News
Teacher Program Makes News
Teacher leadership stressed as key to school improvement
1.29.08
By Diana Costello
The education world is buzzing these days with talk of a looming leadership crisis as experienced school administrators become harder and harder to find both locally and nationally.
But there may be one crucial group that is being underused to fill the void: teacher leaders.
The Lower Hudson Teacher Center Network and Manhattanville College released a regional survey yesterday that looks at the roles, responsibilities and needs of teacher leaders throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.
Among the findings was that teacher leaders are happy in their positions and feel they are effective. The typical leadership roles include mentors, team leaders, union leaders and coaches, and the most common form of compensation is a stipend.
Yet half of the teachers who voluntarily adopt leadership roles have no interest in assuming administrative positions. Of those surveyed, only 25 percent said they are interested in future administrative jobs.
This did not bother those who attended a roundtable forum convened last night at Manhattanville College to discuss teacher leadership.
"As a teacher, I never aspired to be an administrator," said Steve Reich, president of the Valhalla Teachers Association. "The day-to-day interaction with the students is what gives me joy."
"I think it's great teachers want to remain in the classroom," said Blind Brook Schools Superintendent Ronald Valenti. "Everyone has to find their own personal vision in life."
Nevertheless, the participants did say teacher leaders should be better supported in their positions because they represent a pipeline that is not being adequately tapped.
Lea Macdonald, a teacher leader from the Pleasantville school district, pointed to several factors that would help bolster teacher leaders, such as more time to meet during the day and work collaboratively.
Above all, she said, there must be an open and trusting relationship between teachers and administrators.
"It's important to know that trust is the foundation that provides the impetus for teacher leaders," Macdonald said.
The group's work yesterday attracted the attention of state officials, including Harry Phillips of the Board of Regents and Maria Neira, vice president of the New York State United Teachers, who attended the forum.
Saying there is so much to accomplish in a school day that one single administrator can't possibly do it all, Neira stressed that teacher leaders must work with a shared vision toward common goals. The key is providing a clear definition of teacher leadership, she added.
"This is not a new topic," Neira said. "But what is new is that we are grappling with some very serious issues in our classrooms."
Moving forward, the Teacher Center Network will consider everything from establishing a leadership committee to identifying funding sources to support leadership initiatives.