2010 Center for Teacher Leadership
Symposium Agenda
June 28, 2010
7:30-8:30 a.m.
Check-in and Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:45 a.m.
Welcome Plenary Session: Terry Dozier
Director, Center for Teacher Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth
University School of Education, 19 years as a social studies
teacher, a National Teacher of the Year, top policy advisor
on teaching issues for the Clinton Administration
Opening Keynote: Lori Nazareno
Founder and lead teacher of The Math and Science Leadership
Academy, Denver Public Schools, the nation’s first teacher-led
school that is both supported by a school district and endorsed by
the local teacher union
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions: Harnessing the Power of Teachers as
Change Agents
What I Wish My Principal Knew About Teacher Leadership
Presenter: Nancy Flanagan
National Teacher Leader, Education Consultant, Writer
Howell, Michigan
Co-Presenter: June Teisan
Teacher Leader
Harper Woods Community Schools, Michigan
Description: Using feedback and ideas from state and national
networks of teacher leaders, session participants will examine
"collected wisdom" from teacher leaders around the country on
building the kinds of relationships that create pathways to
genuine teacher influence on policy and shared best practice.
Session participants will also generate and prioritize their own
ideas on 1) breaking down misconceptions about what teacher
leadership looks like; 2) understanding administrator
perspectives; and 3) laying a foundation for teachers to act as
change agents across a variety of school cultures. Session will
include polling, small-group conversation, role play and follow-up
discussion via Ning.
Roles and Responsibilities for Teacher Leaders
Presenter: Barbara Steverson
Virginia Staff Development Council
Richmond, Virginia
Description: Teacher leaders serve in many capacities. When the
schools in which they work, their principals, and they know clearly
what the expectations are of teacher leaders, it is far easier to
prepare teacher leaders for their specific roles, to support and
coach them in their work, and to communicate about their roles.
In this session, participants will use scenarios that describe
practice to learn about the 10 roles for teacher leaders and what
knowledge and skills are required for each role. In addition,
participants will analyze their own leadership work to assess how
closely it aligns with their expected roles and how to use the roles
to reflect on their work as teacher leaders.
Teachers as Team Leaders in a Professional Learning Community
Presenter: Lanelle Gordin
Administrator
Riverside County Office of Education
Riverside, California
Description: With the growing trend toward teachers working in
collaborative groups to address the key questions of student
achievement—What do we want the students to learn? How will
we know they have learned it? What will we do if they don’t learn
it?—the need for teachers skilled in facilitating effective
teamwork has become increasingly apparent. Research has
shown that high-performing educators harness the power of
collaboration to leverage the greatest gains in student learning.
This symposium will explore the knowledge and skills teacher
leaders need to facilitate effective collaboration, such as
structuring meetings for success, establishing team norms,
managing conflict and resistance, fostering mutual accountability,
and keeping meetings focused on the fundamental goal of
improved student learning through collective inquiry and sharing
of successful practices. In addition, the role of the principal in
supporting and mentoring teachers as team leaders will be
addressed.
Distance Collaboration: Real Relationships in a Digital World
Presenter: John Holland
Child Development Specialist
Teacher Leaders Network
Richmond Public Schools
Richmond, Virginia
Description: The foundations of real relationships formed
through digital media will be explored. Participants will be
exposed to online platforms for collaboration. Challenges to
distance collaboration will be addressed. Participants will leave
with a plan for future collaboration with colleagues using online
platforms. Plan to be inspired. The presenter will individualize
workshop content based on participant’s levels of technology
comfort. Use of a laptop by the participant will be beneficial but
is not required.
National Board Certified Teachers: Leaders at Multiple Levels
Presenter: Jolynn Tarwater
NBCT-in-Residence
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Arlington, Virginia
Co-Presenters:
Gail Ritchie
Kristin Hamilton
Instructional Coach
Fellow
Fairfax County Public Schools
National Education Association
Fairfax, Virginia
Washington, DC
Description: National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) are
82,000 strong, and thriving as accomplished teacher leaders in the
classroom and beyond. These teacher leaders are necessary for
systemic reform in America’s schools today, and they show that
effective instructional leadership is key to helping both teachers
and their students meet the standards required of them to
compete in today’s ever-changing world. NBCTs demonstrate the
broadest definitions of teacher leadership, and they are active at
multiple levels—from the classroom to the district to the state to
the nation. Conference participants will have the opportunity to
interact with three NBCTs and find out more about their activities,
influence, and challenges. Also, session participants will share
their own challenges and lessons learned. Finally, the session will
11:45 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
help participants explore other innovative ways for teachers to
advance as leaders in their respective communities.
Lunch and Panel Discussion:
Panelists:
Sharon Hemphill
Director, Staff Development Teacher Project
Montgomery County Public Schools
Rockville, Maryland
&
Pamela Parker
Teacher Leader
Tacoma Park Elementary School
Montgomery County Public Schools
Silver Spring, Maryland
Jannie Laursen
Principal
Oak Grove Elementary School
Richmond City Public Schools
Richmond, Virginia
&
Margaret Ebbs
Teacher Leader
Oak Grove Elementary School
Richmond City Public Schools
Richmond, Virginia
Moderator: Nancy Flanagan
Education writer and consultant focusing on teacher leadership,
30 years as a K-12 music teacher in Hartland, Michigan, a
Michigan Teacher of the Year, National Board certified
2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Facilitated Team Time: a structured opportunity for participants
to apply symposium learnings to their own context as they
develop an action plan that harnesses the power of teachers as
change agents
Organizational tools will support an analysis of current
strengths and challenges in order to choose an action plan
focus.
