Teacher Leadership That Transforms: Taking Ideas into Action
Facilitators
Jennifer Barnett – Technology Integration Specialist, Childersburg High School Talladega, AL
The 75-minute workshop will be divided into two segments: 1) Sharing and analyzing stories to
identify keys to transformative teacher leadership. Jennifer and co-presenting teachers will open
the session with a short presentation and full-group discussion about teacher leadership. What is
it? What defines it? How and why is it important to serve our students, innovate collaboratively and
effectively, and transform the teaching profession? Participants will then be divided into small
groups to view brief (3-5 minute) videos in which CTQ teacher leaders tell their leadership stories,
explaining how they’ve used research, built networks for support and advocacy, accessed
opportunities to grow, etc. Small groups will discuss and unpack these stories to identify key
strategies, guided by facilitators and the use of a graphic organizer on which to record what they
discover. 2) Sharpening teacher leadership goals and creating an action plan. Next, teachers will
reflect on challenges they see for students and schools in their home communities. These focuses
might relate to implementation of the Common Core, addressing issues around student assessment
or teacher evaluation, engaging parents and community members, resolving tensions between local
associations and management, etc. How might they lead solutions to these challenges? Individually
or with colleagues from their districts (if present), teachers will be led through activities to help
them sharpen their goals and questions using a graphic planner. The session will end with an
introduction to CTQ’s online com- munity platform, where they can continue their work aided by
CTQ teachers and staff.
Welcome and Introductions (3 minutes)
1. Keys to Transformative Teacher Leadership
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Whole Group Discussion
o What is it? Why is it important?
Teacher Leader Stories
o Protocol for Processing the Stories
The questions answered in the stories
1. What does teacher leadership mean to you?
2. Tell us your leadership story. What sort of leadership role do you
have?
3. How have the following impacted your leadership effectiveness?
Research, Networks for support and advocacy, Accessing
opportunities for growth
This activity needs should take 25 minutes. Visit 2 stories for 10
minutes each. 5 minutes for sharing back out their reflections from the
stories.
2. Sharpen Teacher Leadership Goals and Create an Action Plan
Use the graphic organizer from the stories section to reflect on your own skills,
passions, and potential plans for teacher leadership.
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
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My Skills (graphic organizer)
My Passions (graphic organizer)
My Action Plan (Use the Grove template)
Source: http://www.kenblanchard.com/img/pub/pdf_critical_leadership_skills.pdf
Transition into their passions after the stories.
Have a graphic organizer for listing their passions/desires/dreams/etc. Give them time
to write a bit on that. Maybe have them do a table share, giving each person 1 minute to
present the GIST of their #1 passion. (4 minutes for reflection, 5 minutes share. Total
time= 9 minutes)
On the back of that sheet, have a graphic organizer of leadership skills. Maybe write
one line for each of the critical leadership skills and leave room for them to write others.
Give them some time for self-reflection on these. Have table facilitator lead a 5-minute
discussion of leadership skills. Question: What skill(s) do you need to work on the
most? (3 minute reflection, 5 minute discussion: Total = 8 minutes)
The remaining time will be for working on the Action Plan. (25 minutes)
Begin by reviewing the Action Plan template - 2 minutes
Allow them time for filling in their plan - 10 minutes
As they fill these out the facilitators will circulate the room, supporting and answering
questions but also pairing people by type of leadership plan.
Sort by type of plan - 1 minutes
Have them pair share with one other person with similar plans and receive feedback on
their plan - 10 minutes
Wrap up the session - 5 minutes