The Role of Lead Teacher Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Role of Lead Teacher - Research Paper Example 11). The majority of contemporary schools functions under a continuous improvement model and is publicly measured by student achievement test results. The transformation of schools to function under more progressive models relies heavily on leveraging the expertise of the classroom teacher to extend beyond the traditional roles of individual classroom impact on students, and to include new roles in leading school reform efforts as part of a community of learners (Crowther et al, 2002). Faculty involvement in decision making, through administrators sharing their power with the teaching staff, is a way to create collaborative culture and promote student success, especially in traditionally failing schools (Papalewis and Fortune, 2002). Empowerment void of professional community is not enough to bring about needed changes in our schools. Empowerment has "proven insufficient to change teachers relationships to their work in many settings" (Louis and Kruse, 1995, p. 13). Many teachers have leadership qualities that have not yet been recognized but may be a key to transforming schools and communities (Crowther et al., 2002). Documenting the perceptions and experiences of lead teachers who are involved as agents of change can reveal insights about the nature of teacher leadership, the roles that lead teachers assume, and the impact of their involvement in educational change. Careful and critical examination of teacher leadership is important since it is perceived as bein g critical to so many current school reform initiatives (Miller, et al., 2000). PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Buckner and McDowelle (2000) reported that teachers are in a unique position to influence school reform efforts, however "teacher leadership is a concept that often lacks clear definition" (p. 35). As teachers play a greater role in the changes schools make, there is a need to better define and describe the concept of lead teacher and teacher leadership (Miller et al., 2000). Katzenmeyer and Moller (2001) stated, "teacher leadership is essential for the level of complex change schools face. In order to advance these roles for teachers, it is necessary for proponents to be clear about what teacher leadership looks like" (p. 4). Various reform efforts in modern education have recognized teachers' professional development as central to the reform efforts and have called for new ways of organizing and supporting teacher work. Providing insight into the role of lead teachers as participants in a distributed leadership model by documenting their perceptions, describing implementation activities, and identifying and analyzing the impact of their roles in modern education will help to understand the perspectives of contemporary education and learning. This deeper understanding is needed to help guide reform efforts and provide for a more enlightened conversation regarding teacher leadership so that administrators can 'identify, develop, and support lead teachers in their schools" (Buckner & McDowelle, 2000, p. 36). Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the effect of the lead teacher in changing and improving school management, learners' performance and teaching practices. LITERATURE REVIEW In the current literature the term "lead teacher" (or "teacher leader") is ill defined. It is used to discuss teachers who unofficially engage in a leadership role in activities that

Write your own recommendation. What makes you different from other Essay

Write your own recommendation. What makes you different from other applicants - Essay Example Good communication skills are an indispensable asset (Buzzle). I possessed great verbal and written communication skills. Throughout my high school tenured I have excel in exercises or problems in which I had to demonstrate verbal skills. I have always been very good at oral presentations. I love to write and my technical writing skills are excellent. College prepares a person for the ultimate goal of becoming a part of the workforce. A trend that has influenced the behavior of people in the workforce is a shift from individualism to teamwork. â€Å"The concept of teamwork is very important to the success of any team† (Brianmac). I am a team player. My team skills will enable me to succeed in college. I am an outgoing person and I listen well to people. I like helping people and cooperating in order to get the job done. During my future college career I plan to use these skills to help out my fellow classmates in any way I can. Another attribute or skill that I possess that ma kes me an excellent candidate is my leadership skills. When I have worked in team projects I typically served the role of team leader. I am a hard worker and a dedicated student. Work Cited Page Brianmac.co.uk. 12 December 2010. â€Å"Understanding the Importance of Teamwork.†