The Principal’s Role in
Supporting Teacher Leadership
To Improve Student Outcomes
Rhonda Hoyt
EDAD 854
Teachers As Leaders
• Specific Expertise
• May be curriculum, assessment, classroom mgmt
• Supports Principal’s Leadership
• Shared organizational goals
Teachers As Leaders
• Shared Decision Making
• Authority to make some decisions
• Extends Capacity of Principal
• Principal can focus on leading
The Effect of Principal’s Values
on Development of Teacher
Leaders
• Principal sets tone
• Creates climate for leadership or not
• Reinforces desired behaviors
• Can be either positive or negative
reinforcement
The Effect of Principal’s Values
on Development of Teacher
Leaders
• Assigns responsibilities
• Shows with actions whether teacher
leaders are expected/accepted
Conditions Affecting Leadership Behaviors
• Experience
• From previous positions
• Knowledge Base
• Content areas, classes
Conditions Affecting Leadership Behaviors
• Personal Characteristics
• Energy level, people skills
• Beliefs about Appropriate Roles
• For self and other admin or subordinates
Conclusion
• Teachers have great potential for leadership
• Principal strongly influences climate for
leadership
• Effective leaders increase leadership capacity
of those around them
Resources
Chata, Charles C. PhD and Loesch, Larry C, PhD, Future School
Principal’s Views of the Roles of Professional School
Counselors. Professional School Counseling, Vol 11 No 1, Oct
2007.
Levin, Jessie, Teacher Leadership, Policy Update; National
Association of State Boards of Education, Vol 16, No 10; Dec
2008
Murphy, J., Elliott, S. N., Goldring, El, & Porter, A. (2007, August)
Learning-Centered leadership: A conceptual foundation.
Nashville TN, Learning Sciences Institute, Vanderbuilt
University. Downloaded 10/1/09 from
http://www.wallacefoundation.org/wallace/learning.pdf
Rath, Tom & Conchie, Barry. Strength Based leadership; Gallup
Press 2008
Tozer, Steven E., Senese, Guy, & Violas, Paul C.; School and
Society: Historical & Contemporary Perspectives 6th ed,
McGraw Hill, 2009