The term ‘teacher leader’ elicits the connotation of an experienced educator who has left the classroom to accomplish ‘bigger and better’ things. Such a teacher leader might testify before congress concerning education reform, become a consultant to schools and districts in need of improvement, or even write textbooks better suited for student learning. The position of teacher leader is often understood to be above that of a regular teacher and exists outside of the classroom. That may have been the old stereotype but the modern teacher leader is actually much different.
A teacher leader is a dedicated, accomplished teacher, one who cares first and foremost about students. This teacher goes out of their way to help all students gain the skill set needed for success not just in the classroom but in college, career, and life. This teacher also is a mentor to other teachers; sharing their own expertise to help others to become more effective educators. Therefore, all who associate with this accomplished teacher leader benefit as do all of their students. A teacher leader is involved in many things outside of their normal teaching job that affect education policy or decisions. Some teacher leaders work only part time in the classroom and take on what is called a hybrid role. However, all teacher leaders still maintain focus on what is good for students. These teachers serve on committees at the local, state, or even national level to support teaching and learning. They give of their free time to promote education reform that will benefit all students. As busy as these teachers are, they are available to students and colleagues to assist them as needed. Daily, a teacher leader’s contributions to the school, district and state most often go unrecognized. Teacher leaders are not in it for the glory, and certainly not the pay, but to make the world a better place - one student at a time. I am proud to know and work with such a teacher leader.
Jeff Stamps, a Social Studies teacher at Todd County Central High School, is a 27-year veteran teacher. To Jeff, there is no job more important than providing the best education possible for his students. He has taken on curriculum reform in the social studies area and works closely with his department to make certain that all students are taught the appropriate curriculum to master the standards. He frequently travels to Frankfort to meet with state legislators and has met with national leaders in Washington, DC to promote positive education reform. He calls himself an ‘education voter’ and maintains focus on what is best for students and not a particular party. Yet, he is always available to work with his students, offering tutoring sessions before and after school nearly every day. Jeff is a mentor to other teachers as well as to his students. Through his dedication and leadership, our school has risen in their state testing from low in the ranks to the top 9% in the state. Even though he teaches in a small school in a rural community, Jeff has made the name of our school known across the state. Jeff is the epitome of a modern teacher leader in KY. This is a guest blog written by one of the teachers in our Innovative Teacher Leader cohort to share about an innovative teacher or practice from their area of the state. To learn more about the work happening in the Commonwealth from these Innovative Teacher Leaders, who are working to redefine teacher leadership in Kentucky, check back throughout the month of March. We’ll be sharing guest blogs all month long.
No comments:
Post a Comment