Teacher Leaders

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how teacher leaders recognize that there exists many potential problems in the highly-regulated environment of today's schools. The paper explains that much of today's educational system is based on the idea that, somehow, all children are the same. Teacher leaders, however, see that one size does not necessarily fit all. The paper explores the relationship between teacher leaders and principals and shows how it is a complex one, involving virtually all the pedagogical and administrative aspects of running a school.

Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
Research Method

From the Paper:

"America's teachers face an educational system that is increasingly complex. They must navigate between the needs of students, and the demands of administrators. In most instances, the principal represents the average teacher's first contact without the outside world of school boards and bureaucratic regulation. There are federally-mandated goals and tests, state benchmarks and funding requirements, and parental and media activists. Principals must respond to, or enforce, the demands of all these groups. Teachers must either find a way to comply, or else must defend their choice to follow an alternative path. The opinions of lone teachers or groups of teachers, count for little when stacked up against the weight of government and community."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barth, R. S. (2001). Teacher Leader. Phi Delta Kappan, 82(6), 443.
• Brown Center on Education Policy, The Brookings Institution. (2000). "Part 2: A Closer Look at Mathematics Achievement." How Well are American Students Learning? Brown Center Report on American Education: 2000.
• Bulkley, K., Fairman, J., & Martinez, M. C. (2004). The District and Test Preparation. In The Ambiguity of Teaching to the Test: Standards, Assessment, and Educational Reform, Firestone, W. A., Schorr, R. Y., & Monfils, L. F. (Eds.) (pp. 113-141). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Campbell, J., Kyriakides, L., Muijs, D., & Robinson, W. (2004). Assessing Teacher Effectiveness: Developing a Differentiated Model. New York: RoutledgeFalmer.
• Carlson, P. (2001). A Grassroots Approach to Educational Partnerships. T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education), 29(3), 83+.

More papers on Teacher Leaders:

• Research Paper # 95891 : "Teacher Leadership"
• Essay # 9380 : "Educational Leaders"
• Research Proposal # 105693 : "Group Teachers as Leaders: Methodology"

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