The Way to Find a Teacher Leader

The Way to Find a Teacher Leader – Just Ask!

A leader is defined as one who has followers. A drum major is the leader of the band. The president is the leader of the PTA. The alpha wolf is the leader of the pack. While some positions and titles imply "leadership," we all know of a chairperson or department head or director who does not inspire followers. Likewise, there are many people without titles who have great influence on those around them and who demonstrate genuine leadership. Often teachers are not considered official leaders, yet they perform superbly once they are asked.

Is leadership inborn or a learned skill? The nature/nurture debate was settled for teachers, at least in a regulatory sense, when Washington's State Board of Education included Leadership as one of the three standards for the new professional teaching certificate. When creating a professional growth plan, each new teacher must analyze his or her leadership knowledge and skills and design a plan to strengthen any areas found lacking. Clearly, the State Board believes that all teachers should be leaders and that leadership can be learned and developed over time.

The Washington Education Association (WEA) applauds this formal recognition that teachers are indeed, leaders. We know from numerous examples how a teacher who typically blends in with the crowd can step forward and magically assume great leadership responsibilities. It happens often in stressful situations – difficult bargaining, a school shooting, strike activities, the sudden departure of a team leader. More frequently, teachers become leaders when they are asked to do so.

WEA recognizes that we shouldn't wait for emergencies – or luck – to identify new leaders. We have created a series of programs with the intent of inviting teachers to recognize their leadership potential.

· Sparks – The Sparks program identifies teachers with five or fewer years of experience who have a "spark" – that hard-to-define something that sets them apart. These people receive three days of special training and attention designed to help them realize that they have the capacity to become leaders in their local associations and in their buildings. One result is that each year an increasing number of "Sparks" participants nominate themselves and are selected as delegates to the WEA Representative Assembly, where they influence the policies and direction of WEA.

· National Board Certification – For the last six years WEA has promoted the National Board Certification process as a means for highly accomplished teachers to achieve recognition of their skills and knowledge. Not accidentally, leadership is one of the basic National Board standards for top-notch teachers. According to Core Proposition #5, "Teachers are members of learning communities." This expectation is judged by the quality of evidence the teacher provides of having mentored other teachers; shared new knowledge with others; participated in or led curriculum work teams, assessment committees, or site based decision making teams; engaged in professional organizations, policy making efforts, or conference presentations.

WEA realizes that the teachers who achieve National Board Certification will be comfortable and eager to accept greater levels of leadership responsibilities. For example, Tom Charouhas, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) from Northshore, was the first chair of the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board. Rischelle Bouse, NBCT from Bellevue, is a member of the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission. Terese Emry, NBCT from Sumner, is the new director of the Washington Initiative for National Board Certification. NBCTs helped to develop OSPI's new standards for professional development programs and are increasingly recruited as adjunct professors at universities.

· WEA Instructional Cadres – WEA has a professional development program in which highly skilled classroom teachers are prepared to offer training to their peers across the state. Topics include special education, assessment, strategies for working with diverse learners, school safety, and cultural diversity. This program gives teacher-trainers the opportunity to stretch and grow. As a result, many "alumni" are currently working at OSPI, ESDs and administrative positions across the state.

· New Leader ID – This program is different from Sparks in that it is specifically designed to identify and train new association leaders. Participants are identified by local presidents as having strong but undiscovered leadership potential. These teachers are invited to a leadership retreat where they receive training and encouragement to get involved with their local association. Immediately after, the participants receive specific invitations to become involved in association work. A number of current local presidents got their start with this program.

· NEA KEYS Facilitators – WEA has become deeply engaged in the NEA school improvement program called Keys to Excellence in Your Schools (KEYS). The way we have designed delivery of this labor-intensive process is to identify and train teacher leaders to become KEYS facilitators. Read about how KEYS got started.

The KEYS program is based on effective-schools research. Through an in-depth survey of staff, administrators, parents and students, a school can focus on attributes that need attention in order to increase student achievement. KEYS facilitators introduce a staff to the program, administer the survey, facilitate a discussion of survey results and help the staff develop and implement its school improvement plan.

WEA identifies teachers who can develop the knowledge and skills to assume these challenging roles. They attend a series of classes to prepare them for the various situations they might encounter. Over 40 schools are now engaged in KEYS with the assistance of their KEYS teacher facilitators.

All of these programs are intended to awaken leadership potential. However, once awake, that potential needs care and support. WEA and its affiliates provide numerous opportunities for new leaders to develop their skills. Local associations and UniServ councils offer skill-based training such as building representative training, bargaining, lobbying, and conflict management. At the state level, WEA provides regular in-service for our teacher trainers and deeper skills training at our annual WEA Leadership Academy. KEYS facilitators come together several times a year to expand their skills repertoire.

This article highlights many examples of teacher leaders. Were all of these "leaders" born? Perhaps, but they didn't always know it. WEA has worked systematically to open teachers' eyes to their own potential for leadership and to help them recognize that leadership takes many forms. We believe "nature" has given all teachers this potential. Once it is tapped, it can be "nurtured" to develop fully. Wise administrators know this, too. The right invitation to the right leadership opportunity will release that potential and dramatically expand the capacity of teachers to find their followers.

About the author

Patricia Raichle has taught for 14 years in all grades from kindergarten through 12th grade. She has a B. A. Degree and Master's in Librarianship from the University of Washington and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. Following a year of private practice in family and employment law, she worked for eight years as a UniServ Representative for the Washington Education Association.

Patricia currently holds the position of Director for the Learning and Education Policy Center of WEA. Her responsibilities include improving teacher certification programs, school accountability, assisting districts and members with the implementation of educational reforms, expanding professional development opportunities in the state, and maintaining a liaison with state agencies, institutions of higher education, and other professional organizations.

Patricia A. Raichle
Director for the Learning and Education Policy Center
Washington Education Association
PO Box 9100
Federal Way, WA 98063-9100
(206) 941-6700

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