3:30p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Reception and Silent Auction: Opportunities for participants to
network with each other and to bid on silent auction donations to
benefit the Dr. Judy Flythe Teacher Leader Award. This award is
given each year to an accomplished teacher who is a passionate
leader for positive change in schools. The $500 scholarship can be
used to further enhance the recipient’s skills as a teacher leader.
DINNER ON YOUR OWN [LINK]
June 29, 2010
7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
Full Breakfast
8:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Breakout Sessions: Harnessing the Power of Teachers as
Change Agents
Pathways to Teacher Leadership
Presenter: Jasmine Ulmer
Teaching Ambassador/Math Coach
United States Department of Education
Washington, DC
Co-Presenter: Chris Canter
Classroom Teaching Ambassador Fellow
Pope High School and the United States Department of Education
Description: Any teacher can be a teacher leader. Teachers often
want to be leaders but aren’t sure where to begin, believe they
don’t have enough experience, or view administration as the only
path to leadership in education. This session is designed for early
and mid-career educators who want to become teacher leaders
and for administrators who want to increase opportunities for
teacher leadership. Two Classroom Teaching Ambassador Fellows
with the U.S. Department of Education will share examples of
innovative teacher leadership at the school, district, state, and
national levels through interactive discussion and exploration of
case studies. Participants will be able to share best practices,
define common qualities of teacher leaders, and learn about
pathways to teacher leadership through instructional coaching,
professional development, fellowships, grants, higher education,
participation in professional organizations, mentoring, nonprofits, state and local advisory committees, and everyday
leadership.
Reflecting to Become a Change Agent in Your School’s Culture
Presenter: Mechia Dupree
Mentor
Durham Public Schools
Durham, North Carolina
Co-Presenter: Laine Staton
Mentor
Durham Public Schools
Durham, North Carolina
Description: Participants will explore the changes that can be
made within the roles they play in their schools. Through the use
of interactive dialogue, role plays, and reflection, participants will
explore the values and influences that you bring to the learning
environment and identify the needs of the school. We also will
examine six areas of school culture and how to approach the
changes that will lead your schools in a direction of greater
academic achievement.
Connecting Teachers and Reformers in the Education Policy
Debate
Presenter: Jane Cogshall
Senior Program Associate
Learning Point Associates,
Washington, DC
Description: Educational reformers of all stripes have focused
tremendous energy on thinking of ways to identify effective
teachers and in turn recruit, retain, compensate, and support
them. But what do teachers think of their ideas? The Retaining
Teacher Talent study, a nationwide study conducted by Learning
Point Associates and Public Agenda, suggests that what teachers
think are good indicators of effectiveness—and what they think
will make them more effective—are not always aligned with
current priorities in education policy. The study explores the
attitudes of all teachers toward how they would measure
effectiveness, examines how they perceive themselves to be
effective relative to their teaching conditions, and indicates what
they believe will improve overall teacher effectiveness. During
this session, participants will learn about and discuss key findings
from the study, and collaborate to brainstorm some action steps
for school- and district-leaders to take to better incorporate the
feedback and perceptions of practitioners into the policy debate.
What I Wish My Principal Knew About Teacher Leadership
Presenter: Nancy Flanagan
National Teacher Leader, Education Consultant, Writer
Howell, Michigan
Co-Presenter: June Teisan
Teacher Leader
Harper Woods Community Schools, Michigan
Description: Using feedback and ideas from state and national
networks of teacher leaders, session participants will examine
"collected wisdom" from teacher leaders around the country on
building the kinds of relationships that create pathways to
genuine teacher influence on policy and shared best practice.
Session participants will also generate and prioritize their own
ideas on 1) breaking down misconceptions about what teacher
leadership looks like; 2) understanding administrator
perspectives; and 3) laying a foundation for teachers to act as
change agents across a variety of school cultures. Session will
include polling, small-group conversation, role play and follow-up
discussion via Ning.
Teachers as Team Leaders in a Professional Learning Community
Presenter: Lanelle Gordin
Administrator
Riverside County Office of Education
Riverside, California
Description: With the growing trend toward teachers working in
collaborative groups to address the key questions of student
achievement—What do we want the students to learn? How will
we know they have learned it? What will we do if they don’t learn
it?—the need for teachers skilled in facilitating effective
teamwork has become increasingly apparent. Research has
shown that high-performing educators harness the power of
collaboration to leverage the greatest gains in student learning.
This symposium will explore the knowledge and skills teacher
leaders need to facilitate effective collaboration, such as
structuring meetings for success, establishing team norms,
managing conflict and resistance, fostering mutual accountability,
and keeping meetings focused on the fundamental goal of
improved student learning through collective inquiry and sharing
of successful practices. In addition, the role of the principal in
supporting and mentoring teachers as team leaders will be
addressed.
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Facilitated Team Time: Structured opportunity for participants to
further develop their action plans
An examination of stakeholders and decision-makers followed
by a cross team share provides time for both creative construction
and thoughtful analysis of an action plan that harnesses the
power of teachers as change agents.
Lunch and Closing Remarks:
Participants seated to promote networking
Closing Remarks: Terry Dozier
Director
Center for Teacher Leadership at the Virginia Commonwealth
University School of Education