Schools need more leadership than administrators alone can provide. Cultivate and Activate shows how to close four critical gaps that inhibit teacher leadershipāauthority, information, opportunity, and cultureāgiving teachers real ownership, a seat at the decision-making table, recognition for their contributions, and clear pathways for professional growth. These strategies strengthen collaboration, improve decision making, and build organizational capacity.
Readers will:
- Visualize the "missing middle" of teacher leadership as a core part of school operations and a legitimate form of instructional leadership
- Understand why information is a critical resource for decision making and learn how to engage those closest to the work to improve speed, quality, and ownership
- Create meaningful opportunities for teacher professional growth and career advancement without leaving the classroom
- Identify ways to honor and recognize teacher leadersāincluding titles, job descriptions, and compensationāeven without extra funding
- Learn best practices for recurring meetings, communication, and decision making that promote transparency and ownership, not just buy-in
- Reflect on current organizational norms and use practical tools and templates to cultivate and activate teacher leadership
Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Closing the Authority Gap
Chapter 2: Closing the Information Gap
Chapter 3: Closing the Opportunity Gap
Chapter 4: Closing the Culture Gap
Epilogue
Appendix
References and Resources
Index