Top 10 Learning Needs for Teacher Leaders

The rapidly changing world and the increasingly complex demands placed on schools because of that change has led to an increasing awareness that the school principal alone cannot provide all of the leadership necessary for school development. More and more school districts are asking teachers to share leadership responsibilities with school administrators. At the same time, even teacher leaders who are outstanding classroom teachers and committed to assisting their colleagues and renewing their schools still need their own professional learning in order to reach their leadership potential. The authors have identified 10 areas in which teacher leaders express that they need professional learning. Most of these needs cannot be taught to teacher leaders in a single, short-term program. Rather, these needs are met through ongoing professional learning. These 10 areas are described in this article.