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Job Experience ◽  
Service Areas

The purpose of this research was to develop the program on learning leadership strengthening for school principals under the secondary educational service areas. This study methodology was based on research and development (R&D) approach by the application of Participatory Action Research (PAR) with 4 phases. They were 1) finding the components and indicators of learning leadership, 2) study of the present and desirable condition of learning leadership, 3) developing learning leadership strengthening model, and 4) study of the implementation results program of learning leadership strengthening for school principals under the secondary educational service areas. The research findings reveal the program development comprises 70:20:10 ratio of learning leadership development—70 percent on the job experience and off the job experience, 20 percent professional learning community (PLC) process and personal feedback, and 10 percent training. The training involves 3 phases—phase 1 is training, phase 2 is integration with work practice, and phase 3 is follow up and evaluation.

scholarly journals Teacher Leadership in Special Education: Exploring Skills, Roles, and Perceptions

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-63
Author(s):  
Sylvia Bagley ◽  
Kimmie Tang
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Teacher Leaders ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Special Education Teacher ◽  
Teacher Leader ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Diverse Field

Special Education teachers frequently assume formal or informal leadership roles and responsibilities across disciplines (Council for Exceptional Children, 2015a, 2015b). However, despite the increasing attention paid to teacher leadership on an international scale (Wenner & Campbell, 2016), little research exists on the experiences and needs of teacher leaders within the diverse field of Special Education. In this descriptive phenomenological study, we addressed the following questions: 1) What does teacher leadership within the landscape of Special Education look like? 2) How does this work relate to the roles and dispositions laid out in both the Teacher Leader Model Standards (2011) and the Council for Exceptional Children’s Special Education Specialist Preparation Standards (2015a, 2015b)? We found that Special Education teacher leaders primarily demonstrate leadership via support, specifically through the skills of advocacy, facilitating, innovating, and ‘administrating’.

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